Cray Wanderers picked up their first win of the season on Saturday and progressed through to the second qualifying round of the FA Cup as they defeated Southern Combination League Premier Division Newhaven at Hayes Lane.

There were home debuts for Lee Lewis who returned to the club last week, William Wood on loan from Welling and Tom Penfold, while George Porter came back from injury to boost the front line for Cray. While Jack Holland and Anthony Cook both remained sidelined through injury.  

The Wands got off to the perfect start on six minutes when Nyren Clunis’ free kick out wide found David Ijaha in the six yard box and the midfielder powerfully headed home to give Neil Smith’s side an early lead and settle any nerves.

The Dockers went close soon after when Ian Robinson crossed for Luca Page, but the Newhaven number 7 could only direct his header wide at the far post.

Cray then doubled their lead when Lee Lewis and Clunis combined to set up Tom Derry who headed home for 2-0 on fifteen minutes. Newhaven continued to look for a way back in the game and Tom Penfold made a vital block at a corner to stop The Dockers pulling one back soon after.

Alfie Rogers also went close from a free kick as the visitors had a good spell going into the break, but Cray also ended the half with another chance when Clunis broke down the right, only to drag his shot wide from the edge of the area. 

The second half saw Newhaven start brightly, Rogers had a free kick saved by Shaun Rowley, but then it was Cray who rallied and picked up their third goal when George Porter played in Yahaya Bamba on the right and he cut in to finish low past Jake Buss into the far corner of the net for 3-0.

Bamba was denied another goal soon after when Owen Muller made a vital tackle in the box as he looked to shoot. At the other end Rowley made a good save at the feet of Ezra Roeg, before the visitors got the goal they deserved on sixty four minutes when Rowley spilled Rogers freekick and Rob Mailia was on hand to score from the rebound to make it 3-1.

The game opened up for a spell with Porter firing over for The Wands and Ryan Warwick having a shot saved by Rowley at the other end.

Porter had another shot saved by Buss and also had a goal ruled out for offside, before the game was pretty much finished as a contest when Newhaven defender Robbie Keith was sent off for pulling back Porter as he looked to break into the box with ten minutes to go.

Clunis scored from the resulting free kick with a sublime curling effort over the wall giving Buss no chance and making it 4-1. Two minutes later Cray made it 5-1 when Porter and Sam Wood combined to set up Bamba on the right and he broke free with his blistering pace before drilling the ball low last Buss to complete the scoring.

The final chance of the game did fall to Newhaven though, when Malilia hit the bar from 25 yards out, but in the end the two division gap between the sides proved to be too much and Cray Wands picked up their much needed first win of the season.                              

Cray: Rowley, Lewis (Taylor 68), W Wood, Penfold, Black, Ijaha (S Wood 61), Raymond, Clunis, Bamba, Porter, Rowley. Subs Not Used: Saunders-Henry, Campbell, Thompson.  

Newhaven: Buss, Barker, B Rogers (Sidwell 70), Keith, Muller, Warwick, Malila, A Rogers, I Robinson, Connor (Roeg 61). Subs Not Used: MacLean, Walton, L Robinson, Scrafton.   

Goals: Cray – Ijaha 5, Derry 15, Bamaba 50 & 82, Clunis 80mins. Newhaven – Malila 64mins.  

Att: 176

HT 2-0 FT 5-1