Chatham Town 2-1 Cray Wanderers

Chatham Town gave their relegation fight a welcome boost with three points, whilst denting Cray Wanderers faint hopes of a play off spot, writes Neil Sanders.

Central defender James Holder, signed in midweek from Faversham Town, went straight into the starting line up and put in a man of the match performance.

Chats started well and had already got in two decent shots before scoring the opening goal after 14 minutes.

After a good build up down the middle the ball went out to Rob Denness on the right, and his cut back was met first time by Jim Lyons on the edge of the 18 yard box, with the shot flying into the top corner.

Bradley King also went close in the first half with a volley after more patient passing.

Cray came back strongly towards the end of the first period, with Jamie Wood going close twice and Andy Martin forcing a fine reaction save from John Whitehouse just before the break.

The visitors continued to press forward in the second half but a solid performance by the Chats defence of Binks, Groombridge, Holder and Brooks, helped to keep them out until the 81st minute.

The equaliser eventually came from substitute Junior Baker's first touch when he climbed highest to head home from a corner.

However, Chatham were not to be denied their first win in eight games and snatched the points with an 87th minute goal.

Shane Suter somehow wriggled clear in the box and saw his shot loop over Cray keeper Grant Hall via a deflection.

Chats have deserved a win from their previous couple of games and can now take this improvement into their tough run of away games ahead.

Next Saturday they visit Sittingbourne, then it’s back to Bourne Park again on the Wednesday to play top of the table Maidstone United. This is followed by a trip to Dover Athletic the following Saturday.

Chatham Town: Whitehouse, Binks, Lyons, Groombridge, Holder, Best, Lyons, Brooks, Shulz, Denness (Walker 75), Suter (Govey 88). Subs: Phillips, Goodger.