Cray made it three wins in a row with a superb attacking performance against a Molesey side who had absolutely no luck at all over the ninety minutes on their visit to a showery Hayes Lane.
The Wands started on the offensive with Brandon Scott at the heart of nearly every move down the right which caused The Moles trouble. Scott crossed for Bradley Wood-Garness who headed wide, before the winger had a powerful shot saved by Liam Allen soon after. Scott sent in another cross that Wood-Garness just failed to connect with before he combined well with Karl Dent to set up Sean Roberts who opened the scoring on 14 minutes with a superb curling effort from 20 yards out.
Molesey’s first attempt on goal came when Joe Pratley-Jones fired a fierce drive narrowly wide from outside the box, before Dent went close at the other end after more good work by Scott. Joe Nwoko had the visitor’s best chance to equalise when he took the ball round Nicky Blue, but took it too wide and saw his effort cleared away at the second attempt.
Then to compound The Moles misery Cray made it 2-0 on the next attack when Wood-Garness set up Dent who fired home a spectacular goal from 25yards giving Allen no chance. Ashley Charles shot just wide for Molesey before Dent nearly made it three when he returned a goal kick over Allen’s head, but just wide of the target. The Moles finished the half well, Ross Chalke headed a corner wide, Joe Nwoko had a shot deflected wide by Sol Taiwo and Marlon Rodney hit two chances over the bar. In first half injury time Wood-Garness and Roberts both put chances wide for Cray.
Cray started the second half in perfect fashion when Taylor McDonnagh broke down the right and set up Wood-Garness in the box who finished well past Allen for 3-0. Taiwo went close with a well struck free kick before Molesey rallied creating several half chances and having two scrambles in the box cleared by the home defence. The Wands midfield dynamos of Dent and Roberts both had efforts saved by Allen before Scott had a goal ruled out for offside.
Dent had an effort saved from a corner before Wood-Garness came close to scoring a fantastic solo effort taking the ball round the keeper and two defenders before hitting the covering defender on the line with his shot from ten yards out. Moles midfielder Ross Chalke then suffered a horrible head injury that saw him carried off and an ambulance called after colliding with a team mate in an aerial challenge.
After the delay for treatment both sides carried on attacking freely, Craig Lewington and Pratley-Jones forced good saves from Blue while Cray saw Max Williams and Wood-Garness go close. Ben Mundele had a shot deflected wide before in jury time Molesey captain Lewington was sent off for a second yellow when he kicked the ball away after conceding a foul.
This was a fine display from The Wands keeping them in touch with the play off spots and they could have scored more with a little composure in front of goal. Tony Russell’s men now have two home cup games with Dartford visiting on Wednesday night in the Kent Senior Cup and Carshalton Athletic in the FA Trophy next Sunday.
Cray; Blue, McDonnagh, Sivapathasundaram, Leader, Lorraine, Dawson, Roberts (Williams 77), Taiwo, Wood-Garness, Dent (Mundele82), Scott (Prescott 82). Subs Not Used: Osibodu, McKinlay.
Molesey: Allen, S Charles, Rodney (Aderomnu 72), Lewington, David, Pratley-Jones, Windsor, Chalke (Somuyiwa 77), Palmer, Nwoko (Oglinkoya 82), A Charles. Subs Not Used: Grant.
Goals: Roberts 14, Dent 28, Wood-Garness 47mins.
Ref: Mr J Pike
HT 2-0 FT 3-0
Att: 101