Dartford vs Cray Wanderers – Isthmian Premier – Thursday 26th December – Match Report
Dartford 2
Box 57, 63
Cray Wanderers 1
Williams 29
Cray Wanderers five game unbeaten run came to an end on Boxing Day as Dartford turned round a half time deficit to win with a classy Olly Box brace in a closely fought game. Cray made a huge contribution to the match with Josh Williams’ first half goal and came close to adding to the goal before half time.
Cray in sixteenth place at the start of the game were unlucky not to win against Billericay Town last Saturday and the starting lineup saw one change with Charlie Edwards starting in place of George Penn. Dartford had moved up to fourth place in the table following an eleven game unbeaten league run and named an unchanged side from Saturday’ a 1-0 win at Folkestone Invicta.
The game began at a decent pace and Cray forced a corner in the opening minute and the first shooting chance came to Dartford in the fifth minute when a cross from the right was punched out by Shaun Rowley but following up Samir Carruthers fired over the bar.
Cray were putting some good movement together up front with Nathan Jeche and Josh Williams a threat and Williams saw a shot blocked inside the area and the Wands were just edging the contest.
In the 29th minute Cray took the lead when after a defensive mistake down the left, Williams nipped in between two defenders to plant a shot wide of Jacob Marsden and into the net for his fourth goal of the season.
Cray have been defending superbly throughout December and the remainder of the half saw this continue and the Wands could have added to their lead before the break.
Firstly, Jeche who worked hard up front saw a shot deflected off Josh Hill and behind for a corner. Then shortly after Frankie Raymond drove a shot just past the left post.
A couple of minutes befor the break from a free kick 20 yards out Ike Orji’s shot was pushed over well by Marsden. Then twice the Dartford keeper had to parry a shot from Williams from outside the area and also saved from Lateef
After a short spell of sparring Cray took the lead just before the half hour when Williams saw a shot from outside the area held and then Marsden parried a shot from Jeche but at the break Cray had merited their 1-0 lead.
HT: 0-1
Half time it seemed had rejuvenated Dartford who looked much more threatening early on and down the left Carruthers shot was pushed out well by Rowley and then Denzelle Olopade drove a shot wide of the right post.
Cray though continued to play on the front foot and almost scored again when Williams pounced again on Dartford indecision down the left and fired a shot just past the right post.
Dartford levelled in the 57th minute when first a right wing corner was punched out by Rowley and came to Hill whose shot was cleared off the line by Frankie Raymond. The danger though wasn’t cleared and the ball came to top scorer Olly Box down the right of the area and placed a shot in at the right post.
The game was going from end to end and Adaja came close for Cray and both teams were playing well at this stage.
However, in the 63rd minute Dartford took the lead with a quality strike from Box who cut in from the left and crashed a shot into the net from the edge of the area and a goal worthy of winning any match for his 11th of the season.
Cray looked to get back into the game and from a corner, Remi Sutton who along with ex-Dart Tom Bonner was superb at the back headed over.
Then for Dartford, Tyler Christian-Law won a corner from which Carruthers’ cross was headed over by George Whitefield.
Cray continued to seek an equaliser but just couldn’t create that one big opening as Dartford defended well as Cray applied a fair amount of pressure but acquitted themselves well against one of the form teams of the league and in the end Dartford saw out the game and overall was a good advertisement for Boxing Day football and the Wands final away game of 2024.
Cray move down one place to 17th in the table and do not have long to dwell too much on the result as the Wands host Hendon on Saturday, 28th December in what will be another tough test but one they can approach with confidence.
Dartford: Jacob Marsden, Sam Odaudu, Samir Carruthers (Eddie Dsane, 75), Josh Hill, George Whitefield, Callum Jones (Michael Olarewaju, 85), Denzelle Olopade, Olly Box (Duane Ofori-Acheampong, 80), Sam Okoye (Tyler Christian-Law, 64), Luther Williams, Louis Dunne (Hayden Bullas, 68)
Booked: Christian-Law 81, Jones 84, Bullas 90
Cray Wanderers: Shaun Rowley, Ike Orji, Remi Sutton, Tom Bonner, Darion Dowrich, Frankie Raymond, Charlie Edwards, Lateef Adaja, Nyren Clunis (Kenny Coker, 78), Josh Williams, Nathan Jeche (Freddie Warwick 90+4): Subs: Bobby Parkes, Nomary Kane, Nathan Manwaring
Referee: Steven Goldup
Assistants: Michael Cordoroy, Piotr Zachwieja
Att: 1303
