Cray Wanderers notched their second Kent derby win of the week as a clinical and professional display saw them earn their biggest away win of the season with a 4-0 win at Sittingbourne.
This was the first ever league visit to Sittingbourne’s Woodstock Park ground and after a fairly even opening twenty minutes Cray eventually put their stamp of authority on the game and in the end won the match well.
A goal nine minutes before half time after Leigh Bremner’s firm header from Jey Siva’s angled cross broke the deadlock, his first since re-signing for the club. In the second half, Luke Medley who scored the winner at Herne Bay on Wednesday night scored four minutes after half time, and then on the hour, Ben Mundele rapped home a third.
The scoring was completed in the last minute when Medley tapped in from Dane Luchford’s cross. The win keeps Cray in ninth place in the league table, seven points behind fifth placed Greenwich and very much still in the race of the playoffs.
Cray worked hard on Wednesday to win at Herne Bay and from the side which started that game, the only change was Jai McKinlay coming in for Paul Lorraine in the centre of defence.
Sittingbourne who started the game fourteenth, had gone eight games without a win but always make life hard down at the Woodstock and the Brickies made a lively start when in the first minute, veteran midfielder Hicham Akhazzan fired a shot just over the cross bar from twenty yards.
Cray showed for the first time when a free kick from Jey Siva out on the right was floated into the box towards the head of Lea Bremner and the ball appeared to be nudged forward by a defender but the onrushing Medley and McKinlay were deemed offside.
Then again down the right Medley put over an excellent cross into the penalty area and the home keeper Simon Overland bravely claimed the ball before Bremner got get to the ball.
Cray enjoyed some good possession and looked the more threatening side going forward but the final ball was just lacking after some good approach play. Sittingbourne were well marshalled at the back by captain Jono Richardson and Overland looked sound in goal.
Just after the quarter hour mark, Bremner down the right cut inside Conrad Lee to curl a shot towards goal which was deflected behind for a corner. From the left wing corner, Siva’s cross to the back post was nudged on by Lea Dawson to Leader who teed up Medley for a shot which was blocked by Connor Wilkins and following up Grant Basey fired wide from seven yards.
The best chances yet came in the 18th minute when a free kick twenty five yards out was cleverly played out to the left to Jay Leader who sent over a cross which was helped on by Dawson to McKinlay who hit a first time strike which was pushed away well by Overland. The ball was only partly cleared and again came to Leader down the left and he found Dent who drove a shot just over the top.
Sittingbourne though showed good attacking ideas and Akhazzan found Wilkins who shot over the bar from twenty yards as a decent game was taking shape. The home side had a bit of a let off when Bremner broke forward and looked to have been brought down by Richardson’s sliding tackle and waived away Cray’s penalty claims.
The impressive Ben Mundele made a run forward and his attempted shot was turned behind for a corner. Then down the left Medley fired a shot wide of goal after his initial cross was blocked.
A goal was coming and it arrived for the Wands in the 36th minute. Medley won the ball in midfield and found Sean Roberts who swept the ball out to the left to Siva who put over a high looping ball towards the back post which was met by Bremner who steered the ball wide of Overland for his 138th goal for Cray Wanderers.
Sittingbourne looked to hit back and almost scored when a free kick, Akhazzan’s was met by Josh Wisson whose header well held by Nick Blue.
Before the break another Siva free kick caused consternation at the back and Dent and then Dawson saw efforts blocked. The last action came for the home side when Stefan Wright made a run from midfield and his shot was held by Blue.
Half Time: 0-1
Sittingbourne started the second half on the front foot and were a little unfortunate when Tom Carlse down the left put over a cross shot which flashed across goal and the ball was cleared.
However, in the 49th minute, Cray scored a second goal when Bremner played a sublime pass through to Medley who held off a defender and from just inside the penalty area confidently placed the ball past Overland for his second goal in only his third start for the club.
Sittingbourne were a very dogged and capable side and looked to get back into the game and forced a few corners in the second half. Cray though were excellently defended by Leader, McKinlay and Basey and they denied them many clear cut chances.
Perhaps the best chance for the Brickeies came to Jack Embery who turned well just inside the area but drove his shot straight to Blue. Then Wisson found Akhazzan who drove a shot wide of goal.
Then down the right Sam Welch found Embery who attempted a near post shot which was blocked by the immaculate Leader.
Cray though stepped up a gear and clinically added a third in the 60th minute with a well taken goal. Dent played in Medley down the left who put over a cross to Bremner who held off three defenders to tee up Mundele via the chest of Overland to rifle home a shot which wedged into the goal frame for his second goal of the season.
The home side continued to press for a goal that would have made for an interesting close to the game and Wisson hit a shot from twenty yards held by Blue.
Perhaps their best chance of the game came when Welch put over a right wing cross met by the head of Richardson who playing more as a forward but his header was claimed by Blue on the line.
Then a rare moment of indecision by Blue saw him play the ball straight to Embery who from a tight angle dragged the ball across goal and out in the end for a throw in.
Cray had created more chances in the first half but scored their third goal of the half in the last minute and it was again very well worked with Siva finding substitute Dane Luchford down the left who played the ball across to the near post to Medley who got in front of Conrad Lee to turn the ball home from three yards to cap off a very satisfying afternoon’s work for Cray.
Sittingbourne worked hard and Nick Davis’s side seem set perhaps for a midtable finish. They have beaten some good sides at home including Hythe and Walton and at Greenwich and many teams will not come to Woodstock and beat them 4-0.
The performance of the whole Cray team was excellent but special mentions perhaps to Jay Leader, Jai McKinlay and Sean Roberts who were quite superb. Dawson and Dent were always a threat and the Bremner and Medley partnership has already produced the goods.
Also, Grant Basey’s second straight start has seen a steady return to the Cray team after his injury and certainly has helped to instill some steel to the side. Jey Siva’s delivery of crosses all afternoon were excellent and Mundele deserved his goal after some fine performances in recent weeks without having much luck in front of goal.
It has been a very satisfying last couple of games and Cray look ready for the challenge of the last sixteen games of the season. The Wands now head for a tough trip to South Park on Wednesday night but now looking very confident with some big games against four of the top five still to come.
Cray: Nick Blue, Ben Mundele, Grant Basey (Brandon Scott, 72), Jay Leader, Jai McKinlay, Lea Dawson, Sean Roberts, Karl Dent (Sol Taiwo, 78), Leigh Bremner (Dane Luchford, 84), Jey Siva
Subs not used: Timi Osidobu, Paul Lorraine
Booked: Basey
Sittingbourne: Simon Overland, Sam Welch, Tom Carlse, Conrad Lee, Jono Richardson (Capt.), Stefan Wright, Tom Brunt (Bradley Schafer, 61), Josh Wisson (Hassan Jalloh, 86), Jake Embery, Connor Wilkins, Hicham Akhazzan (Raphe Brown, 83).
Booked: Wilkins
Referee: Danny Bonneywell
Assistants: Daniel Proctor, Olly Fyfe
Attendance: 111