Cray Wanderers seven game unbeaten run in the Isthmian Premier came to an end as Carshalton Athletic won a lively encounter at Colston Avenue and inflicted only the third defeat of the season and the first away from home for the Wands .

Cray who were fifth at the start of play fell behind to 8th placed Carshalton after five minutes when Christie Pattisson finished impressively firing in off a post.  The lead was doubled in the 21st minute when Ricky Korboa grabbed his 10th goal of the season.  Cray were very much still in the game and before half time and in the early stages of the second half had chances but Carshalton added a third just after the hour from the penalty spot when Bobby Price converted after Korboa was brought down.  The scoring was completed in the 67th minute when Paris Hamilton-Downes netted following a right wing corner.

Cray started brightly passing the ball well but it was Carshalton with their first serious attack who went in front after five minutes.  From midfield, Kershaney Samuels played a fine ball out to the right to Christie Pattisson who fired in a well struck which went in off a post and into the net.

Cray looked to get back into the game and Ben Mundele down the left played the ball across to Joe Taylor whose attempted shot inside the area was blocked by Daniel Pappoe.  The following a throw in the ball came to Charlie Allen who set up Bradley Pritchard who shot over the top.

In the 21st minute, Carshalton scored a second goal when Ernold Haxhiu won the ball in midfield and played a ball through down the left to Ricky Korboa who tucked home a tidy finish from just inside the area.

There was a lively spell just before the break with for the home side, Lennart Hein set up Pattisson who shot just wide of the left post.  Then Cray came close when they were awarded a free kick 20 yards from goal.  From the free kick, Murphy’s shot curled round the wall but keeper Kleton Perntreou did well to push the ball out and as the ball came back into the area Coker couldn’t quite get a connection to turn the ball into the net.

Then Mundele who moved back to right back made a strong run from inside his own half and saw his shot go just over the bar.  Then Jay Leader found Mundele who made another run forward and he set up Murphy who was unlucky to see his goalbound shot saved well at the right post by Perntreou.

The second half started just as lively and Carshalton came close to scoring a third when Pattisson broke into the area and his effort was saved excellently by Lewis Carey and following up Korboa turned the rebound against the left post.

Cray were still very much in the game and pressing to get back into it and almost pulled a goal back when Joel Rollinson down the right lofted a looping cross to the far post which only just cleared the crossbar with Perntreou beaten.  Then good set up play between Mundele and Coker saw the ball come to Rollinson whose shot was deflected behind for a corner.

The third goal of the match came the way of Carshalton in the 61st minute when the Robins were awarded a penalty when down the left of the area Korboa was adjudged to have been tripped inside the area by Mitchell Nelson.  From the spot, Bobby Price stroked home the penalty and made it a long way back for Cray.

Shortly after, Haxhiu and player-manager Peter Adeniyi combined to set up Pattisson who was denied a second goal by a good blocked save from Carey.

In the 67th minute Carshalton scored a fourth goal when from a corner down the right, the ball was played towards the far post and Paris Hamilton-Downes arrived to steer a header into the net.

Cray looked to reduce the arrears and down the right Rollinson saw his near post shot pushed away by Perntreou and the Wands kept on going looking to get a foothold in the match but couldn’t find a way through.

There were a couple of half chances for Carshalton but there were no further goals and Cray had worked hard and contributed much to a good game but the Robins were clinical with their finishing in front of goal and look a side capable of a second successive playoff push and are strong at the back.

Cray still have much to be optimistic about as December begins and sit in 6th place just a point outside the playoffs and have the knack of bouncing back well after defeats.  Cray begin their December fixtures at home to Potters Bar Town next Saturday before travelling to Bognor Regis in a fortnight’s time.              

Cray Wanderers:  Lewis Carey, Barney Williams (Andre Coker, 40), Tom Carlse, Jay Leader, Mitchell Nelson, Lee Lewis, Bradley Pritchard, Charlie Allen (Tom Murphy, 30), Ben Mundele, Joel Rollinson (Jerome Federico, 74), Joe Taylor:  Subs:  Geofrey Okonkwo, Grant Hall

Att:  332