Cray Wanderers move out of the bottom four after victory against Hashtag United

Cray Wanderers moved out of the bottom four into 18th place in the Isthmian Premier after securing a first home league win at Flamingo Park as a Charlie Edwards brace and a Tom Bonner header earned back to back league victories and four successive clean sheets in front of a +500 crowd.  The win also gave Cray a league double over Hashtag United who finished with ten men after Matt Wooldridge was sent off six minutes from time after an opening day win back in August.

Cray came into the game in 21st place but just a point behind their Essex visitors in 19th place and three unbeaten in the league and had won at Cheshunt last Saturday to move off the bottom of the table but with the last home league match until the end of November this looked like an important game at the outset.

From the side which started against Cheshunt there were a couple of changes with David Ijaha and Nyren Clunis starting in place of the suspended Frankie Raymond and Stefan Ilic.  Since the last match, Imran Kayani and David Smith have departed the club to join Westfield and Carshalton Athletic respectively.  Since then, the Wands played Phoenix Sports in the Kent Senior Cup in a match which saw a mix of first team and U23s players.

On a grey but very mild afternoon to start November, Cray began the game on the front foot and came close to scoring in the first minute when Nyren Clunis found Kenny Coker down the left of the area but was denied by a good save by the legs of Jack Giddens.

For Hashtag, Matt Wooldridge was booked in the 9th minute for a foul but had a decent spell of five minutes and Toby Aromoloran shot over and Camilo Restrepo pulled a shot wide of the right post.

The visitors were unlucky in the 19th minute when Sakariya Hassan made a run forward and hit a shot which crashed back off the crossbar.

Two minutes later, Cray were in front when following a free kick out to the right, 25 yards from goal, Ike Orji’s ball into the box fell to Charlie Edwards who turned and fired in a shot which gave Giddens no chance to save and made it goals in back to back games.

Cray now had a bit more control and Clunis shot wide but Hashtag did threaten from a Hassan corner down the right to the far post which fell to Harry Haysom whose header was blocked by the excellent Quade Taylor and behind for a corner.

The Wands though were playing well and added a second in the 33rd minute when Orji did well to win the ball and showed strength and pace to break down the right and put over a terrific cross which was met by a firm header by Edwards to score from eight yards.

From here Cray had more control and a ball played forward was flicked on by Coker for Lateef Adaja who had a great first half and saw his shot blocked but at the break the Wands led at halftime for the first time at home this season in the league.

The second half was a lively affair but Cray put clear daylight between the teams seven minutes after half time when from another free kick out on the right, Orji once again put over a pin-point ball into the box which was met by an arching header from Tom Bonner which looped past Giddens to make it 3-0.

From here Cray were able to soak up Hashtag’s pressure but came close to pulling one back when down the right, Misha Djemaili’s cross from the right was steered wide of the right post by Josh Osude.

At the other end, Nyren Clunis saw a shot blocked and following up Darion Dowrich who once again played superbly down the left drove a shot into the side netting.  Then, Coker down the left saw his ball put behind for a corner.

Hashtag sought a goal back and from a free kick, Djemaili’s shot came back off the wall and fell to Haysom who fired well over.  Then the nippy Osude curled a shot wide of the left post and Wooldridge shot over the top.

Cray had the ball in the net through Clunis after another great ball into the box from Orji looked to have come back off the post but was disallowed possibly for a foul.

In the 84th minute Hashtag were reduced to ten men when Wooldridge was sent off for a second bookable offence for a foul on Adaja.

Hashtag though were positive a man down and came close from a free kick centrally when Josh Rusoke’s shot was pushed round the post brilliantly by Shaun Rowley.

Cray though had produced an excellent performance and were able to see out the remaining minutes with Michael Ihiedi from the U23s coming on for his league debut and should boost confidence ahead of a run of three successive away games starting at Cray Valley PM on Tuesday night.

Cray Wanderers: Shaun Rowley, Darion Dowrich, Quade Taylor, Tom Bonner, Ike Orji, David Ijaha (Anthony Cook, 69), Charlie Edwards, Nyren Clunis (Perri Iandolo, 90+3), Lateef Adaja, Toby King (Stefan Ilic, 79), Kenny Coker (Michael Ihiedi, 86): Sub: Adrian Owiredu-Gyamera.

Att:  508