In a top of the table clash Cray came out on top in a final scoreline that flattered the hosts but kept the Wanderers in the title chase.
In a game that started bright for Cray with Petts Wood kept in their own half for much of the opening mins, a foul on the edge of the box provided the first chance of a real attack for Cray with a floating high ball into the box from Brown, the Petts Wood keeper just keeping it out of the goal.
Another long ball in the 6th min was nearly latched onto by Chloe Ashdown but Perfit bravely came to collect, the sweeper keeper role played well by her today.
In the 12th minute Petts Wood had their first real attack on the goal,Sam Sharp coming out quickly to clear.
13 minutes in and after some nice play in the middle of the park Brown was fouled for a challenge from behind resulting in a yellow card for Beth Bunker. The resulting free kick was taken quickly with Oldfield and Kulishko involved ,the ball falling eventually to Gregory who snatched at a half chance.
Brown then picked up an ankle injury with an early substitution being made,Brown off, Millie Main on.
Petts Wood fashioned a few chances for themselves, hitting the side netting and creating a chance on the edge of the box that Sharp cleared.
Cray opened the scoring on the 31st minute, Main with a long ball to the wing, Gregory moving well to go past two defenders and flashing a cross across the face of goal with Hrystyna Kulishko tapping in making it 1-0 to Cray.
Cray got their second 5 minutes later, a 40 yard free kick placed into the top right hand corner by Main, 2-0 to the Wanderers.
Cray added a 3rd on the 45th minute,Dodds floating a dinked shot surprising the keeper who remained flat footed and Cray were 3-0 up at the break whilst not being at their best.
The second half started positively for Cray with Gregory again with the good work on the right hand side,cutting the ball back for Dodds, another flashing shot past the post.
Petts Wood had their first good chance in the 50th minute, Sharp producing a fingertip save from Sophie Mcormick that Main then cleared.
Crays 4th came in the 54th minute, a wonderful delivery from a corner by Jackson that was half cleared by Petts Wood, Claire Goldsmith battling in between the Wood defenders to toe the ball back to Jackson who whipped the ball into the box for Kulishko to bully her way through to tap into the goal.
An unfortunate injury for Chenery in the 60th minute saw Atkins venture onto the pitch and a formation change to 4-4-2 for Cray. This didn’t seem to dampen Crays attacking thirst with a 5th added on the 65th minute, Ashdown chasing what looked a lost cause ball down the left hand side, fizzing the cross that was blocked by Wood but the loose ball was latched onto by Main from the edge of the box.
The game then quietened down with Petts Wood having a flurry of corners which were dealt well enough by Cray.
Petts Wood seemed to have lost all momentum when their own goal kick resulted in Kulishko going on a driving run, passing to Jessica Oldfield who scored the 6th from a difficult angle and then adding Crays 7th a few minutes later after some good pressure from Ashdown working the ball to Jackson resulting in a good save from the keeper who couldn’t keep it in her hands, Oldfield tapping in from a few yards out, 7-0.
Cray completed their goal scoring for the day, on the 82nd minute, Dodds with the long ball to Oldfield, her first touch taking the defender away from her and the powerful shot too strong to be kept out,Hat trick for Oldfield, 8-0 to Cray.
Wood got a consolation goal on the 85th minute,with Dodds deemed to have handballed in the box and the penalty was cooly slotted away by Mcormick. Jackson and Atkins could have added to the final tally towards the end of the game but some good saves were made by Perfit.
A good win for Cray even though they could by all admission played much better but go back to the top of the league for Christmas on 25 points, three clear of Tonbridge Angels with Cray having a game in hand.
Team: Sam Sharp, Grace Dodds, Vittoria D’Urso, Claire Goldsmith, Danielle Smith, Okasia Brown, Louise Chenery, Hrystyna Kulishko, Olivia Gregory, Jessica Oldfield, Chloe Ashdown: Subs: Renette Ofori, Olivia Moore, Hannah Ashdown, Millie Main, Katie Jackson
