Resurgent Cray Wanderers picked up another three points with a hard fought, single goal victory over Kingstonian at Hayes Lane on Saturday afternoon thanks to a superb free kick from Anthony Cook on the hour.
Cray started the game looking to be positive, Rhys Murrell-Williamson shooting just wide, David Ijaha going close and Anthony Cook volleying wide all from outside the area early on.
With The Wands still pressing Murrell-Williamson and Frankie Raymond both had shots saved by Rob Tolfrey, but from there Ks started to come into things. Freddie Price cutting down the left to set up Richard Michaels who fired just wide, before Shaun Rowley made a great save from Hani Berchiche and then saved the follow up bravely at the feet of Eddie D’Sane.
Price sent a dangerous ball across goal that just evaded everyone in the area and Rowley then denied Michaels who shot from range with Kingstonian not looking like a team who was bottom of the table.
Late on Cray rallied again, Raymond had a long range effort tipped onto the bar by Tolfrey, Ijaha fired over and Sam Wood shot wide, but the half ended goaless.
The second half saw Ks start well, Rowley saved from D’Sane and then did brilliantly to get up and palm Berchiche’s shot from the rebound onto the bar from close range. played slowed for a while, but then on the hour mark, the vital breakthrough came for The Wands.
Murrell-Williamson was brought down by Matt Drage 25 yards out and from the resulting free kick, Cook drove the ball with such power that even though Tolfrey got a hand to the ball it span into the back of the net off the far post for 1-0.
After falling behind Kingstonian rallied again, D’Sane had two shots well saved by Rowley and Tutu Henriques’ side played some really nice football moving it around well, but they just could get past the Cray custodian. The game opened up in the last fifteen minutes, Ijaha had a shot saved by Tolfrey who then saved a Gary Lockyer header from a Cook cross. Berchiche almost drew Ks level when he showed some great footwork to open up a chance in the area, but he fired just over from tight angle.
The first yellow card of the game came five minutes from time when Michaels fouled Yayha Bamba, who was then booked himself soon after, but Referee Craig Barnett had an excellent game, allowing the play to flow in an entertaining match. Late on in stoppage time, George Brooke had a shot saved by Tolfrey, but in the end it was just the one goal that was enough to settle things in favour of Neil Smith’s side.
Cray Wands third consecutive win sees them remain in thirteenth in the Isthmian League Premier Division table, well clear of the relegation places ahead of their trip to Whitehawk on Tuesday night.
Cray: Rowley, Cook, Bonner, Holland (Beere 83), Wood, Ijaha, Raymond, Porter (Brooke 71), Bamba, Murrell-Williamson (Hallard 63), Lockyer. Subs Not Used: Evans, Brown.
Kingstonian: Tolfrey, Unsworth (Chislett 45), Mason, Drage, German, Adebiyi, Price (Anadll-Gibbons 71), Michaels, D’Sane, Collins (Bello 71), Berchiche. Subs Not Used: Janneh, Kirkham.
Goal: Cook 60mins.
HT 0-0 FT 1-0
Att: 211
Referee: Craig Bennett