Cray Wanderers run of disappointing results at home continued as they went down to their fourth reverse in a row at Hayes Lane as Walton Casuals completed a league double over the Wands.  

Both sides were looking to return to winning ways after drifting into tenth and eleventh places in the league table and with both sides free scoring an exciting game was in prospect.

 The Wands have got off to a poor start in the previous three home games and fell behind early again after just 62 seconds when Gabriel Odunaike gave Walton the lead with his 20th goal of the season.  A long hopeful ball forward from Daryl Coleman found the lively forward who burst through a rather open Cray defence and lobbed the ball over Nick Blue from just inside the penalty area.

The game swung from end to end with Cray going close through Jay Leader who headed wide and then Karl Dent who saw an effort pushed away by Denzil Gerrar.  Casuals came close when Jack Sammoutis drove a shot just wide of goal.

Cray though levelled four minutes before half time when Luke Medley’s right wing cross was turned into his own net by Jahmahl King under pressure. 

However, Walton went back in front with rather an unfortunate own goal in first half stoppage time when Ben Mundele's back pass bounced off the rutted goal mouth and as Blue attempted to clear the ball went past him into the net.

Cray were back on terms three minutes after the interval when Jey Siva’s right wing free kick was headed home emphatically by Lea Dawson from six yards.

Parity though was only restored for seven minutes as in the 55th minute, Cray went behind again when Sammoutis’ corner kick fell to Jordan Cheadle who fired home a sweet strike from ten yards.

Three minutes later, it was 4-2 to the Surrey side when Malachi Hudson made a strong run forward from just inside his own half and from the edge of the penalty area placed a shot past Blue and into the net.

Cray pushed for the remainder of the game and the ever industrious Dawson hit the post in the 89th minute.  The Wands did pull a goal back three minutes into stoppage time when Dawson pounced when Gerrar dropped a cross from Leader for his eighth goal of the season but there was not enough time for Cray to score again.

Cray now drop to 11th in the Isthmian South League table and are ten points off the playoffs and without a win in six.  They are at home again on Wednesday, 8th March (7.45pm) in a Kent derby with Herne Bay.

Cray:   Nick Blue, Ben Mundele, Jey Siva, Jay Leader, Nathan Fox, Lea Dawson (Capt.), Sean Roberts, Karl Dent, Danny Haynes (Jai McKinlay, 70), Luke Medley, Brandon Scott (Dane Luchford, 78):  Subs:  Zak Henry, Timi Osidobu, Paul Lorraine

Att: 105