Cray's centre half and captain Mark Willy returned from injury and headed a crucial late goal at Lowestoft to re-ignite the Wands' hopes of a late push towards the promotion play-offs.

PETER GORINGE writes: Willy capped a superb return to the side when he was first to react in the 76th minute to Jack Clark's wickedly inswinging corner-kick that eluded the otherwise rock-solid home defence, and he headed home from close range.

Willy, making his first appearance since Boxing Day, slotted into central defence alongside John Guest, with manager Ian Jenkins giving a Ryman Premier League debut to Joe Vines at right back.

The strong Cray back-line was selected to counter the Trawlerboys' big side, and Cray stood firm during a first half when promotion-chasing Lowestoft had most of the play.

Cray 'keeper Dave King had some difficult balls to deal with, but he got down well to save a low shot from Michael Frew, who had been set clear on goal by Adrian Forbes's superb header - the home side's best chance of the opening period.

Cray created more after the break. Laurent Hamici forced a fine one-handed save by Andy Reynolds and Leigh Bremner got a couple of sights of goal.

There were two anxious moments for Cray in the 71st and 75th minutes. Joe Francis shot into the side netting when he really should have scored, and then Jamie Forshaw was denied by the linesman's flag when he headed in at the far post.

The Wands grew in confidence after Willy's goal, and played out time as they matched Lowestoft's physical approach right across the pitch.

This was Lowestoft's first home defeat for more than a year, while the Wands move up one place in the table to seventh, in advance of next Saturday's home game against Horsham (3pm).

Before that, the Wands are in cup action on Tuesday night when Sittingbourne are the visitors in the quarter-final of the Kent Senior Cup (7.30pm).

Cray: King, Vines, Bentley, Saunders, Willy, Guest, Lover, Day, Hamici (Gibbs 90), Phillips (Clark 25), Bremner. Subs not used: Hassan, Dolby, Sterling. Attendance: 824.