Cray Wanderers manager Neil Smith praised his team’s defensive discipline and midfielder Charlie Edwards’ standout performance in a historic 3-0 win over Hashtag United.
The victory marked their first win at their new home, Flamingo Park.
Edwards opened the scoring with a stunning volley from the edge of the box, quickly doubling his tally with a glancing header following impressive work from Ike Orji on the right flank.
Captain Tom Bonner sealed the win in the second half with a powerful header from an Orji free kick, lifting Cray to 18th in the table.
“We aimed to start strong, and that was our whole game plan,” Smith said.
“When Charlie scored that first goal, you could feel the boys relax. It was brilliant.”
“I was right in line with Charlie when he hit it, he didn’t snatch at it, just perfect connection.
“If we’d had a camera, it would’ve been incredible to watch. The diving header was just as special.”
The result extends Cray’s unbeaten run to four games, all without conceding a goal.
Smith commended his side’s defensive stability, noting that their recent form has been built on hard work at the back.
“When you go through a tough spell like we did early in the season, it’s all about establishing a solid foundation, and that begins with the defence,” Smith added.
“The boys are defending from the front, and those at the back are doing their part. Today was just a great team performance.”
Cray now faces a challenging run of three consecutive away fixtures, including a derby against local rivals Cray Valley.
Smith hopes this win will provide a strong platform to build on for the rest of the season.
“This division is incredibly tight at the moment. It’s all about taking it one game at a time, but today’s focus was securing that first home win,” he said.
“The atmosphere here has been amazing, with fantastic local support. It’s great to get this win in a place we can finally call home.”
For Hashtag United, it was a frustrating afternoon as they struggled to penetrate Cray’s resolute defence.
Their frustrations culminated in a late red card for Matthew Wooldridge, who received a second yellow for a reckless foul.
Hashtag will hope to bounce back when they travel to Chichester next weekend.
HJC Journalism 