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Whyteleafe achieved their best league result of the season with a surprise win at league leaders Cray who had previously won their last eight league games. The result surely puts 'Leafe amongst the favourites for the team performance of the month award.
The three points won also ease their worries at the bottom of the table as they are now seven points clear of the relegation places with six games to go.
Cray started strongly, playing with the confidence of a team that had got the winning habit and they were soon close to taking an early lead. Only three minutes had gone when the lively Leigh Bremner was brought down 25 yards out. Colin Luckett took the kick and struck the post, the ball bouncing out to safety. A minute later Jamie Wood's shot was deflected for a corner.
Cray dominated the opening 20 minutes but for long periods lacked any urgency and seemed content to stroke the ball around at the back for long periods, perhaps trying to tempt 'Leafe out of their positions. Bremner had a good chance in the 21st minute when a long ball sent him clear of the visitors' defence, but he put his shot just beyond the far post.
'Leafe had to wait until the 29th minute for their first shot on target when Sean Rivers headed straight at keeper Glen Knight. Four minutes later Rivers won a free kick just outside the box. Ryan Gray took the kick, bending it round the wall. Knight looked to have the ball covered but he fumbled it and allowed the ball to cross the line for an unexpected lead.
Cray continued to attack, with Bremner looking the most likely to score, but by now it was clear he was carrying an injury and just lacked his usual sharp pace. He had a 41st minute shot saved by Robert O'Hara, then in the 45th minute O'Hara tipped over a shot from Lewis Wood after Scott Kinch had found him in the box. At the other end Gray found Asher Hudson in the box in stoppage time but was ruled offside.
Whyteleafe enjoyed more of the game in the second half as their confidence grew. Although they only had one goal advantage, their recent defensive record suggested that Cray would find it hard to break them down. Adam Broomhead was immense in the centre of defence, winning virtually everything that came in the air and had excellent support from Ali Reeve, Michael Harney and Ellis Conroy.
Rivers did get the ball into the Cray net in the 52nd but was offside. Cray made changes bringing on more attacking players in an attempt to unlock their opponents' defence and, with Rivers often left on his own up front, they were able to play with three at the back.
One of their substitutes, Tyrone Sterling, had a header on target in the 64th minute but Andy Martin, helping out at the back, cleared the ball away. Jamie Wood shot wide in the 68th minute and Scott Kinch went very close in the 72nd minute, his shot going just over the bar. Two minutes later Bremner put Kinch through but he sliced his shot so badly it went off for a throw in.
On 75 miutes, for Whyteleafe, Martin found substitute Nigel Ikolodo who managed to get into the box but a great saving tackle from Danny Chapman denied him a shot. Two minutes later Martin sent a ball down the left wing for Gray. His pinpoint cross found Hudson in the box and his superb header gave Knight no chance as it went into the top corner of the net.
'Leafe then defended deeply in the final minutes but Cray were unable to get a dangerous shot in. In fact it was 'Leafe who went nearest to a late goal when Ikolodo beat two defenders but shot just wide of goal with just Knight to beat.
A hard earned three points for Whyteleafe who just seemed to want it so much more than Cray.
Whyteleafe: O'Hara, Hudson, Harney, Reeve, Broomhead, Goodchild, Gray, Smith, Martin (Hammond 85), Rivers (Ikolodo 67), Conroy.