Cray Wanderers slipped to their second league defeat of the season in a fast paced, open and entertaining game at a wet Hayes Lane on Saturday, coming out at the wrong end of an eight goal thriller with Enfield Town in front of over 600 fans.

Enfield got off to the perfect start after only 2 minutes when hesitant defending let in Mohammadu Faal to dink the ball over Lewis Carey and put the visitors in front.

Soon after Ken Charles broke clear and could have made it two, but this time Carey made the save at his feet.  Once Cray got over the initial shock they drew level 5 minutes later when Tom Carlse found space down the left and crossed for Joe Taylor who coolly placed the ball into the corner of the net from the edge of the box to equalise.

Cray posed a threat down either wing and went on to have a good spell of pressure. Mitchel Nelson headed a Bradley Pritchard free kick narrowly over, Taylor had a goal ruled out for offside, before both Pritchard and Jerome Frederico saw efforts saved by Nathan McDonald.

The Wands struggled with the pace of Faal up front for Enfield and he raced clear again, but this time Carey saved at his near post and the ball was scrambled away.

Late in the half Andre Coker crossed for Jay Leader whose header came back off the bar and Tony Russell’s side were made to rue their missed chances when a long ball over the top caught The Wands’ defence flat footed and Faal raced clear before sliding the ball past Carey into the corner of the net to make it 2-1 to The Es. In first half injury time Charles nearly made it three, but his shot was just wide of the far post.

The second half saw Cray rally initially, but their early pressure faded and Enfield went on to cause their hosts real problems.

Town went 3-1 up on 52 minutes when a corner from Sam Youngs was nodded towards goal by Sam Hatton and turned into the net by Charles in a crowded six yard box. Youngs and Faal both went close soon after before Cray had a spell when Leader headed a Frederico cross wide and Coker had a shot cleared off the line by Hatton.

Any hopes of a comeback look dashed just after the hour though when a great move put Enfield 4-1 up, Bobson Bowling crossing for Charles to crash the ball home from just inside the area.

Town continued to press, Ryan Blackman had a free kick tipped over by Carey and the keeper also made a great save from Hatton’s driven effort.

The inevitable fifth came with twenty minutes to go, Joe Payne hitting a long range shot that deflected off Leader and completely wrong footed Carey as the ball looped up and dropped into the opposite corner of the net.

The Wands battled back again though, Taylor headed a corner against the bar, before Tom Murphy made it 2-5 when he curled a superb shot into the corner of the net from 25 yards out.

Faal was only inches away from completing his hatrick for the visitors with a free kick, but it was Cray who notched the next goal when Pritchard’s corner found Leader who headed powerfully home for 3-5.

The centre back making his first appearance of the season since breaking his nose in July, wore a protective mask, but it certainly didn’t hinder his heading ability and he headed a Pritchard free kick just over right at the end.

In injury time Enfield could have made it six, with The Wands pushing men forward, the visitors broke away, but Ryan Blackman’s shot was saved by Carey.

On Non League Day this was a great advert for Isthmian League football, with Enfield making the most of their chances, while Cray Wands were just a little off their game going forward. Tony Russell’s side dropped one place to tenth as they now prepare for their trip to Merstham on Tuesday night.                                   

Cray: Carey, Mundele, Carlse, Leader, Nelson, Phipp (Parker 65), Pritchard, Frederico, Allen, Coker (Murphy 68), Taylor.

Subs Not Used: Lewis, Etumnu, Okonkwo.

Enfield: McDonald, Hatton, Payne, Thomas, Wilson, Muleba, Blackman, Youngs (Livings 85), Charles (Read 77), Faal (Brown 81), Bolwing.

Subs Not Used: Mubiayi, Weatherstone.    

Goals: Cray – Taylor 7, Murphy 73, Leader 85mins.

Enfield – Faal 2 & 41, Charles 52 & 64, Payne 70mins    

Att: 621

Ref: Mr Scott Rudd