Cray Wanderers 3 v 0 Burgess Hill

Ryman Division One

CRAY returned to winning ways after outgunning a youthful Burgess Hill side in an entertaining and well-contested game, writes Jerry Dowlen.

Hillians' work-rate and pace gave some hope to their vocal travelling support but even with a few changes enforced in defence and midfield the Wands looked the more resilient side.

This was especially the case up front where Gary Abbott's experience was a trump card and brought the best out of Leigh Bremner and Jon Main.

A frantic opening period brought alternate chances for Cray and Hillians at the rate of one per minute - rather like a basketball game!

XXXXXX Gannon made great saves to tip away rasping shots from Main and Jamie Wood in the third and 15th minutes.

But Cray had let-offs when XXXXXX Pulling and XXXXXX Bradley both shot wide from very presentable positions in front of goal.

Gannon, playing like a sweeper at times, made a sliding tackle to stop Bremner and was happy to survive Cray's first two corner-kicks which each ended a mad scramble in the goalmouth.

Eventually the defences and midfields got a grip and Cray's attacking moves began to look too predictable.

But on the stroke of half-time the Wands got a break.

Hillians were slow and Bremner burst through to drive the ball under Gannon to open the scoring.

The second half began as a midfield slog until Hillians missed two good opportunities just after an hour.

XXXX Greenfield got clean through but Steve Northwood came out and blocked his shot.

Cray were still regrouping when a right wing cross was met by the unmarked Bradley but his header dropped over the bar.

Main's cool finish on 77 minutes settled Cray supporters' nerves.

Despite being quickly surrounded by defenders after receiving a through pass to the right of goal he held off their tackles and took the ball right up to Gannon before rolling it home.

Cray nearly scored again when Drew Watkins cleverly chipped the ball over the Hillians' back line and ran on to collect his up-and-under.

He could not finish with a shot but the ball did find Main who was tackled as he tried to hit the target.

Michael Power, making a welcome late appearance from the bench, set up a chance for fellow substitute Matt Woolf but Gannon saved well.

On 89 minutes Watkins was second time lucky in netting a spectacular goal.

A big tussle in the Cray box saw the ball cleared to Wood who whipped it along the touchline to Power on the left.

He held off his marker and calmly rolled the ball to Watkins whose fierce shot flew into the net off Gannon's fingertips.

Match facts:

Cray Wanderers: Northwood; Khan; Rawlings; Baker; Young; Watkins; Wood; Abbott (Hall, 68); Bremner (Power, 78); Main (Woolf, 84).

Subs not used: Dimmock; Francis.

Att: 110.