Cray Wanderers wrapped up their league programme for 2017-18 with a highly efficient victory against Guernsey which meant Cray finished in third place in the Isthmian South.  This means a playoff semi final against Walton Casuals at Hayes Lane on Tuesday evening, 7.45pm.    

Cray were looking to finish the season on a high following a defeat to Walton last Saturday but took on a determined Guernsey side who played a lot better than the final scoreline would suggest.

The key man for Cray on a rather murky late April day was Michael Power.  Restored to the starting line up Michael scored two well taken goal to not only take his season tally to 30 in league and cup but also make it 100 career goals for Cray Wanderers. 

The game got off to a quick start with Karl Dent and Marcus Evans going close for Cray whilst the Channel Islanders won three early corners in succession.

Cray though took the lead with just eight minutes gone with Ben Mundele down the left swung over a cross to the far post where Brandon Scott reacted quickest to lay the ball across to Michael Power who rifled into the top right hand corner from the edge of the six yard box.

The Wands came close to scoring again when Dent was denied by an excellent save from Callum Stanton but in the 26th minute Cray scored their second goal when Scott down the right put over an excellent cross which was inviting and Junior Dadson from just inside the six yard box turned the ball into the net for his sixth goal for Cray.

Guernsey had a little spell where they threatened to pull a goal back first when Dave Rihoy’s effort was blocked by Nick Blue on the line.  The Cray keeper made two very fine stops to deny Ryan Zico-Black both from free kicks which Blue pushed over the ball from the left and right of the area.

With just a minute to go before the break Cray scored a third goal to give them breathing space when Williams played the ball from the right into Power who held the ball up well and teed the ball up nicely for Farrell to try a shot from 25 yards which may have took a slight deflection off Sebastien Skillen which looped the ball into the net for his first Cray Wanderers goal.

The second half saw some good football played with Dent firing wide for Cray whilst Alex Le Prevost and Rihoy came close for Guernsey.

In the 69th minute Cray scored their fourth goal and following a corner down the left which came to Farrell who worked his way into the area and his ball across came to Power who drove a shot into the bottom left corner from 10 yards to reach a century of goals in three spells with Cray.  This puts him joint seventh with the legendary 1960’s centre forward Micky Thompson in the all time list.

Power came to close near the end to completing his hat-trick but was denied from close range by Stanton and Michael Freiter volleyed over at the end but Cray had done enough to finish the season in third place thereby claiming home advantage during the playoffs.  The Wands finished with 89 points and scored 112 goals, a record total during the Isthmian League years.  Tuesday’s match against Walton Casuals will be tough and Casuals beat Cray on 21st April but it promises to be a dramatic evening between two attack minded sides.    

Cray Wanderers: Nick Blue, Ben Mundele, Barney Williams, Jay Leader, Marcus Evans, Lea Dawson (Capt.), Kyron Farrell, Karl Dent (Charlie MacDonald, 83), Michael Power, Junior Dadson (Zak Henry, 65), Brandon Scott (Michael Freiter, 71):  Subs: Aaron Rhule, Craig Holloway

Att:  202