Cray Wanderers’ final Isthmian League Premier Division home game of the season saw their faint play-off hopes extinguished as they threw away a first half two goal lead to lose 3-2 to local rivals Welling Utd who in turn avoided relegation with a match to spare.

Watched by a bumper crowd of over 1,100, including a large away contingent, The Wands made a quickfire start to the game with a Max Fiddes run into the area that saw him square the ball to Alex Hernandez who had his deflected shot saved on the line by MacKenzie Foley.

Cray pressed again from there and were in front within 2 minutes when Ola Ogunwamide unleashed an unstoppable drive from the right wing, just outside the area, to put the home side in front.

Slowly Welling came into the game from there, Sam Smith having a shot saved by Harry Seaden, but after play was broken up several times for injury treatment, The Wands pressed again and a quick break up field saw Fiddes go close.

Cray doubled their lead just after the half hour mark when Fiddes again beat The Wings defence for pace and finished brilliantly past Foley for 2-0. Welling rallied going into the break, but they failed to really test the home defence.

The second half saw a total change in momentum, after a quiet start it was all Welling and they pulled a goal back on the hour when Referee Craig Charles awarded a penalty for a push on John Ufuah. Ufuah stepped up to take it and saw hit spot kick well saved by Seaden, but Noah Stewart pounced to convert the rebound for 2-1.

Tim O’Shea made three changes from there, but it failed to turn things round for his side. The Wings levelled up on 74 minutes when Ayman El Mogharbel picked up a partially cleared corner, weaved his way through the Cray defence and coolly slipped the ball into the corner of the net to equalise.

Cray tried to get back into the game with Frankie Raymond and Remi Sutton going close, but they just couldn’t get going. As the game ticked into injury time, Welling were given a free kick 30 yards from goal and they made the most of it. Ibby Akanbi unleashing a superb free kick that flew into the top right-hand corner of the net to secure the three points for Ryan Maxwell’s team and guarantee their league safety after a remarkable turn round in form over the last two months. 

Cray: Seaden, Morgan, Stepien-Iwumene, Sutton, Bonner, Raymond, Hernandez (Hutchinson 61), Ogunwamide (Mongoy 61), Lema, Fiddes, Adaja (Ajikaiye 61). Subs Not Used: Hand, Gyamera.

Welling: Foley, Majoyegbe, Thomas, Arthur (Reeve 45), Reynolds, El Mogharbel (Oluwatimilehin 85), Azeez, Gunner, O’Keefe, Smith (Ufuah 45), Stewart (Akanbi 79). Subs Not Used: Paternoster.      

Goals – CWFC: Ogunwamide 2mins, Fiddes 31mins. WUFC – Stewart 60, El Mogharbel 74, Akanbi 90mins.  

HT 2-0 FT 2-3

Att: 1,112       

Referee: Craig Charles