Cray maintained their second place in the table with a comfortable win over struggling Shoreham at Hayes Lane on Boxing Day, hitting seven unanswered goals and hitting the woodwork on a further four occasions.

After an even start it was The Wands who took the lead on 6 minutes when Ben Mundele and Brandon Scott combined to set up Michael Freiter who turned the ball home from eight yards out.

Shoreham responded with two god chances, but Nicky Blue made two good saves at the feet of Marlon Pinder and then from George Gaskin from the rebound. Cray made the best of their reprieve by going two up on 13 minutes when Freiter crossed for Aaron Rhule whose header was scooped away by keeper James Broadbent as he fell backwards only for the linesman to wave that the ball had crossed the line.

Freiter went close again soon after and Rhule hit the post with an audacious volley, before the home side suffered blow when top scorer Michael Power had to go off injured.

The Wands kept the pressure up though and after Braodbent had made three good saves from the lively Scott, sub Freddie Parker eventually made it 3-0 just before the break, converting a low Rhule cross past a flat footed defence in the six yard box.

The second half started with Parker and Lea Dawson going close before Rhule made it 4-0 on 49 minutes when he showed great footwork just outside the box before surging forward and guiding the ball past Broadbent.

Two minutes later it was 5-0 when Rhule sent in a great cross for Parker to head home from close range. Mitchell Nelson hit the bar from all of 30 yards soon after, Scot was denied by Broadbent and Parker hit the bar with a header from a Scott ball as Tony Russell’s side poured on the pressure.

Broadbent made a fine save low down from his own defender and also saved from Freiter before Dawson this time hit the bar with a well struck effort.

With the visitors tiring under the barrage they eventually conceded two more goals on the final few minutes, sub Karl Dent curling in a fine effort from just outside the box with his first touch and then Dawson made it 7-0 in injury time when he headed home a Jerome Frederico cross to complete a ruthless performance against a Shoreham team that never stopped trying, but offered little going forward.

Next Cray entertain Faversham at Hayes Lane on Saturday looking to keep up their challenge on leaders Lewes who are three points in front, but The Wands have a game in hand.

Cray: Blue, Mundele, Williams, Leader, Nelson, Dawson, Henry, Freiter (Dent 80), Scott (Frederico 69), Rhule Power (Parker 19).

Subs Not Used: Carpenter, Evans.

Shoreham: Broadbent, Gathern, Proto-Gates, Elgar, O’Neil, Whitmore, Pinder (Diakisse 80), Myers (Robinson 45), Gaskin, Collyer, Herbert.

Subs Not Used: Bullivant, Packer.

Goals: Cray – Freiter 6, Rhule 13 & 49, Parker 43 & 51, Dent 83, Dawson 90mins.

Att:  149

HT 3-0 FT 7-0

Ref: Mr A Rayment