Whitehawk vs Cray Wanderers
Isthmian Premier – Saturday 25th January, 2025 – Match Report
Whitehawk 2
Briggs 39 pen, Bridle 85
Cray Wanderers 0
Cray Wanderers unbeaten start to 2025 came to an end as Whitehawk continued their own climb away from the relegation places with victory in a hard fought contest with a goal in each half.
Cray shaded what was a scrappy first half without creating too many openings but it was Whitehawk who broke from a Wands attack to take the lead six minutes before half time when Harry Bridle was brought down by Ike Orji and captain Andrew Briggs stroked home from the spot.
Cray played well in the second half and came close to scoring through Nathan Jeche and Eze Ebuzoeme but again Whitehawk counter attacked and from a cross from the left to the near post was turned into the net by Bridle to seal the points. The defeat left Cray in 11th place in the table on 38 points and the win moved Whitehawk into 14th with 33 points.
The Wands came into the game with just one defeat in ten and four straight wins but this always looked a tough contest against a Whitehawk side with one defeat in nine and on the back of two straight wins including a 2-1 win at home to Lewes on Tuesday night.
In a dramatic change to the first three Saturdays of 2025, the Wands and supporters were greeted to some bright and pleasant winter sunshine in stark contrast to the weather feared the night before. Neil Smith named an unchanged side to the one which beat Hastings last weekend with a new signing, winger Dario De-Luca on the bench. Meanwhile there was one change to the Whitehawk side from Tuesday with Will Seager in for Oscar Borg.
The first half saw Cray playing some decent football and on the front foot but in a way both teams seemed to cancel each other out with two strong defences. There was a competitive nature to the game and Ike Orji was booked for Cray in the opening ten minutes.y
Neither keeper was particularly tested in the first half with Cray closest to scoring when Nyren Clunis fired a shot wide of the left post.
Then, the lively Josh Williams saw his shot go over the bar but Cray were looking fairly comfortable despite the threat of experienced Charlie Lambert, Rob O’Toole and Harry Bridle.
However, in the 39th minute Whitehawk broke away from a Wands attack and down the left of the area Bridle was brought down by Orji inside the box and a penalty was awarded. From the spot, Andrew Briggs placed his shot down the middle of the goal to take the lead into half time. Shortly after Quade Taylor was introduced in place of Orji at the back.
HT: 1-0
The second half was a touch more lively but still not a classic with Williams testing keeper Joseph Osoghae with a low shot.
Then for Whitehawk Briggs set up Lambert for a shot over the bar while for Cray, Taylor had a claim for a penalty for handball after a cross into the box.
Cray came closest to a leveller when down the right of the area Nathan Jeche’s shot was well saved by Osaghae and following up Eze Ebuozeme’s shot was blocked close to goal.
The game returned to its scrappy phase in the last half hour with Cray introducing Lateef Adaja, Ollie Rawlins and later Charlie Edwards into the fray.
Whitehawk were very resolute and similar to the match last season which the Hawks won 2-0 and took their chances when they came.
In the 85th minute Whitehawk scored a second and again on the break when down the left, a cross into Lambert who held up the ball by the byline and his near post cross was diverted into the net by Bridle from a couple of yards.
Cray kept going with Dario De-Luca coming on for the final few minutes but in the end Whithawk had a good game plan and continued their unbeaten league record against the Wands.
Despite a decent performance from Cray they perhaps just lacked that cutting edge in front of goal but despite the defeat can look back on the recent run with pride and have not a lot of time to dwell with a trip to Wingate & Finchley on Tuesday night swiftly following.
Again, special mention to the Wands supporters that travelled down to Brighton and it was a great day out and despite the small crowd both sets of fans created a good atmosphere and although not the greatest game made it special.
Whitehawk: Joseph Osaghae, Will Seager, Stefan Wright, Andrew Briggs, Joe Tennent, Jamie Watson, Emmanuel Mensah (Josh Mhandra, 88), Kai Jennings, Rob O’Toole (Callum Barlow, 71), Charlie Lambert (Imran Kayani, 90+4), Harry Bridle: Subs: Eugene Asike, Charlie Walker
Booked: Rob O’Toole 36, Tennent 60
Cray Wanderers: Shaun Rowley, Ike Orji (Quade Taylor, 42), Remi Sutton, Tom Bonner, Darion Dowrich, Frankie Raymond, George Penn (Lateef Adaja, 50), Eze Ebuzoeme (Charlie Edwards, 81), Nyren Clunis, Nathan Jeche (Oliver Rawlins, 64) Josh Williams (Dario Sesay De-Luca, 86)
Booked: Orji 9 mins, Rowley 39, Raymond 49, Sutton 59,
Referee: Jake Woodman
Assistants: Nathaniel Roff, Wayne Pocockd
Att: 210
