Cray Wanderers 4 v 3 Staines FA Trophy 2nd Round Qualifying

CRAY Wanderers pulled off one of the giant killing acts of the FA Trophy by beating Staines Town of the Ryman Premier Division.

At kick-off 30 league places separated the sides but at the end of 90 pulsating minutes a Jon Main hat trick and a Michael Power header had consigned Staines to the competition scrapheap.

Staines had conceded an average of just one goal a match and lay third in their league ahead of the likes of AFC Wimbledon and Bromley.

But Ian Jenkins' team turned in a great performance to win 4-3 and now face Kingstonian in the next round.

The match started dramatically when, on 27 seconds, Drew Watkins' deep free-kick was nodded across goal by Gary Abbott and Power scored.

Staines drew level on eight minutes when Andre De Lisser's shot took a deflection off Terry Khan , hit the post and rebounded to Craig Maskell to score.

Staines should have been ahead moments later when a long throw into the Wands' area was met by an unmarked Fiston Manuella but his header was yards off target.

The Staines front pair of Jermaine Hunter and Michael Currie were causing problems and but for Khan and assured goalkeeping from Northwood, Cray could have crumbled.

Despite Staines' dominance Power almost restored Cray's lead when he connected well with another Watkins free kick only to see his header arrow into Allaway's grateful arms.

Experts say scoring just before half time is perfect and so when Hunter glanced Robbie King's cross past Northwood on 44 minutes, the Staines massive behind the goal must have been thinking good thoughts.

Those same experts were eating their hats just after the interval because Cray, and the aforementioned Jon Main, started in blistering fashion.

Staines were piling on the pressure when Watkins broke away and split the visitors' defence with a superb pass to release Main.

The diminutive striker held off the challenge of Matt Flitter and sent a low shot under Allaway's body for 2-2.

Five minutes later Power's through pass split the Staines defence again and Main was in on goal.

He started his run from the centre circle, held off the attentions of Jake Newton and Zeljko Popovic before arrowing home from a tight angle and sending the home fans into raptures.

Those same fans were brought back down to earth with a bump when seconds later De Lisser fired in from 25 yards with a cool and nonchalent strike giving Northwood no chance.

Abbott was replaced by Leigh Bremner and it almost drew dividends.

Bremner's shot was saved by Allaway but the ball landed at Main's feet andhis shot was blocked by Flitter.

With 14 minutes remaining Main burst into the penalty area only to be brought down by Allaway for a penalty.

Whether it was nerves no one but Main will know but his spot kick was saved easily by Allaway.

With five minutes remaining Ross Lover's cheeky nutmeg found Main and, with no time to think, he fired an excellent curling winner into the top right hand corner of the net to give Cray a much deserved victory.

If ever there was an advert for non- league football, this was it and at Cray you are never short of goals in their last five matches the ball has hit the back of the net 30 times, one for each space separating Cray's David from Staines' Goliath.

Cray: Northwood, 7; Hall, 7; Rawlings, 7; Morris, 7; Khan, 8; Taylor, 6 (Lover, 45, 8); Power, 7; (Ward, 89); Kempster, 6; Abbott, 7 (Bremner, 60); Main, 9; Watkins, 8.

Subs not used: Baker; Wood.

Att: 131