Cray Wanderers picked up a further three points at Metropolitan Police at the weekend to move into fourth place in the League, their highest placing so far this season. It was their third win in a row and probably more importantly the third clean sheet as the Wands’ rearguard stood strong.

The opening period belonged firmly with the visitors with David Hall and Ross Lover forcing early saves from Will Packham whilst Jamie Wood also went close from a free kick.

The Wands’ passing game in the first half was of exceptional quality with Danny Chapman, Colin Luckett and Aaron Day all in fine form and it was the latter who almost opened the scoring but he failed to connect cleanly to Mark Willy’s clever knock down.

Despite their dominance, it was Met Police who had the closest chances of the half, with leading scorer Craig Carley guilty of wasting two gilt-edged opportunities.

The deadlock was eventually broken right on the stroke of half time.

There seemed to be little danger when Packham received the ball back from one of his own defenders but, having been put under pressure by Jamie Wood, he failed to find his team mate and only succeeded in giving the advantage to George Fenwick. Seeing the ‘keeper off his line he sent a delightful 35-yard lob over his head and into the back of the net. This was the striker’s fourth goal in as many weeks and takes him up into double figures for the season.

Unfortunately, the second half failed to produce much fluent football with the Police failing to make any inroads in the Cray defence whilst the Wands seemed content on keeping possession without the necessity to increase their lead.

Ross Lover shot just wide in the closing stages whist Michael Power was denied doubling the lead when harshly judged offside despite clearly running from his own half.

Cray Wanderers: Knight, Day, Luckett, Chapman, Willy, Royston, Lover, J. Wood, Fenwick (L. Wood 80), Power, Hall. Unused subs: Sterling, Aris, Amena, Baker.

The Jon Smiths' MOM: Danny Chapman