Cray Wanderers picked up their second league win of the season with a hard fought victory over Cheshunt in the Isthmian League Premier Division at Hayes Lane on Saturday afternoon.
The Wands started the game on the front foot with Nyren Clunis and Ellis Brown both having shorts saved by Joe Rose in the visitors’ goal.
As the game opened up Cheshunt started to create chances with Nathaniel Orafu clipping a chance wide and Nnamdi Nwachuku heading wide from a Solomon Bugh corner.
With Chesunt looking the most likely to score at that point, Nwachuku had two more chances, firing narrowly wide and then forcing a save from Shaun Rowley soon after.
Then against the run of play just before the half hour mark, The Wands went in front when a quick break up field saw Gary Lockyer play in Jamie Mascoll on the left and the Cray sub drove the ball across the keeper and into the far corner of the net from just inside the area for 1-0.
Cheshunt pressed again going into the break, Jack Holland making a superb tackle to deny Dejon Noel-Williams and then Rowley made a superb save to deny Anwar Moutawafiq’s volley from a corner to preserve Cray’s lead at half time.
The second half got off to an open start and then became a real battle in midfield, Cray had a good shout for a penalty when Roase and Porter collided on the edge of the area, but Referee Adam Merchant gave a free kick to Cheshunt.
From there the visitors had a strong spell of pressure, Noel-Williams and Finlay Titchmarsh both had shots saved by Rowley and Jamie Reynolds side footed wide when connecting to a low cross from the left.
Noel-Williams then missed a great chance firing over from close range at a corner, before their equaliser eventually came on 69 minutes when Baugh directed a half volley into the goal from another set piece in a crowded penalty area.
Orafu drove a free kick just over as Cray were over ran for a spell, but the introduction of Anthony Cook saw The Wands settle & then rally.
After a spell of pressure a Sam Wood corner was directed towards goal by Lockyer and Porter swept the ball home on the turn from close range to make it 2-1.
Cook then went close with a free kick, Clunis had a shot saved by Rose and in the six minutes of added time The Wands had a series of corners, which saw Neil Smith’s side see the game out and secure a vital three points.
The win moves Cray out of the bottom four for the first time this season ahead of their trip to Kingstonian next Saturday.
Cray – Rowley, Lewis (Cook 75), W Wood (Mascoll 15), Holland, Black, S Wood, Ijaha, Brown, Clunis, Porter, Lockyer (Bamba 78). Subs Not Used: Thompson, Penfold.
Cheshunt – Rose, Titchmarsh, Moutafawiq, Orafu, McKenzie, Mbayo, Redgrave (Haxhiu 45), Baugh, Reynolds, Ekongo (Unwin 87), Nwachuku (D Nowl-Williams 39). Subs Not Used: Meehan, Djamas.
Goals: CWFC – Mascoll 29, Porter 77mins. CFC – Baugh 69mins.
Att: 165
Referee: Adam Merchant
HT 1-0 FT 2-1