Cray Wanderers vs Cray Valley PM
Isthmian Premier – Tuesday 13th August, 7.45 pm – Match Report
Cray Wanderers 0
Cray Valley PM 2
Gayle 58, Parker 60
Photos to follow
Cray Wanderers historic first Isthmian Premier League match at Flamingo Park ended in defeat as Cray Valley PM won the first ever competitive fixture between the clubs with a professional performance with two second half goals scored by Denzel Gayle and Freddie Parker in front of a remarkable midweek crowd of 840.
The night was a long time in the making and one of the biggest games in the club’s history but it was Cray Valley who took home the three points to make it 19 wins out of 20 league wins away from home.
The Wands were looking to build on Saturday’s 2-0 win at Hashtag United and named an unchanged starting lineup with Alex Teniola on the bench. Cray Valley were beaten narrowly by Dartford 2-1 at home on Saturday and there was one change with Cem Tumkaya coming in for Arthur Lee.
On a very mild evening for football which was pre-empted by a brief burst of rain the first half was a very competitive and compelling derby game which the visitors created the best chances.
The Millers began well and Denzel Gayle saw a shot blocked and Hassan Ibrahym shot wide from distance.
Cray Wanderers looked to get forward and Lateef Adaja set up Frankie Raymond who fired over the bar. Then in the 15th minute Cray came close when Quade Taylor played the ball forward to David Smith who set up Kenny Coker who from 12 yards was denied by the legs of Max Ovenden in the Millers goal.
Two minutes later Danny Waldren saw a shot deflected behind for a corner and then the always consistent Barney Williams set up Ibrahym who shot side.
Then Cray Valley came closest yet when from a left wing corner from Andre Coker was floated towards the far post and Waldren’s header was headed off the line by Nyren Clunis.
There was a blow for Cray Wanderers when Tom Bonner had to go off through injury and was replaced by Archie Johnson in the 26th minute.
In the 33rd minute Cray Valley came close to breaking the deadlock when Gayle down the right of the area saw a shot deflected off Taylor onto the right post and away. This was followed by another ex-Wand Andre Coker cutting inside from the left and pulling a shot wide fo the right post.
For Cray Wanderers, Clunis shot over and then for Cray Valley, Williams shot was deflected behind for one of many corners from which the ball came to Matthew Vigor who fired over.
In the first minute of added on time Adaja showed a fine turn of pace to get away down the right and on his left foot fired wide of the left post.
HT: 0-0
The second half began slowly with Tom Chambers cross for Cray Valley from the left hooked away well by David Ijaha.
The Wands introduced Dontai Stewart and Arezki Hamouchene ten minutes after half time and Hamouchene found Darion Dowrich who hooked a shot over down the left of the area.
Shortly after in the 58th minu Cray Valley took the lead when Gayle broke down the right and into the area, took on Archie Johnson and fired a shot under Shaun Rowley and into the net.
Cray needed a moment or two to recover but on the hour Cray Valley scored again with Gayle down the right putting over a superb cross which found ex-Wand Freddie Parker who turned the ball in from close range.
From here the last half hour got a bit bogged down with substitutions (in my opinion five for each side is too much and adds unnecessary time to the end of the game) with Cray Valley seeing another former Wands player Michael Ademiluyi who came off the bench to see a shot held by Rowley.
For the Wands, Hamouchene showed his trickery in midfield to take on defenders to break into the area but seemed to run out of space and dribbled his shot wide of the right post.
Cray Valley were defending very well especially the impressive Cem Tumkaya who soaked up everything at the back while up front for Cray Wanderers David Smith worked hard with little reward for his efforts.
Towards the end, Ademiluyi saw a shot deflected off Dowrich for a corner while Anthony Cook and Alex Teniola came on for Cray with Archie Johnson having to go off with a mouth injury. The final action deep into added on time saw Lyle Della-Verde’s free kick go wide of the right post.
In the end Cray Valley had merited their victory and produced a very professional performance and had the look of a very settled side used to winning. For Cray Wanderers, the team with a few changes are still looking to totally gel and on Saturday head to Hendon looking to put the disappointment of the game behind them.
Despite the result, the night was all about the club and the future and the crowd of 840 was remarkable testament to years of hard work with many obstacles thrown the clubs way to now settle in a new home and with many visitors to the game, many of whom were visiting Flamingo Park for the first time and with positive feedback augurs well for the future.
Cray Wanderers: Shaun Rowley, Darion Dowrich, David Ijaha, Quade Taylor, Tom Bonner (Archie Johnson 26, Alex Teniola 82), Lateef Adaja, Charlie Edwards (Anthony Cook, 74), Frankie Raymond (Arezki Hamouchene, 55), Nyren Clunis, Kenny Coker (Dontai Stewart, 55), David Smith.
Booked: Taylor 50, Edwards 54, Ijaha 88, Cook 90+7)
Cray Valley PM: Max Ovenden, Barney Williams, Tom Chambers, Kiki Oshilaja, Cem Tumkaya, Matt Vigor, Danny Waldren (Sonny Blck, 63), Hassan Ibrahym (Lyle Della-Verde, 69), Andre Coker (Michael Ademiluyi, 68), Denzel Gayle (Clement Asiedu, 86), Freddie Parker (Adam Coombes, 89)
Booked: Oshilaja 30, Vigor 79, Black 90+7
Referee: Richard Wharton
Assistants: Toby Carlisle, Andres Anastasiou
Attendance: 840
