Cray Wanderers continued their 10 match unbeaten start to the Isthmian South-East season with victory at Herne Bay to go eight points clear at the top of the table. 

After a scoreless if lively first half Cray took two minutes to go in front after the break with Ben Mundele’s superb strike and then doubled the lead with a Tom Phipp penalty twenty minutes from time.  Herne Bay pulled a goal back with nine minutes to go with Jake Embery scoring from the spot but the home side were reduced to ten men late on when Danny Rumbol was sent off.

Cray got off to an electric start and Jerome Federico tested keeper Jordan Beeney with a cross-shot and then Junior Dadson fired over from six yards. 

Other chances followed and Ben Mundele was unlucky to see his wicked swerving shot tipped over by Beeney.  Sean Roberts volleyed wide and Jay Leader headed against the crossbar before half time.  Herne Bay threatened on the break and Michael- Frazer Osunkoya twice fired just over the top.

Two minutes after the break out of nothing Mundele gave Cray the lead with a fine run down the right and from the edge of the area arrowed an unstoppable shot into the top left corner of the net.

Herne Bay came close when Miles Cornwell’s low shot was pushed behind by Nick Blue but Cray continued to push forward.

Twenty minutes from time Cray were awarded a penalty when Sean Roberts was upended just inside the area down the left by Danny Leonard.  Tom Phipp stepped up to score his first goal for the club from the spot.

Nine minutes from the end the game was back in the balance when Herne Bay were awarded a penalty after a foul inside the area following a corner and Jake Embery scored to make it 2-1.

With the game entering injury time the home side were reduced to ten men when Danny Rumbol hauled back Parker and was deemed last man and was sent off.

Cray held on to pick up another huge three points and extended their lead at the top to eight points with a short break in fixtures next weekend return to action on November 3rd at Haywards Heath Town.          

Cray Wanderers: Nick Blue, Ben Mundele, Barney Williams (Capt), Jay Leader, Mitchell Nelson, Tom Phipp, Sean Roberts, Bradley Pritchard, Freddie Parker, Junior Dadson, Jerome Federico (Malik Solebo, 71): Subs:  Karl Dent, Zak Henry, Archie Johnson, Marcus Evans

Att: 260