Cray Wanderers 2 Kingstonian 1

Striker Bobby Traynor celebrated a century of goals for Ks with another quality strike at Hayes Lane on Saturday. Unfortunately, it was the only highlight of the game for a below-par Ks taking on a vastly improved Cray side who are pulling clear from the relegation zone with ease.

The Wands started to pile on the pressure just before the break and it was Ks' on-form keeper Rob Tolfrey who was called upon to make a series of important, often point-blank, saves. Ks missed the presence of injured skipper Adam Thompson in the heart of defence, and the misery for the visitors was further compounded by some fussy refereeing from Richard Jaye, who booked six Ks players in what was not a particularly physical encounter.

The home side deservedly took the lead at the beginning of the second half through striker Leigh Bremner, who was a handful all afternoon.

Then Wands defender and ex-Ks FA Trophy legend Colin Luckett missed a penalty.

It looked like a home banker but instead upstepped the dangerous Traynor, whose genius is to bag a goal at anytime, to level the scoring bringing his side right back into it.

But the Wands had other ideas and helped themselves to all three points with an inspired late goal from striker Marcus Cassius.

Ks now entertain play-off rivals Wealdstone on Thursday, February 25, at Kingsmeadow in more vital league action.

The game got under way on just three minutes with a lovely diagonal pass from striker Carl Wilson-Denis setting Traynor free down the right but his low cross into the Cray goalmouth was cleared.

On six minutes Wands winger Jamie Wood floated in the first of a series of dangerous free-kicks into the Ks box, this one was cleared by Ks defender John Fletcher.

Both keepers were hardly troubled for the first twenty minutes of the game.

On 24 minutes Bashiru Alimi set Traynor free again down the right but his cross was comfortable for keeper Tony Kessell.

Luckett set striker Cassius free down the left but Ks central defender Rob Sheridan stood firm and cleared.

A high Luckett ball from the left was comfortably held by Tolfrey under some pressure.

On the half-hour mark, a Matt Gray free-kick from the left was only half-cleared to Alimi on the edge of the Wands box but he blasted over first time.

Then it was time for the Wands to set about Ks with some determination.

A cross from defender Ross Lover found John Guest in the Ks box but he volleyed over.

The pacy Cassius took off down the middle of the park but again Sheridan was back to stop his progress.

Cassius again took off down the left and blazed a drive across the face of the Ks goal.

With four minutes to the break Cassius went down the right flank, picking out George Porter on the near post, but Tolfey made a full-stretch block to deny the Wands winger.

Then Cassius sent in a cross from the right that was met with a flying header, from Bremner which went wide of the far post.

The Wands continued in a similar attacking vein straight after the break, Cassius took off down the left found Bremner again close in but he was blocked for a corner.

A Cassius cross from the left was headed clear by Traynor back on defensive duties.

On 50 minutes the Wands made the breakthrough when a Jamie Wood corner from the right was headed into the Ks goalmouth by Guest, stationed on the far post, allowing LEIGH BREMNER to nod the ball home from close quarters.

Almost immediately, Cassius set up Bremner just inside the Ks box, where he was brought down by Max Hustwick for a penalty that was harsh on the Ks defender.

Up stepped Luckett and slammed the spot-kick unluckily against the bar from where it bounced away to safety.

With suspended Ks manager Alan Dowson watching the game from the terraces, assistant manager Mark Hams, threw on a double subsitution of Dean Lodge and Christian Jolley.

A long throughball from Hustwick saw Kessell out quickly to deny a lurking Lodge.

On 63 minutes, Gray sent in an edge-of-the-box free-kick that brought off a full-stretch save from Kessell.

A Lover corner from the left flashed across the Ks goal, ending up with an unmarked Cassius but he sliced his drive wide.

Luckett found Bremner in the Ks box, he turned and fired, but Tolfrey was well placed to smother.

Then it was Tolfrey again at his very best.

Cassius sent Porter free, he darted into the Ks box, but again Tolfrey made another excellent, well-timed and point-blank save.

In the 79th minute, Ks were making history, Gray took off down the right flank picking out an unmarked BOBBY TRAYNOR to his left.

The striker struck his 100th goal low with some velocity into the far corner past a full-stretch Kessell. Gray struck the ball over from 25 yards after a useful Jolley run.

With five minutes remaining a short Gray corner to Traynor saw him find sub Simon Huckle deep in the Wands goalmouth but his cheeky backheel was cleared off the line.

With three minutes remaining a lovely measured cross from the right from midfielder Tommy Tyne saw him pick out the busy MARCUS CASSIUS on the far post and his ferociously struck drive gave Tolfrey no chance.

Ks: 1. Rob Tolfrey 2. Matt Gray 3. John Fletcher 4. Max Hustwick 5. Rob Sheridan 6. Luke Hickie (sub Simon Huckle, 75mins) 7. Bashiru Alimi 8. Mo Harkin (capt) (sub Christian Jolley, 56mins) 9. Bobby Traynor 10. Carl Wilson-Denis 11. Lee Hall (sub Dean Lodge, 56mins).

Subs: 12. Simon Huckle 13. Craig Bradshaw (G/k - not used) 14. Francis Duku (not used) 15. Christian Jolley 16. Dean Lodge.

Yellow Cards: Harkin, Wilson-Denis, Jolley, Hickie, Gray, Traynor.

Attendance: 307