Cray Wanderers returned to league action after their unexpected afternoon off on Saturday to pick up well deserved point against playoff bound Greenwich Borough at Hayes Lane.

Despite the lack of goals this was a really fine football match and after a difficult initial first fifteen minutes for Cray the Wands got themselves back into the game and twice hit the woodwork during the game through Karl Dent and Danny Haynes. Greenwich Borough for their part looked dangerous for in the initial stages but he Cray defence stood firm and when they got through found Nick Blue in fine form and made fine saves to deny Travis Gregory and late on from Lewis Clark.

Cray have struggled at home in 2017 and the visitors with a playoff place assured started the game very confidently with Liam MacDevitt, Travis Gregory and Rob Denness looking dangerous and kept the ball well.  Chances for them though were at a premium aside from four corners in the first ten minutes which a resolute Cray side were able to repel.

Gradually Cray worked their way into the game and had the first real semblance of a chance in the fifteenth minute.  From a corner down the right, Lee Prescott’s cross towards the far post was met by the head of Antonio Lazarri from fifteen yards but went just wide of the right post.

After 31 minutes, Greenwich created the best chance yet when Bradley Pritchard won the ball in midfield and played in Gregory who from the right edge of the area fired in a shot which Blue did well to get his hand to and push behind for a corner.  Then Gregory set up Lewwis Spence who fired wide from the edge of the penalty box.

In the 36th minute though, Cray were desperately unlucky not to score.  From another Prescott right wing corner the ball was floated to the far post where Paul Lorraine headed the ball back into the box, where the ball was cleared out by Lewis Clark as far as Karl Dent who cracked in a tremendous volley which came back off the top of the crossbar and over.

The second half saw Cray come out the quicker and four minutes after the restart almost took the lead with what would have been a great goal.  Ben Mundele won the ball in midfield and strode on to the right edge of the penalty area and played the ball out to Brandon Scott down the right who breezed past Clark to lay the ball across to Haynes who hit a first time sidefooted effort which beat Craig Holloway in goal but came back off the post and agonisingly away from goal.

Cray came close again when Player of the Year, Lea Dawson won the ball and played in Scott who played a one two with Prescott just outside the penalty area and set up Haynes who curled a shot just wide of the right post.     

Borough who needed a win to confirm third place at the end of the season twice came close through Peter Sweeney who swept in a shot which Blue got down well to save.

Then, Greenwich had a decent opportunity when MacDevitt in a good position from fifteen yards could only chip the ball straight to Blue.  For Cray, Haynes saw an effort deflected behind for a corner and Prescott fired wide from twenty five yards.  

Going into the final minutes both sides came close to winning the game,  First Cray came close when Lazzari played a great ball through to Luke Medley down the left of the area who took a couple of touches to set up a shot but saw his effort blocked by Nathan Paul.

Then Greenwich had a great chance when Clark burst through down the left and with Blue to beat his shot at the near post was well blocked by the Cray keeper.

The point keeps Cray in eleventh place whilst Greenwich need a point from their final game at home to Guernsey to confirm third place.  

Cray:   Nick Blue, Ben Mundele, Timi Osidobu, Antonio Lazzari, Paul Lorraine, Lea Dawson (Capt.), Sean Roberts, Lee Prescott, Danny Haynes, Karl Dent (Luke Medley, 82) Brandon Scott (Anthony Adesite, 87):  Subs:  Zak Henry, Jai McKinlay, Tyrone Guthrie

Attendance:   169