Two second half goals by Tony Boot saw Billericay continue their late push towards the play-offs at the expense of Cray, who now have further ground to make up if they are to stay in the promotion chase.

Although it can't be denied that Billericay took the game away from the Wands in the second half, key moments in the game were controversial or unlucky for the home side.

After 27 minutes of fast and competitive action, Billericay took the lead against the run of play when Charlie Allen burst down the left touchline and held off several tackles as he forced his way into the penalty area to fire a deflected shot past Dave King. Cray felt that Allen had pushed over Joe Vines to regain possession after the Cray defender had won the ball off him, but the goal was allowed to stand.

Two minutes later Cray suffered the big loss of their centre half and skipper Mark Willy who limped off after hurting the knee that had kept him on the injured list at the start of the year.

Cray survived a period of Billericay pressure, with King making two good tip-over saves either side of Leigh Bremner's equalising goal on 45 minutes when he pounced to tuck home from Ross Lover's free-kick.

Cray were undone two minutes into the second half when Boot, looking to be a long way offside, was released down the right and saw his shot roll into the net after striking the far post.

After that, the visitors underlined the strength of their promotion credentials as they ruthlessly closed Cray out of the game.

The outstanding Allen almost repeated his earlier goal after another solo run through the Cray defence, before he was crowded out in the goalmouth.

It was a bitter blow for Cray to gift the 'Ricay a third goal after 82 minutes when a back pass to King took a bobble, allowing Boot to win the ball off the Cray 'keeper and shoot into the empty net.

Billericay now move up to third in the table with the Wands dropping one place to eleventh, but mathematically Cray are still very much in touch with the play-off challenging clubs as they travel to play third-from-bottom Croydon Athletic on Saturday. This game kicks off at the early time of 1pm.

Cray: King, Vines, Bentley, Saunders, Willy (Sterling 30), Guest, Lover (Hassan 77), Day, Hamici, Bremner, Clark (Gibbs 90). Subs not used: McLeod, Dolby.