An injury and suspension hit Cray Wanderers side secured an impressive win over Herne Bay in this Kent derby thanks to a hatrick from centre forward Michael Power who put in a fine display of how to play the number nine role with his link up play, holding the ball as well as finding the net.
The game got off to an open start with Cray going close in the first few seconds when Lea Dawson forced a save from Ben Hunter, while at the other end Alex Mulrooney-Skinner hit the side netting with a shot from an angle just inside the box.
Karl Dent had an effort saved for The Wands before they were awarded a penalty after only five minutes when Ben Mundele was brought down in the box as he ran in from the left.
Power coolly slotted home the spot kick to make it 1-0 and from there Tony Russell’s side had a very good spell of pressure. Marcus Evans headed over from a corner and Power was denied by Hunter who saved bravely at the bog striker’s feet, before putting another chance over the bar.
Bay forward Junior Efosa-Aikhionbare had a shot saved by Nicky Blue with the excellent Jay Leader clearing the danger and Danny Leonard was also thwarted by Blue before Cray suffered a double blow losing both left sided players Timi Osibodu and Ben Mundele to injury.
The Wands were awarded another penalty on 33minutes though when Dent made a powerful run into the box and as he took the ball past Hunter, the keeper tripped him for another clear foul in the box. Power again tucked the ball away with the minimum of fuss, sending Hunter the wrong way for 2-0.
Dent had a low drive saved by Hunter soon after as The Wands continued to press and Power missed his chance for a first half hatrick when he put a Michael Freiter pass wide of the target when well placed.
The second half saw another open attacking start, Freiter scuffed a chance wide from a Blue long ball and then Bay went close when Jake Embury was denied by Blue.
Power drove a long range effort just wide for the home side, but The Seasiders also had good chance with Embury turning a Mulrooney-Skinner cross over. Cray continued to press and they were 3-0 up on 55minutes when Power showed great footwork to work some space 25yards from goal before drilling a low powerful shot into the bottom corner of the net giving Hunter no chance.
Power nearly made it four after combining well with debutant sub Romario Hart, but his shot was saved by Hunter before the man of the moment was substituted with twenty minutes to go.
Hunter saved bravely from the on rushing Hart and Freiter was also denied by the Bay keeper after he had intercepted a goal kick and tried to send it back past the stopper.
Herne Bay kept battling to get back into things with Wilkins Connor heading a good chance over and Efosa-Aikhionbare forcing another good save from Blue.
Late on Freddie Parker and Freiter again called Hunter into action after great work from the tireless Dent, before in injury time Jonathan Richardson headed home a corner for the visitors with the final touch of the match to pull it back to 3-1.
With four players out, Brandon Scott leaving in the week and losing another two early on to injury in this game, it was a very creditable win for Cray who moved up to eight in the Bostik League Division One South.
Cray: Blue, Williams, Leader, Evans, Odibodu (Hart 22), Carpenter, Dawson, Dent, Henry, Mundele (Freiter 34), Power (Parker 70). Subs Not Used: Vines, Fujamde.
Herne Bay: Hunter, Leonard, Brown, Steventon (Rumbol 52), Richardson, Wisson, Mulrooney-Skiiner (Connor 58), Carlton (Schafer 70), Embery, Efosa-Aikhionbare, Dukali. Subs Not Used: Trespandze, Catmull.
Att: 166
Ref: Mr M Begley