Cray Wanderers kept their unbeaten start to the season intact but had to settle for a point following a goalless draw against Ramsgate at Hayes Lane.  The point moved Cray ten points clear at the top of the Isthmian South-East table but had to do so with ten men from the 37th minute after Tom Phipp was sent off. 

The Wands who are now fourteen unbeaten from the start of the season started promisingly with Bradley Pritchard shooting wide early on and was denied by a superb one handed save from Luke Watkins in the Ramsgate goal.  Pritchard then curled a shot wide as Cray pressed for an early goal.

Ramsgate defended very well and came close from a Tom Chapman free kick which was saved by Nick Blue who also saved Aaron Millbank’s cross-shot.

In the 37th minute Cray were reduced to ten men when just shy of 40 yards from the Cray goal Tom Phipp went in with a challenge and caught Jack Penny slightly late and was shown the red card.

Cray though nearly took the lead three minutes into added on time when Jerome Federico set up Ben Mundele with the best chance of the half and from the edge of the area fired just over the crossbar.

Ramsgate had one or two chances in the second half with Millbank putting the ball in the net but was denied by an offside flag and then curled in a shot which was deflected behind for a corner.

Cray despite being a man short almost won it in the closing stages.  Firstly, Mundele flashed a cross-shot in from the left which no-one could get on the end of.  Then Junior Dadson was played through by Karl Dent but was denied by a save from the legs of Watkins.  Finally, from a left wing corner, the ball came to Jay Leader at the far post whose volley grazed the crossbar and over.

In the end honours were even and Cray go into a short break in fixtures this Saturday before returning on 8th December with a big match against Phoenix Sports at Hayes Lane.

Cray Wanderers: Nick Blue, Barney Williams, Archie Johnson (Karl Dent, H/T), Jay Leader, Mitchell Nelson, Tom Phipp, Sean Roberts, Bradley Pritchard, Wilberforce Ocran (Freddie Parker, 40), Ben Mundele, Jerome Federico (Junior Dadson, 74):  Subs: Malik Solebo, Zak Henry

Att: 246