Cray Wanderers moved back into second place in the Isthmian South and maintained an unbeaten league run to 20 games but had to be content with a point after a dramatic finish saw sixth placed Walton Casuals level in the third minute of stoppage time of an excellent action packed game.

Cray had the first opportunity to take the lead when Brandon Scott playing down the left was put through and was caught just outside the area by goalkeeper Denzel Gerrar who was booked for the foul.  Meanwhile for Walton, in the 11th minute, the pacey Tyrell Richardson-Brown scorched his way down the right and from just outside the area fired a cross-shot just wide of the left post.  Then the impressive Josh Kelly cut inside from the left and fired in a shot which Nick Blue got down to save 

However, it was Cray who made the crucial early breakthrough in the 15th minute when Scott down the left used great speed to work his way into the area and laid the ball across which went past Gerrar to the far post where Jerome Federico turned the ball home for his third goal of the season.

Cray threatened again first when Karl Dent’s whipped in free kick out on the left had to pushed round the post by Gerrar who then made a good stop with his legs to deny Scott.

The Wands then came very close to going two nil up when from a corner the ball was cleared out to Scott who whipped in a ball towards goal which Gerrar did well to push away from the attentions of Mitchell Nelson.  The ball came to Jay Leader who turned two defenders inside the box and his goal bound shot was cleared off the line by Dominic Ogun out to Dent who planted a header into the hands of Gerrar.

Before half time though it was Walton who almost scored next when down the left, Josh Kelly worked his way into the area and played the ball across to Youssef Bamba who headed over from five yards.

The second half was even more dramatic as Michael Power fired over for Cray and then Scott shot wide after Power was upended by Gerrar.   Walton though were always a threat and Josh Kelly was denied a goal by a fine save from a diving Nick Blue.

However, Walton did draw level in the 55th minute when this time Josh Kelly set up Bamba down the left who cut inside and unleashed a great curling shot which gave Blue no chance hitting the top right hand corner.

Cray are great at bouncing back from setbacks and two minutes later retook the lead when some fine play by Scott saw the ball come to Dent down the left who put over a great cross which found the excellent Dawson who turned two defenders and buried a shot wide of Gerrar into the bottom left corner of the net to make it 2-1.

Walton though were never out of the game at any time and almost drew level again when Josh Kelly bore down on goal and his shot was pushed on to the crossbar by Blue but not over the line and the loose ball to Richardson-Brown was cleared off the line by Barney Williams.  

With the game in its final minute, the game seemed won when Power worked his way to the left touchline looking for the corner flag when substitute Jack Battie came in with a challenge which must have been studs up and after a brief flare up Battie was sent off although the ref didn’t make this evidently clear and Power was booked.

The game though had a sting in its tail when three minutes into added time with Cray a bit edgy Casuals won a corner.  The ball was played into the area and was half cleared out as far as Bamba who hit a crashing shot which from the edge of the area which flew into the roof of the net to make it 2-2 and thwart Cray’s attempts of a ninth straight home win. 

The Wands moved back up to 2nd place in the table with 56 points and play again on Wednesday evening as they host VCD Athletic.

Cray Wanderers: Nick Blue, Ben Mundele, Barney Williams, Jay Leader, Mitchell Nelson, Lea Dawson (Capt.), Zak Henry, Karl Dent (Dean Carpenter, 65), Michael Power (Marcus Evans, 90), Jerome Federico, Brandon Scott (Ralique Lawrence, 82): Subs:  Freddie Parker, Joe Vines

Att:  222