Cray Wanderers picked up a point from a fifteenth draw of the season as an Alex Hernandez penalty three minutes from the end made if five games unbeaten against Chatham Town in a clash of playoff contenders at Flamingo Park.
A tight, tense game looked to be heading for a goalless stalemate until twelve minutes from time when Chatham Town edged in front when substitute Nile Ranger touched in from close range. However, Cray showed their powers of recovery once again and after Alex Hernandez was pushed over in the penalty area converted his fifteenth goal of the season from the spot to earn over the game a deserved point and the second draw with Chatham Town this season.
The Wands came into the game in seventh place on forty seven points, two behind fourth placed Chatham Town who had played three games less than Cray. Chatham had lost their last four games, all at home but were unbeaten in six on their travels so would be a tough nut to crack.
For Cray, Tim O’Shea named an unchanged side to the one which drew with Ramsgate last Saturday although there was a new face on the bench with striker Ola Ogunwamide signed from Horsham and previously with the likes of Tilbury, Hornchurch and Lewes and also spent a month loan spell at Cray Valley PM earlier in the season. For Chatham Town there were two changes Kevin Hake’s side beaten at home by Chichester City with Sid Nelson and Kofi Anokye-Boadi coming in for Alex Giles and Junior Dixon.
On a rare bright and sunny February afternoon if slightly chilly the game looked like one from the off as two good sides which perhaps be more pragmatic than the 3-3 draw at the Bauvill Stadium in October but was certainly an engaging contest as both teams looked to maintain their respective promotion pushes.
Cray began the game well while Chatham Town were patient in possession with Lateef Adaja down the right putting over a cross which Nathan Harvey in the Chats goal had to turn aside.
In the 13th minute Cray worked a good opening as Alex Hernandez and Max Fiddes combined to find Harry Waldock down the right who flashed a cross-shot across goal and wide. This was followed a couple of minutes later by Jordy Mongoy firing a shot just over the bar.
Cray came close in the 20th minute when good combination play between Mongoy and Hernandez saw the ball come to Adaja again down the right who cut inside to find space and fired in a shot which Harvey did well to push out with the ball coming to Frankie Morgan who hooked the ball over the top.
Chatham were beginning to put some passes together going forward and Tope Fadahunsi and Oliver Hobden worked an opening for Sam Sene-Richardson who fired a first time shot wide of the left post from the edge of the area.
Cray though were still looking the more potent and caused problems with free kicks and corners all game. On the half hour from a free kick down the left, Frankie Raymond played a short pass into the box for Fiddes who turned and fired in a shot on target that was well claimed by Harvey.
From here the game went through a little bit of a lull with one or two stoppages in play and Chatham had to make a substitution with Alex Giles coming on for Jordy Robins but Cray just before half time came close to opening the scoring. A free kick from Raymond out on the right into the area came off of the head of Sid Nelson and Kian Moynes had to head away from the line and eventually went behind for a corner. From the right wing corner from Raymond to the far post skipper Tom Bonner got in a firm header which Harvey got down to save.
The second half began with Cray looking lively down the right and Hernandez found Mongoy who cut into the area and his near post shot was saved by the legs of Harvey.
Then another Raymond corner played to the far post was once again met by the head of Bonner but this time a combination of Harvey and a defender saw the ball blocked and Chatham Town were able to clear. This was followed by another fine cross from Frankie Morgan down the left which went across the box which no-one could get on the end of.
The match then became something of a stalemate with the match looking like one goal may win it. Chatham brought on three substitutes Kian Garlinge, Nile Ranger and Ben Allen coming on while for Cray Ola Ogunwamide made his debut coming on for the final quarter of the match.
In the 78th minute Chatham Town took the lead when after a corner from Sene-Richardson down the right Garlinge found Ben Allen down the left whose ball in the box to the far post was tapped in by the experienced Ranger from close range.
Cray had shown great powers of recovery this season and had to do so again in a game of so few chances. Mongoy saw an effort go just past the left post as the game entered the last ten minutes.
The Wands continued to press and from a corner down the left from Adaja played short to Raymond the ball came out to Adrian Owiredu-Gyamera whose shot was deflected behind for another corner. Out on the right, Adaja’s ball into the box caused more problems and Hernandez was nudged in the back and went down and a penalty kick was awarded with five minutes remaining.
After some rather unsightly and unnecessary stalling and delaying tactics from Chatham Town players, the penalty took two minutes to be taken but Hernandez showed great poise to stroke home his fifteenth of the season with some aplomb.
There was still time for a possible winner and Cray came closest to achieving that when the outstanding Harry Waldock found Ogunwamide down the right who fired over a great cross-shot which couldn’t find a touch from a Wands player and went wide of the left post. This was followed by another star Wands performer Jordy Mongoy finding Morgan but hooked his effort off target.
In the end the match finished in a draw which over the piece was the least Cray deserved for their efforts against a Chatham side that still look favourites for one of the playoff places with the games in hand. The point moved Chatham down one place to fifth following Billericay Town’s win against Chichester City. Cray move up one place to sixth on forty eight points ahead of Dartford who were beaten at Potters Bar Town with Cray heading to Dartford next Saturday for another key clash of playoff contenders.
Cray Wanderers: Harry Seaden, Adrian Owiredu-Gyamera, Remi Sutton, Tom Bonner (Capt.), Frankie Morgan, Frankie Raymond, Harry Waldock, Lateef Adaja, Jordy Mongoy, Alex Hernandez, Max Fiddes (Ola Ogunwamide, 68).
Subs not used: Freddie Price, Quade Taylor, Ralfi Hand, Tom Derry.
Scorer: Hernandez 87 (p)
Booked: Ogunwamide 75
Chatham Town: Nathan Harvey, Ollie Evans, Jordy Robins (Alex Giles, 39), Reece Butler (Capt.), Sid Nelson, Kian Moynes (Kian Garlinge, 49), Adam Leathers, Kofi Anokye-Boadi (Nile Ranger, 56), Oliver Hobden, Sam Sene-Richardson, Tope Fadahunsi (Ben Allen, 69).
Sub not used: Simon Cooper.
Scorer: Ranger 78
Booked: Sene-Richardson 73, Hobden 79, Harvey 81, Butler 83
Referee: Michael Robertson-Tant
Assistants: Stephen Tovey, Ashley Butler
Att: 841