Both teams came into the game with contrasting league form but it was Cray who took the game to the visitors in the opening stages. Ian Daly hit a shot over the top from Adrian Stone’s knockdown after two minutes.

Cray took the lead on six minutes when Gary Beckett’s cross field ball went to Ishmael Welsh who charged down the left and into the box. His ball across was knocked back by Stone to Daly who tapped in from 2 yards out.

Molesey were an occasional threat first half and their best opening came when Tom Windsor went through on goal. Darren Behcet returning in goal rushed out to block the attempt and the loose ball fell to Ross Chalke who fired over the crossbar. Chalke was denied a few minutes when inside the box he was stopped by a superb saving tackle by the impressive Nick Humphrey.

The visitor’s hopes of getting back into the game were dented on the half hour when Marlon Rodney who was booked for a foul a minute earlier was then sent off for a rash challenge on Gary Beckett on the touchline right in front of the Cray dugout.

Cray went two nil up six minutes before half time with another fine goal by Daly. This time he took Cesc Fakinos’ ball and bent in a shot from 20 yards which took a slight deflection before hitting the back of the net.

Half Time: 2-0

Molesey were given the chance to get back in the game three minutes into the second half when Moses Spencer was adjudged to have been pushed in the box and the referee awarded a penalty. Matt Baxter’s struck quite an edgy penalty which Behcet saved comfortably to his right.

Darren also corrected his own mistake when after his miskicked his goal kick straight to James McShane but made amends by coming out and smothering the ball before he could shoot.

Cray kept possession well with the man advantage and Stone had a header on goal saved by Liam Allen from Daly’s ball in.

The game started to get heated for a spell and there were four yellow cards issued in four minutes, three for Molesey as they were starting to tire and the referee did well to keep a lid on the game.

Daly came close to completing his hat trick when he let fly again from 20 yards but this time Allen made a good finger stop to turn his shot over the crossbar.

Cray made absolutely sure of the win seven minutes from time when Stone scored the goal his performance deserved when he rifled home an instinctive finish just inside the box.

Molesey managed to pull a goal back five minutes from time when Windsor’s fine ball fell to McShane who tucked his chance away well.

With the game entering injury time there was still time for a great piece of improvisation from Stone who from just inside the centre circle in Cray’s half he lofted a chip towards goal which struck the angle of post and crossbar and away.

The final whistle then went and Cray achieved a morale boosting victory to advance to the 1st Qualifying Round where they will meet the winners of the Tooting & Mitcham v Three Bridges tie at home on the 13th September. Those two teams meet again at Three Bridges next Tuesday after a goalless draw this afternoon.

Cray: Darren Behcet, Ces Fakinos. Steve Springett, Danny Lye (Capt.), Nick Humphrey, Max Fitzgerald, Gary Beckett, Pat O'Connor (Tom O’Connor H/T), Adrian Stone, Ian Daly, Ishamel Welsh (Jordan Bird, 64): Subs: Dan Stubbs, Martin Dynan, Hussein Isa, Nick Taylor

Booked: Stone, Daly, T. O’Connor

Molesey: Liam Allen, Luke Elliott, Marlon Rodney, Craig Lewington (Capt.), Ollie Robinson, Moses Spencer, Tom Windsor, Ross Chalke (Ashby Charles, 69), Matt Baxter (Peter Songs, 82), Stafford Palmer (Jamie LInegar, 69), James McShane

Subs: Dre Grobler, Andrew Harewood

Sent Off: Rodney 29

Booked: Rodney, Lewington, Windsor, Elliott

Referee: David Spain

Attendance: 87