HORNCHURCH  0 CRAY WANDERERS  2

No changes from Saturday, and no real action for most of the first half. Kicking towards the windmill end, Urchins frequently underestimated the wind strength by over hitting their passes. Michael Ramkin sent a long through pass for Gray to chase but keeper Smelt ran to the edge of the area to gather. Neither side threatened, though Cray could have made more of their first corner, which Luckett took and Andy Tomlinson headed away. At the other end, Gray did well to win the ball and quickly brought it under control, and he hit his shot inches wide, and a Tomlinson free kick was headed away by Willy back to Andy whose return ball into the goalmouth was headed away by Muguo. Elliot Styles sent a good headed pass to Leon Antoine who touched on to Ramkin, but his centre was gathered by Smelt.

Cray tended to win most of the mid field balls, but confined their attacking moves to long range shots which did not go close enough to worry Darren Behcet in goal, whilst another Lockett corner went sailing out of play over the far side of the pitch. A Lover free kick forced Mark Goodfellow to concede a corner, and Ronnie Fletcher eventually cleared Luckett’s corner after the ball had bobbled around the goalmouth. An Antoine shot was blocked by Day, and a good centre from Lover found Bremner, forcing Behcet to rush out and dive on the ball at the edge of his area. Two more corners, both by Luckett, came to nothing.

Half time and once again the club shop was packed with more and more demanding to sign up to join the newly formed supporters association, with the sponsor a player scheme equally popular.

Cray coped much better with the downfield wind in their favour in the second half and when Aris found Bremner with a long pass upfield, the resulting shot was turned out for a corner, although once again Luckett’s corner kick was over hit. Darren Behcet did well to stop a surprise shot from long range, and Mark Janney came on for Mark Goodfellow. Cray continued to control most of the loose balls in midfield and they took the lead when ROSS LOVER found himself unmarked 35 yards out from goal, and his first time shot streaked into the net.

Paul Shave and Sam Higgins came on to play up front and Shave almost levelled with a fine drive from the right, which saw keeper Jack Smelt make his first save of the match. Joe Stevens then sent Janney away on the right wing but Mark’s cross was too close to the keeper. Cray continued to look the more dangerous and a shot from Lover was deflected by Fletcher for a corner, and once again Luckett put the ball yards past the goal and out of play on the other side. Michael Spencer conceded a corner when Porter almost broke through, and Paul Shave headed the ball out for a corner on the left side, which Luckett ambled over to take, and again over hit the ball.

With time running out, Joe Stevens ran through on the left side and Aris tackled to give away a corner. Tomlinson played the ball short to Janney and thence back to Spencer on the edge of the area, and Michael’s shot dipped just inches over the bar. Spencer then almost broke through with a solo run, but was tackled to concede another corner. Tomlinson again played the ball short, this time to Stevens, whose dangerous cross was headed away by Willy. In the final minute Cray broke clear and gained another corner. Luckett this time played the ball short and immediately received the return pass, played the ball into the middle where MARK WILLY rose to head home.