Cray Wanderers confirmed a playoff place after a devastating attacking display produced eight goals against South Park at Hayes Lane.  The Wands remain in third place in the Isthmian South level on points with Greenwich Borough on 86 points but with a superior goal difference.

The scene was set for an entertaining day with the sunshine making a welcome return to a Saturday afternoon.  South Park who have a heavy fixture schedule had only played less than 48 hours before the game and although they started fairly brightly an early Cray goal rocked them on their heels and couldn’t recover.

Cray took the lead after nine minutes when from a left wing corner, Kyron Farrell’s cross to the back post was turned in by skipper Lea Dawson from three yards.

In the 16th minute it was 2-0 when Aaron Rhule got away down the left and into the area and cut the ball back across to the far post to Brandon Scott who finished well from six yards.

Cray came close through Scott and Charlie MacDonald but In the 32nd minute, Rhule got the goal his performance deserved when he picked up a short pass from Michael Freiter and accelerated down the right, saw off the challenge of Dan Moody and from the edge of the six yard box lashed a shot high into the net for the third Cray Wanderers goal.

Cray scored the fourth goal three minutes before half time when Farrell’s right wing corner was met by Mitchell Nelson who diverted a header into the path of Jay Leader who turned the ball into the net from six yards.  There was still time for Scott to be denied by the legs of keeper Thomas Miles.

South Park had a little flurry of activity after half time with Jack Mazzone volleying over the bar and Nick Blue had to make good saves to deny Moody and James McElligott. 

Cray though were in irresistible form and scored a fifth goal in the 57th minute when Blue’s ball forward found MacDonald who strode and lofted a fine lob over Miles to make it 5-0.

Ten minutes later Cray scored an excellent well worked sixth goal that must have included around 20 passes and ended with Scott putting Karl Dent away down the right and his ball across to the far post was steered in by Junior Dadson who had only been on the field for four minutes.

If it wasn’t through some good saves from Miles there could have been more goals but nine minutes from time, Cray scored a seventh goal which started again from Blue’s ball out which was flicked on by MacDonald to Dent who played in MacDonald who tucked the ball into the net impressively for his second.

The scoring was completed two minutes from the end with an eighth goal when Dent found MacDonald inside the area who unselfishly laid the ball back to Scott who blasted home from eight yards to complete a very satisfying afternoon for Cray and meant they had topped 100 goals for the season for the first time in the Isthmian League years. 

Cray have two more matches to play starting with a trip to Walton Casuals next Saturday who need to win to remain in playoff contention before ending the season with a home game with Guernsey on 28th April hoping the season can be extended by another week with the playoffs.    

Cray Wanderers: Nick Blue,  Ben Mundele, Barney Williams (Karl Dent, H/T), Jay Leader, Mitchell Nelson, Lea Dawson (Capt.), Michael Freiter (Zak Henry, 53), Kyron Farrell, Charlie MacDonald, Aaron Rhule (Junior Dadson, 63), Brandon Scott: Subs: Marcus Evans, Craig Holloway

Att: 101