Cray and Horsham shared the points in a game where both sides had spells of dominance, but neither did enough to win the game.

Despite missing regular keeper Nicky Blue and Brandon Scott The Wands started the game well, Sol Taiwo went close with an early free kick before Karl Dent and Ade Osifuwa combined to set up Danny Haynes who had a chance saved by Josh Pelling.

Jay Leader had a header saved from a corner, Sherwin Stanley headed over and Haynes was just off target soon after. The home side’s pressure finally paid off on 18 minutes when Taiwo found Dane Luchford out wide and he sent over the perfect cross for Haynes to meet the ball first time with power driving his shot past Pelling into the net.

After a quiet spell following the goal, Horsham rallied and started to come into the game, Tom Lawley hit a speculative effort from 35 yards which debutant keeper Sam Roach did well to save, but on the next attack The Hornets equalised.

Lewis Hyde sending over a fine cross to Ollie Gill who placed his shot perfectly past Roach for 1-1 on 32 minutes.

Horsham finished the half on top, Roach had to make a double save from George Branford and as Cray gave the ball away far too frequently when passing out from the back the young stopper also made a superb save from Lawley when one on one.

The second half started with the home side looking more positive, Sean Roberts missed a great chance to put Cray in front when he broke free but placed his shot narrowly wide from the edge of the box and Karl Dent fired wide.

Dent then hit the bar after great work from Jay Siva down the left and Lee Prescott headed over a Taiwo free kick.

The Wands though continued to give up possession cheaply and they were made to pay on 72 minutes when Downey broke up field and sent a great ball to Reece Batchelor who cooly clipped the ball past Roach to put the visitors in front.

The lead only lasted two minutes though as Cray rallied again and Siva put in a superb pass for Haynes to crash the ball home past Pelling to level the scores.

The game became stretched as both teams tired, but continued to look for a winning goal, Branford had a long range dipping shot superbly saved by Roach at full stretch, with the only Cray chance of note falling to Dent when the impressive Siva set him up, but the influential midfielder saw his shot comfortably saved.

In the end a point was probably about fair over the whole game, which leaves Cray in seventh place just outside the play off spots ahead of their trip to Molesey on Saturday.

 

Cray: Roach, Osifuwa, Siva, Leader, Taiwo, Dawson, Roberts, Dent, Luchford, Haynes, Stanley (Prescott 45).

Subs Not Used: McKinlay, Osibodu, Law.

Horsham: Pelling, Batchelor, Hyde, Axell (Downey 68), Jones, Farmer, Branford, Jackman, Lawley, Gill (Andrade 58), Harris (Kirkwood 56).

Subs Not Used: Smith.

Goals: Cray – Haynes 18 & 74mins. Horsham – Gill 32, Batchelor 72mins.

Ref: Mr C Farrell

HT 1-1 FT 2-2

Att: 101