Three goals in either half and a red card for debutant Robbie Mason ensured it was an afternoon to forget for Soham Town Rangers last Saturday, as they were smashed 6-1 by Cray Wanderers in the Ryman Division One North.

Ely Standard: Robbie Mason, pictured here during his earlier spell at Soham Town Rangers, was sent off.Robbie Mason, pictured here during his earlier spell at Soham Town Rangers, was sent off. (Image: Archant)

Robbie Nightingale and Dave Theobald’s men travelled to the capital to take on the promotion-chasers, looking to bounce back from a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Thamesmead Town the week before.

The Greens handed a debut to striker Robbie Mason, who they welcomed back for a second spell at the club following his move from Royston Town last Friday.

However, Mason’s debut soon turned sour as the hosts took a fourth-minute lead when Jacob Erskine split the Soham defence and finished under Sam McDermit.

Cray didn’t have to wait long to double their lead, as Michael Frieter found the net four minutes later, leaving Soham shell-shocked and with a mountain to climb with only eight minutes on the clock.

Soham responded well to their disastrous start, coming close to pulling a goal back through Callum Russell and Will Lawton.

Cray weathered the Soham storm and hit back with a third goal eight minutes before the break, when James Duckworth made the most of some sleepy Soham defending to slot home.

George Darling was introduced in the second half as the Greens searched for a way back into the game, but the match was put beyond them by a neat strike from Cray skipper Karl Dent.

Ryan Sharman did give the Greens something to cheer about with a well-taken 10th goal of the season, but their cheers were soon silenced when Mason received his marching orders for two quick-fire yellow cards.

Soham’s woes were compounded by substitutes Leigh Bremner and Jamie Mascoll, who completed the rout - and Soham’s biggest loss this term - by adding two more goals for the fourth-placed side late in the second half.

After two successive away losses, Soham will be pleased to return to Julius Martin Lane on Saturday afternoon for the visit of struggling Romford (3pm).