Cray Wanderers were sunk in the wind and rain of a soggy Friday night at Flamingo Park as the Isthmian Premier form side, Aveley left with the points courtesy of three second half strikes. 

On the back of the Essex side’s 1-0 win at leaders Folkestone Invicta in midweek, Tim O’Shea’s side knew the task that they faced, and for the opening forty-five minutes more than held their own and really should have had the advantage.

But after the break, things went horribly wrong for the Wands as after Fletcher Hubbard had given Aveley the lead five minutes into the second period with a low drive into the corner at the end of a swift break, Cray couldn’t find a way back on level terms and were caught with the classic sucker punch as they went looking for a leveller as sub Toby Aromolaran took full advantage of defensive hesitation to net twice in three minutes late on to seal that points and a very flattering scoreline. 

Cray started on the front foot and were unfortunate not to be given an early spot kick as keeper Rylee Mitchell – who wore probably the brightest keepers kit in the division (a combination of luminous green and yellow on a pink base) – seemed to take Adrian O-Gyamera’s legs as the full back raced onto a through ball, but Mr Steele wasn’t interested. 

Jordy Mongoy was a constant threat for Cray in the first half, and he fired over after Frankie Raymond’s free kick fell to him. 

The home side then went closer still following a really good advantage from referee Steele after Raymond was left in a heap by Tobi Tinubu. The ball broke to Harry Bridle, who beat three defenders before finding himself clean through in front of goal. Sadly, for the on-loan Gillingham striker, he could only shoot straight at Mitchell, and the chance was gone. 

The Aveley keeper was then just a spectator as Cray went even closer as Harry Waldock’s dipping angled volley smacked against the left post from a long throw – sadly Mongoy couldn’t convert the rebound. 

The home side continued to be on the front foot at the start of the second period as Lateef Adaja curled an effort inches too high after a brilliant run. 

Then it started to all go horribly wrong for the Wands, as the home side pressed to take the advantage. The ball was lost on the edge of the Aveley box, and the visitors broke quickly. The ball found its way to Hubbard twenty yards out and he drilled the ball wide of keeper Harry Seaden into the bottom corner, to give the visitors the lead against the run of play. 

The goal stunned the Wands and for which coincided with the worst of the ice-cold wind and the swirling rain, the home side struggled for a while before a moment of brilliance from Bridle almost got the home side level. A long ball was missed by the defence, and the striker did really well to catch what looked like a lost cause and whip the ball over to Mongoy only to be magnificently denied by a fabulous Mitchell save. 

As the game moved towards the final ten minutes the Wands seemed to be back on the front foot only for two goals in three minutes to well and truly sink the home side. 

Aromolaran made it two-nil as he danced round a hesitant Seaden and in their next attack, the same player was found by Jesse Nwabueze who had intercepted an attempted clearance, and it was three-nil. 

The home side did have a couple of late chances, but the damage had been done, and the points were heading back through the Dartford Tunnel. 

This was the second time in a month that O’Shea’s side have played at Flamingo Park on a Friday night, and the second time in a month that the Wands have stumbled and been left disappointed – don’t expect the manager to request another edition of “Friday Night Football” anytime soon! 

CRAY WANDERERS – Seaden, O-Gyamera, Morgan, Waldock, Sutton, Bonner, Mongoy (Dickson 85), Raymond, Hernandez, Bridle, Adaja.

Subs not used: Wall, Taylor, Keto, Hand.

AVELEY – Mitchell, Tinubu, Critchley (Nwabueze), Robinson (Harris), Haysom (Gipson), Peters, Charles, Johnson, Kudiabor (Aromolaran), Hubbard (Reynolds), Henshaw.

Subs not used: None.

Goals: Hubbard (59), Aromolaran (78), (80).

REFEREE – Mr. Adam Steele 

Attendance: 688