Cray Wanderers lost their first game in seven as they went down 2-1 at home to Lewes in the Isthmian League Premiers Division on Saturday afternoon.
Cray got off to the worst possible start when Lewes took the lead inside the first minute. Tyler Cox picking up the ball down the right and cutting into the box before rolling the ball past JJ Briggs into the far corner of the net for 0-1.
Cray rallied from there, Jakob Lowe had a shot saved by Louis Rogers in The Rooks goal and The Wands put plenty of crosses into the box, which Lewes dealt with comfortably.
Lewes almost doubled their lead when a poor back pass from Ola Ogunwamide let in Charlie Walker, but he shot wide when well placed. Sammie McLeod fired over as The Wands continued to look to get back into things and they finally drew level on 27 minutes when Alex Hernandez had a shot saved by Rogers, but Ade Yusuff pounced on the rebound to equalise.
Cray were unusually sloppy with the ball and gave up lots of possession to a good Lewes side who eventually made them pay on 37 minutes when Ryan Gondoh received the ball on the right and hit a fantastic effort from 20 yards out that gave Briggs no chance to make it 1-2. The Wands had one final chance before ethe break when Lateef Adaja had a shot tipped over brilliantly by Rogers.
The second half saw Crat start looking positive, Crossley Lema fired over from a corner, and Hernandez put a free kick over, Lewes always posed a threat on the break though. Yusuff went close when he latched on to a long ball from Briggs, but his lob over Rogers also cleared the bar.
Cray continued to press, but Lewes held out despite a series of corners. Lowe set up Frankie Raymond who saw his drive deflected over for a corner and Tobi Tinubu had a low drive well saved by Rogers, but the home side couldn’t find a way through.
A late scramble in the area saw the ball come out to Lema, but his final effort sailed over and The Rooks to all three points.
Cray Wands focus now on their FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round game at Bedford Town next Saturday as Tim O’Shea’s side look to make history by reaching the first round.
Cray – Briggs, Lema, Morgan, Strachan, Adaja (Kader 65), Raymond, Hernandez (Payne 65), Yusuff (Tinubu 75), Ogunwamide, Lowe, McLeod (Sanogo 65). Subs Not Used: Wall.
Lewes – Rogers, Cox, Enkh, Briggs (Christrain-Law 45), Spinks, Allen, Fisher (Unwin 66), Haftom, Walker (Newsom 76) Garzon (Richardson 86), Gondoh (Al-Seadi 96).
Goals: CWFC – Yusuff 27mins. LFC – Cox 1min, Gondoh 37mins.
HT 1-2 FT 1-2
Att: 587
Referee: George Barker