Cray Wanderers disappointing home form continues as a strong second half display from South Park made it five straight defeats at Hayes Lane and eight games without a win for the Wands.

Cray just about edged a rather scrappy first half and created the better chances.  Playoff chasing South Park though are a clever side well suited to playing away from home and took the lead five minutes after half time through Dan Moody’s deflected shot.  They then took control of the match and scored two more goals, both penalties from Keiran Lavery and Chris Smith to keep the Sparks in contention for the playoffs although still ten points off the top 5 but with a number of games in hand.

Cray were missing the spine of their side, Jay Leader, Lea Dawson and Danny Haynes through a collection of injuries and suspension and fielded quite a young side.

In a game played in quite a stiff breeze there were few openings in the first half but the best fell to Cray and both to Karl Dent.  In the 35th minute, Dent found an opening inside the area and from twelve yards saw his shot pushed behind well by keeper Callum Thomas.

Then two minutes before the break Dent was denied by the legs of Thomas with a goalbound shot.

The second half was a different story and South Park looked more threatening and went in front five minutes after the restart.  Chris Smith and Kieran Lavery combined down the left to tee up Daniel Moody whose shot from eight yards took a slight deflection off Jai McKinlay and past Nick Blue and into the net.

The Wands hopes of getting back into the game were dashed in the 62nd minute when Lavery down the left was fouled inside the area and a penalty kick was given.  Lavery got up himself to tuck home the spot kick.

The Surrey side then dominated the game and came close again through Moody and Smith.  In the 70th minute they were awarded a second penalty when Smith was fouled by Paul Lorraine and he too got up to score to seal the three points for South Park.    

Cray had efforts from Anthony Adesite and Dent again before the end but were not able to grab a consolation goal.  The Wands who remain twelfth in the league table are in action next on Saturday when they make the relatively short trip to Whyteleafe.