Erith Town U23s v Cray Wanderers U23s
SCEFL Development League West – 20/3/25
Erith Town U23s 1
Cooper 41
Cray Wanderers U23s 2
Warwick 7 mins, Damyanov 55
Cray Wanderers U23s moved five points clear at the top of the SCEFL Development League West after a fine 2-1 victory against 2nd placed Erith Town at Bayliss Avenue on Thursday night.
The Wands as a club have found the going tough against Erith Town this season and the Dockers inflicted one of only two league defeats for Cray early in the campaign winning 7-3 at Flamingo Park in September. However, Cray despite a difficult playing surface making control and passing tough deserved three points here after scoring an early goal through Freddie Warwick before being pegged back by a soft goal before half time from Jake Cooper for Erith. Cray though went back in front ten minutes after half time scored with some style by Victor Damyanov and defended stoutly to pick up three points which puts the title onus in Cray’s hands. Erith do have two games in hand but Cray have the possibility of six points to be added for two matches called off by the opposition on the day of the match.
Cray have won their last six games and scored plenty of goals including 21 in the last two games but this was always going to be a much closer affair and it looked like a game which would be decided perhaps on an odd goal.
Erith started the game on the front foot and forced a couple of early corners which required stern defending. However, in the 7th minute with Cray’s first real foray forward took the lead when the excellent Victor Damyanov, already a goalscorer for the first team this season darted forward and into the area. As keeper Tommy Taylor came to meet the ball Victor passed to Freddie Warwick down the right of the area who took the ball round Taylor but had a lot to do but with composure fired into the net.
Cray began to get a grip on the game with Tom Borders to the fore and hooked a shot wide and then had a good chance to score a second but with time and space in the box saw his shot saved by Taylor and the ball was bundled behind for a corner.
Then from a free kick out on the right Andy Dzontoh’s ball into the box caught out Taylor who left the ball but Borders at the left post headed the ball goalwards but unbelievably the ball was cleared off the line and then two blocks on the line saw Taylor grab the ball.
Then Warwick exchanged passes with Damyanov and saw his shot deflected wide for a corner.
The game then went rather quiet for a spell but in the 41st minute Erith pinched a goal when a free kick out on the left was floated into the box and a crowded six yard boc but Nathan Manwaring couldn’t claim the ball and squirmed around in the area for Jake Cooper to prod the ball into the net.
HT: 1-1
Both teams looked for a winner early in the second half with both winning a corner each but Cray were looking the more polished and in the 55th minute retook the lead with a quality strike.
There appeared to be no danger when an Erith clearance was met by a header forward by Michael Ihiedi but the ball fell to George Brooke who broke towards goal and unselfishly laid the ball across for Damyanov who from just inside the penalty area placed a sweet strike which went wide of Taylor and into the bottom right corner.
Erith nearly levelled straight away when a cross into the box fell invitingly for Riley Boyle but with time fired over the bar.
From here Cray had the better of the game but used great game management skills to see out the three points. The Wands threatened a third when Warwick fired in a shot which was held by Taylor.
Cray almost grabbed a third goal late on when Jaylen Bains who was superb when he came on down the left set up Damyanov for a shot well saved by Taylor’s legs.
For Erith, Cooper shot well wide in stoppage time but Cray had defended superbly and deserved the three points over the game.
So what happens now! Well Cray on 47 points lead by five points with Erith having two games in hand on 42 and play those games before Cray play again. Erith play at Tunbridge Wells on 26th March and then at home to Rusthall on 2nd April with Cray’s next match at Corinthian on 3rd April. Cray though are due to receive another six points for the late postponements of the home games with Glebe and Sutton Athletic and have Tunbridge Wells (16th April) and SC Thamesmead on 1st May. Erith also have to face Croydon at home on 24th April, at Sutton Athletic on 30th April and Kent United on 15th May.
Erith Town U23s: Tommy Taylor, Andrea Piccollo, Reuben Lammie, Toby Corner (Capt.), Josh Woods, Finley Avery, Brandon Hatega, Sid Petters, Louie Clarke, Riley Boyle, Jacob Connor: Subs: Bobby Joe Harber, Bruno Pereira, Joe Bucharan, Chris Iowo, Zak Drew
Cray Wanderers U23s: Nathan Manwaring, Andy Dzontoh, Corey Holden, Oliver Chirseri, Ed Mare, Bobby Parks (Capt.), Michael Ihiedi (Jaylen Bains), Freddie Warwick, Tom Borders (Tommy Allen-Beattie), George Brooke (David Boateng), Victor Damyanov: Subs: Callum Redman, Tyreese Simpson-Knight.
