Cray Wanderers deservedly registered their first win of the season and moved up to eleventh in the table after defeating Harrow Borough 2-1 at Hayes Lane.

 

Cray had to work hard to defend three early corner-kicks earned by the visitors, and then the Wands wasted two free-kicks given for fouls on their 100-goal man Leigh Bremner.

Tyrone Sterling started to look a strong attacking threat for Cray down the left, and his cross was a whisker away from meeting Gareth Williams who had eluded his marker in front of goal.

 

Cray were unlucky not to score when Sterling headed against the bar following a corner-kick that he had earned himself after another strong run at the Harrow defence.

Alwayne Jones and Simeon Akibola passed their way through the Wands defence on 29 minutes, but Andy Walker saved superbly as Jones looked set to open the scoring.

 

Five minutes later Cray were ahead. The referee played advantage to allow a Cray attack to continue, and Williams opened his account for the Kent side with a low drilled shot that was deflected into the net.

Walker made an agile double save from Steve Ferguson just before the interval, and then after the break Cray took command, playing some crisp football.

 

The woodwork was rattled again as Cray looked to add to their lead, and Bremner shot over from a good chance.

Sterling capped an outstanding attacking display for Cray when he whipped in a left-wing cross for Bremner to score with a cushioned header in the 68th minute.

A wayward free-kick from Garry Jones looked like summing up Harrow's afternoon, but after late efforts from Danny Phillips and and Williams Peauroux had gone close for Cray, visiting substitute Jaakim Ehui sped through to score after 90 minutes, giving Cray a late scare before the final whistle.

 

Cray: Walker, Burgess, Pooley, Stavrinou, Willy, Day, Sterling (Tuna 80), Saunders (Peauroux 80), Bremner, Phillips, Williams (Beveney 86). Subs not used: Sproson, Power.

 

Cray are at home to Metropolitan Police next Saturday (3pm)

 

Cray will play Seven Acre & Sidcup in a veterans' match at Oxford Road on Sunday 2 September (1.30pm) with several of Cray's popular ex-players such as David Gray, Jamie Kempster, Ian Rawlings and James Taylor in the side captained by manager Ian Jenkins.