Cray Wanderers U23s vs Corinthian U23s
SCEFL Development League West – Friday 6th September – Match Report
Cray Wanderers U23s 6
Borders 10, 12, 42, 75, 80, Damyanov 83
Corinthian U23s 1
Holland 79
Cray Wanderers U23s bounced back from last Friday’s defeat to Erith Town with an excellent performance to beat a decent Corinthian side who contributed much to an entertaining evening at Flamingo Park.
The star of the show for the Wands was Tom Borders who scored five goals taking his tally to eleven in three matches this season. After a lively start from both sides, Borders opened the scoring in the 10th minute and then scored a second two minutes later. His hat-trick was completed three minutes before half time and made it four nil fifteen minutes from time. Corinthian pulled one back through Lloyd Holland but made it a nap hand with a headed fifth a minute later. The scoring was completed by the hard working Victor Damyanov in the 83rd minute who showed composure to take the ball round the keeper to roll the ball into the net.
Cray earlier in the day finally received the points and goals from the abandoned game at Punjab United on 22nd August and were looking to bounce back from the 3-7 defeat at home to Erith Town last Friday.
The game, like most Development League games, was played at a terrific pace and went from end to end in the first ten minutes. For the Wands, Victor Damyanov saw a shot held by Ethan Rook and then set up Tom Borders in the area but shot wide of the right post and to be fair was the only chance he missed all night.
Corinthian pushed forward and Harjeevan Benning shot wide of the right post and Jack Tickle shot wide from the edge of the area.
However, in the 10th minute Cray went in front when Borders received the ball down the left of the area and drilled in a shot at the near post.
Two minutes later it was two nil and another great piece of finishing and down the right Callum Redman’s cross went across the box to Borders whose first time shot crashed past Rook.
The half continued at a breakneck pace and Damyanov down the left hit the post and then George Brooke saw a shot deflected to Rook.
For Corinthian, Ibuchi Johnson-Nwuso saw a shot deflected past the left post for a corner and then Max Allen saw a shot parried by Nathan Mawaring. For Cray from a Redman corner, the ball came to Damyanov who shot over. Then Isaac Tano shot over the bar and Corinthian came close when Max Shoolbred’s cross was pushed out by Manwaring.
In the 42nd minute Cray scored a third goal when down the right Damyanov played a ball to the near post where Borders was on hand to score to complete his hat-trick.
Before the break, Harjeevan Benning headed wide from a Lloyd Holland free kick. Then just on half time a cross from Tickle was met by Benning who hit the bar from close range.
HT: 3-0
At the start of the second half, from a corner for Corinthian, Johnson-Nwuso headed wide, while for Cray, Damyanov shot over from the right of the area
Then, Brooke down the right fizzed a cross across the box which missed Borders in the middle, then Tano saw a shot held. Then, Borders made a run forward shot wide.
For Corinthian, Shoolbred down the right cut into the box and his shot to the far post was cleared off the line by Lincoln Hunter and from a free kick, Holland’s shot was pushed out by Manwaring.
Cray though finished the last twenty minutes well and Brooke saw a shot held and then was played through but put his shot just past the left post, and then Tano volleyed wide.
In the 75th minute, Cray scored a fourth goal when Cameron McQueen’s ball forward found Borders who from just outside the area hit a superb shot which beat Rook into the bottom left corner.
Corinthian though had deserved something for their efforts in the game and in the 79th minute pulled a goal back when from a free kick down the left, Holland’s cross-shot went straight into the net to make it 4-1.
However, the four goal margin was restored within a minute when down the left David Owusu-Boateng cross was met by the head of Borders to score his fifth from 12 yards and each one a great finish.
In the 83rd minute, the Wands scored a sixth and a deserved goal for Damyanov who was played through down the left, took the ball round Rook and rolled the ball into the net.
Before the end, Owusu-Boateng shot wide, Borders saw a shot blocked while for Corinthian, Tickle shot wide and Joseph Casey saw a shot save by the legs of Manwaring.
In the end though Cray had done more than enough to win and did so in some style and Tom Borders is an incredible talent and star of the future whose hold up play is just as impressive as his finishing.
In finishing, I would recommend any Friday nights when the U23s are playing to give the team a watch and you will be mightily impressed. Roy Brooke’s side will be at Glebe on Monday, 9th September, 7.45 pm and the next home game will be on 27th September vs SC Thamesmead
Cray Wanderers: Nathan Manwaring, Callum Redman (Cameron McQueen, H/T), Tyrese Simpson-Knight (Lincoln Hunter, 60), Neil Ntsiomo (Uziel Nathan-Bateki, 66), Eduard Mare, Bobby Parkes, Isaac Tano (David Owusu-Boateng, 74), Carl Anderson, Tommy Borders, Victor Damyanov, George Brooke: Sub: Michael Ihiedi
Booked: Simpson-Knight
Corinthian: Ethan Rook, Lloyd Holland, Max Allen, Joly Fay, Mason Embleton, Gurpreet Benning (Harry Wintour, 57), Maximus Shoolbred, Elliott Haywood, Ibuchi Johnson Nwuso (Joseph Casey, 73), Jack Tickle, Harjeevan Benning (Daniel Atta, 57)
Att: 93
