Cray Wanderers vs Lewes – Isthmian Premier – Saturday 24th August, 3 pm
Cray Wanderers 1
Cook 49
Lewes 3
Allsopp 13, Bassett 19, Sablier 23
Cray Wanderers Bank Holiday weekend began with a third straight league defeat as Lewes maintained their 100% winning start to the season with a powerful first half performance at a soggy Flamingo Park.
After a fairly even start to the game, Lewes began to exert their authority and went in front in the 13th minute when Eddie Allsopp turned the ball in via a deflection and then six minutes later made it 2-0 when ex-Wand Danny Bassett finished well after latching onto Marcus Sablier’s pass.
It looked like game over in the 23rd minute when another ex-Wand, Sablier made it 3-0 when he pounced on a loose ball to fire into the net from 30 yards and Lewes could have scored more goals but Shaun Rowley made two saves to deny Bassett and Parish Muirhead hit the post.
Cray fought back in the second half and one of four halftime replacements, Anthony Cook scored the Wands first ever league goal at Flamingo Park when he hooked in from a free kick at the far post. Cray played well in the latter stages and had a goal ruled out by Charlie Edwards from a free kick seemingly for impeding goalkeeper Toby Bull but seemed harsh. Lewes were reduced to ten men in the 74th minute when Sablier was sent off but despite Wands pressure held out to stay top of the table.
Cray were looking to bounce back from last Saturday’s defeat at Hendon and from that side into the team came Arezki Hamouchene and a new defensive signing, Adrian Owiredu-Gyamera most recently with Boldmere St Michaels in the Northern Premier League Midlands Division for David Smith and Harrison Sodje. Lewes had beaten Chatham Town, Bognor Regis Town and Hashtag United in their first three games and there were five ex-Wands in their side with Danny Bassett, Ethan Kaiser, Jack Enkh, Marcus Sablier and also Ben Mundele on the bench.
On a wet afternoon Cray began brightly enough and from a Frankie Raymond corner down the left into the six yard box aimed for Quade Taylor but was blocked and Lewes had to clear.
Lewes though began to grow into the game and Parish Muirhead down the left made a run forward and fired a shot over. Then from a corner down the right, the ball came to Danny Bassett who saw his shot parried by Shaun Rowley.
In the 13th minute Lewes took the lead when Matt Warren reacted to hesitation at the back and with Rowley slightly committed and down the right squared the ball into the area for Eddie Allsopp whose shot was deflected towards goal and deemed to have crossed the line.
Bassett then saw a near post shot sting the hands of Rowley down the right and for Cray, Lateef Adaja saw a low shot saved by Toby Bull.
In the 19th minute Bassett scored with a clinical finish down the right after picking up a fine pass from Marcus Sablier to shoot into the bottom left corner.
In the 23rd minute, Lewes had an element of comfort with a third goal as Marcus Sablier showed great vision to pick up a stray ball to fire in from 30 yards.
Lewes continued to look threatening with every attack and Muirhead saw a shot from outside the area come back off the right post.
As the half wore on, Cray managed to stem the flow of goals and had a half opening when Darion Dowrich’s cross down the left into the box was deflected off Jack Enkh and Bull had to get down to save and prevent an own goal.
There was still time before half time for Sablier and Bassett to see efforts saved and at the break, Cray had a mountain to climb.
HT: 0-3
There were four changes at half time with Antony Cook, Harrison Sodje, Kenny Coker and David Smith all coming on and from the restart Coker came close with a shot from down the left which was saved by Bull.
Then in the 49th minute Cray got back into the game when from a free kick down the right from Raymond towards the far post, Cook hooked the ball into the net for the Wands first league goal at Flamingo Park.
Cray were playing now with determination and put Lewes under pressure and from another corner, the ball came to Nyren Clunis whose shot towards goal was blocked. Then Owierdu-Gyamera and Charlie Edwards combined to set up Frankie Raymond for a shot that was charged down.
In the 71st minute Cray thought they had made it 3-2 when from a free kick down the left, Raymond’s excellent ball into the area looked to have made its way into the net via Edwards but the goal was disallowed believed to be for Bull being impeded. Then Raymond clipped a shot over the bar.
In the 74th minute Lewes were reduced to ten men when Sablier, who had been booked a few minutes before, was sent off following a foul on Clunis.
Cray continued to push forward to score another goal but Lewes defended well and Muirhead saw a shot deflected over for a corner.
Towards the end, Cook and Raymond set up Coker for a shot that was blocked and Edwards set up Cook for a shot saved and also another effort blocked by Bull. Then Clunis fired wide.
The final piece of action saw Josh Williams fire wide for Lewes and saw out the remaining minutes to maintain a fine start to the season and maximum points from four games.
There was more encouragement with the performance in the second half to take to Dulwich Hamlet on Monday and look to get back on track after three straight defeats.
Cray Wanderers: Shaun Rowley, Darion Dowrich (Harrison Sodje, H/T), David Ijaha, Quade Taylor, Adrian Owiredu-Gyamera, Lateef Adaja (David Smith, H/T), Frankie Raymond, Charlie Edwards, Arezki Hamouchene (Anthony Cook, H/T), Nyren Clunis, Dontai Stewart (Kenny Coker, H/T): Sub: Alfie Evans
Booked: Stewart 23, Taylor 35, Ijaha 83, Raymond 90+2
Lewes: Toby Bull, Jerry Puemo, Jack Enkh, Matt Warren, Ethan Kaiser, Shae Hutchinson (Josh Williams, 56), Marcus Sablier, Parish Muirhead, Alfie Allen (Ben Mundele, 70), Eddie Allsopp (Tolu Ladapo, 77), Danny Bassett (James Jeffrey, 86): Sub: Malachi Morris
Sent Off: Sablier 74 (2 cautions)
Booked: Puemo 82
Referee: Chris Williams
Assistants: Steven Walsh, Alistair Potter
Att: 565
