Cray Wanderers kept up their unbeaten run which stretched to 13 games but had to be content with a point against a determined and resolute Hastings United side at a damp Pilot Field.
The game saw a very lively first half in which Hastings took the lead through Calum Davies after just eight minutes but that was cancelled out by a terrific volley from Michael Power in the 26th minute. Cray came close before half time to taking the lead but the second half fizzled out and in the end a draw was the right outcome.
There was one change to the starting lineup from Saturday’s win at South Park with Brandon Scott starting in place of Ralique Lawrence.
Cray began the match full of confidence and came close to scoring in the fifth minute when Power set up Scott down the right of the area whose near post shot was met by a fine save from Charlie Horlock who pushed the ball behind for a corner. From the resulting corner the ball came to Jay Leader whose header grazed the right post.
Hastings though looked a pacey side and for only the second time in the league this season Cray fell behind when the ball was worked down the right and Dayshonne Golding’s ball into the area was fired home by Calum Davies.
The home side had their tails up for a while after this but Cray slowly worked their way into the game and levelled with a terrific goal in the 26th minute. Jerome Federico found Barney Williams down the left who put over an excellent cross which was met first time by Power who volleyed in his 15th goal of the season from the edge of the area.
Cray now were looking much more in command and starting to apply the pressure before half time. First from a free kick out on the left, Michael Frieter’s ball into the area was met by the head of Mitchell Nelson and his effort was thwarted by a top drawer save from Horlock who followed up with another save but the flag was up for offside.
Cray came close when a right wing cross from Scott to the far post found Federico whose shot was deflected behind for a corner. From the corner into the box Nelsongot on the end of the cross and knocked the ball into the net but was ruled out for a foul on Horlock.
Before half time the ball was given away by Hastings at the back and Power and then Scott saw efforts blocked but the interval came at the right time for Hastings.
Half Time: 1-1
The second half was fairly open as a contest but was a bit of a lacklustre half with only a handful of openings to speak of.
Cray had a half chance when the ball came to Power down the right but his volley from a difficult angle went over the bar.
Hastings broke out well from time to time and Davies fired over from Sam Cruttwell’s neat pass. Then for Cray, Power turned well on the edge of the area and his shot was saved low by Horlock.
Karl Dent returned to the fray eighteen minutes from the end and Cray applied plenty of pressure without perhaps having that punch at the end of their good approach play. Frieter hit a shot from distance which was comfortably held by Horlock. The Hastings keeper did well though to keep out a stinging effort from Scott at his near post. This was followed by Power glancing a header off target from Dean Carpenters cross.
Hastings who are a young side stuck to their task well and Cruttwell fired just off target but they were a bit fortunate in the last minute when a defensive header found Lawrence who strode on but as the keeper came to meet him narrowed the angle but appeared to be brought down on the edge of the area. As the ball came loose Power’s effort was blocked.
The last action of the game came in injury time and Hastings almost pulled off an unlikely victory when David Radori hit an effort from just outside the area which narrowly cleared the crossbar.
In the end the game finished in a 1-1 draw which keeps Cray in fourth, five points off the leaders and three points behind second placed Corinthian Casuals.
Cray were perhaps not at their most fluent best but managed to pick up a point at a difficult place to come and can now concentrate on Saturday’ FA Trophy tie at Moneyfields.
Cray Wanderers: Nick Blue, Ben Mundele, Barney Williams, Jay Leader, Mitchell Nelson, Lea Dawson (Capt,), Zak Henry (Dean Carpenter, H/T), Michael Frieter (Karl Dent, 72), Michael Power, Brandon Scott, Jerome Federico (Ralique Lawrence, 59).
Subs not used: Freddie Parker, Marcus Evans.
Booked: Williams
Hastings United: Charlie Horlock, Ollie Rowe, Sam Beale. Jack Dixon (Capt.), Rhys Whyborne, Tom Climpson, Davide Rodari, Dayshonne Golding (Adebola Sotoyimbo, 58), Calum Davies (Kenny Pogue, 76), Ansu Janneh (Adam Lovatt, 54), Sam Cruttwell.
Subs not used: Ollie Black, Bradley Pritchard
Booked: Dixon
Referee: Damith Bandara
Assistant Referees: Daniel D’Urso, Dominic Barrow
Att: 254