Two late goals condemned Enfield Town to defeat as they lost 3-2 at home to Cray Wanderers.

Town won the reverse fixture of this game 5-3 back in October and it was another entertaining affair this time around.

Charlie Allen had Cray in front at the break before Ryan Blackman and Billy Bricknell scored within four minutes of each other to turn things around, but Allen levelled with eight minutes to go before Jay Leader struck Cray’s winner in stoppage time.

It was a cagey affair to start with as both sides looked fragile under any sort of pressure, but Cray were having all of the early opportunities, although their long-distance strikes were rarely causing problems for Nathan McDonald.

Tom Phipp and Lee Lewis were both kept out for the visitors, while at the other end, Bricknell fired narrowly wide and Ken Charles scuffed an effort into Lewis Carey’s hands when well positioned.

Lyle Della-Verde and Sam Youngs both tested Carey in the away goal but found their efforts comfortably kept out.

Minutes later, though, Wanderers took the lead when Marc Weatherstone was caught out by a long ball over the top which Allen latched onto, and he lobbed the ball over McDonald to give his side a narrow half-time lead.

Enfield made an improved start to the second period, stringing some good passing moves together, and they got a deserved equaliser on 56 minutes when Della-Verde cut the ball back from the byline and Blackman was there to steer home.

Four minutes later, Town were handed the chance to turn the game on its head when Ben Mundele needlessly brought down Charles in the area and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot.

Bricknell stepped up and he calmly converted to put Town in the lead.

The hosts had numerous opportunities to extend their advantage and put the game out of sight, but Youngs’ effort went the wrong side of the post and Bricknell blazed over the bar when Della-Verde was well placed in the middle.

The game’s turning point came in the 77th minute when Blackman picked up a second yellow card, leaving Town with the tough task of seeing the game out with 10 men.

They were dealt a blow almost immediately when a shot from Rhys Murrell-Williamson ricocheted into the path of Allen, and he forced the ball over from close range.

It looked as though the game was heading for a draw, but a late corner for Cray resulted in Leader climbing above everybody to head home and snatch the winner at the death.

Defeat leaves Town eighth in the Isthmian League Premier Division, four points adrift of the play-offs ahead of their trip to Margate tomorrow night, which kicks off at 7.45pm.