Non-league round-up: Cray Valley produce dramatic turnaround in Isthmian League Premier as Dulwich Hamlet held by Dartford

Cray Valley boss Steve McKimm hailed his side’s never-say-die attitude as they grabbed a dramatic win with three goals in the final few minutes to floor Wingate & Finchley 5-3.

A Freddie Parker treble underpinned a dramatic afternoon at the Artic Stadium as the hosts continue to impress at the top end of the Isthmian League Premier Division.

“They never know when to give up,” said McKimm. “Absolutely delighted with it. Got to be over the moon with it.

“If you’ve got a management team and a backing that I’ve got [it helps]. Their enthusiasm and desire rubs off on the players. We had to change the system and we went for it. We were 3-2 down with a few minutes to go and went for it. Tried to be more robust.”

McKimm said Parker had “beaten himself up a little bit” in recent weeks over his lack of goals but that his determination had paid off.

“He’s still running through brick walls for us,” McKimm said.

“He’s still getting battered and bruised even though he wasn’t taking the chances coming and missed a penalty at Dover, but he stepped up today to score one and hopefully he’ll kick on now with more goals because he’s a special talent.”

Cray trailed 3-2 as the game reached its final knockings – the visitors having overturned a 2-1 half-time deficit, with Ogo Obi (two) and Camilo Restrepo on target for the visitors.

Parker found the net for his second of the afternoon in the 88th minute to seemingly salvage a point, but Cray pressed on to score two goals at the death through Denzel Gayle and Parker (again) in a dramatic finale. Sonny Black had given Cray an early lead.

The Millers are undefeated in 11 league games – a run stretching back to a 1-0 defeat at Hendon in late September.

Mid-table South London rivals Dulwich Hamlet picked up a point in a 2-2 draw at Dartford. 

Luke Wanadio scored just before the interval to cancel out a Callum Jones goal from the hosts and Ralfi Hand put Dulwich in front just past the hour. They had to settle for a share of the spoils with Olly Box equalising 11 minutes later.

Boss Hakan Hayrettin felt his side “shot themselves in the foot” by not protecting their lead.

He said: “At 2-1 up we should be seeing that game out but we made a mistake. It was a good performance though and I’m proud of the effort and desire they’ve shown today. They dug deep when they needed to. It was nip and tuck today but we edged it.

“In both boxes we could have done better and we’ve got to stop making these silly little mistakes because we’re not a million miles from where we want to be.”

All is set fair now for an intriguing meeting between Dulwich and Cray Valley at Champion Hill on Saturday (3pm).

Welling United edged out Bath City 1-0 to move nine points clear of the relegation zone in National League South.

Josh Redfearn’s classy 19th minute strike was enough to get the job done at Park View Road. It was his fourth goal in five starts for the club.

The striker latched on to a long ball over the top and kept his cool to calmly send a delicate lob over the advancing keeper to keep his hot streak going.

The victory leaves Rod Stringer’s men unbeaten in five league and cup games

This weekend, the Wings travel to Salisbury before a home Boxing Day clash with Chelmsford City.

Meanwhile, Welling’s rearranged home league fixture against Hampton & Richmond Borough has been confirmed for Tuesday, January 14 (7.45pm).

They were originally scheduled to host the Beavers on Saturday, January 5, but the fixture was postponed due to Hampton & Richmond’s continued involvement in the FA Trophy.

PICTURES: ROB AVIS