Cray Wanderers made it four wins in a row and moved back up to 4th place in the Isthmian South after a dramatic last minute winner from Aaron Rhule against a resolute and dogged Chipstead side.

Despite fears of the recent wet weather putting the match in jeopardy the pitch was passed fit to go and after a quite a slow start to the game the match picked up in the second half with Cray having a number of opportunities to score but were often denied by great goalkeeping from Michael Sibley.  Despite knocking on the door throughout the second half it looked like it might be one of those days when in the 90th minute, Michael Power found Aaron Rhule and as Sibley came to claim the ball it spilled out to Rhule who turned and with his left foot rolled the ball into the net. 

There were few opportunities in a rather scrappy first half until the 36th minute when for Cray, Ben Mundele’s run from midfield to just inside the penalty area ended with a shot that was saved by the legs of Sibley.  A couple of minutes later Michael Power was denied at close range by a block from Sibley’s chest.   Just before half time, Chipstead almost took the lead when Dean Lodge’s strike was pushed round the post by Nick Blue.

The second half saw more action and mostly from Cray who at times camped in their opponents half.  Efforts from Junior Dadson and Power went over the bar whilst Kyron Farrell was denied his first goal for the club when his free kick was pushed behind by Sibley. 

More opportunities came with Sibley saving from Dadson and Karl Dent while making another excellent save from a Dent free kick, pushing the ball round the post with seven minutes remaining.

Dent then shot wide down the right hand side and Power sent a header across goal from a corner as the Wands piled on the pressure.

It looked like it would be one of those days when nothing was going to come off for Cray but in the final minute, Cray took finally took the lead.  The ball came to Power in a central position, he moved towards goal and slipped a pass intended for Rhule but Sibley looked to have come out and claimed the ball but seemed to collide with Matthew Warren and Rhule stole in, turned and with his left foot placed the ball into the net to send the Cray fans into ecstasy. 

It had been hard going but Cray got the job done and go back up to fourth in the table and next face a crunch game on Easter Monday against 3rd placed Greenwich Borough at Hayes Lane with both sides still in contention for an automatic promotion spot.

Cray Wanderers: Nick Blue, Barney Williams, Ben Mundele, Jay Leader, Mitchell Nelson, Lea Dawson (Capt.), Zak Henry, Kyron Farrell (Karl Dent, 64), Michael Power, Junior Dadson, Brandon Scott (Aaron Rhule, 60): Subs: Charlie MacDonald, Michael Freiter, Marcus Evans

Att:  80