Cray Wanderers vs Corinthian Casuals – The pre game thoughts of Grant Basey
BROMLEY, GREATER LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 03: Cray Wanderers’s Manager, Grant Bassey before The Pitching In Isthmian Premier League match between Cray Wanderers and Enfield Town at Hayes Lane on January 03, 2022 in Bromley, Greater London, England . (Photo: © Jon Hilliger / HilligerPix)
After a bright start to 2022, Cray Wanderers went down to a narrow defeat to Bognor Regis Town on Wednesday evening. Here Grant Basey looks back at the match and what the team can learn from the defeat.
Looking back to Wednesday night Grant, I didn’t think we did too much wrong, came up against a keeper in top form and were beaten with a quality piece of finishing. How did you see the game?
BROMLEY, GREATER LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 12: Cray Wanderers’s Manager, Grant Bassey gives his players instructions during the The Pitching In Isthmian Premier League match between Cray Wanderers and Bognor Regis Town at Hayes Lane on January 12, 2022 in Bromley, Greater London, England . (Photo: © Jon Hilliger / HilligerPix)
I thought we got into some very good areas up to the final third but over the course of the game and we did it numerous times our final bit of quality has let us down. Whether it was a shot, a cross or a pass and that is what ultimately cost us on the night. We had a great chance for Chris Dickson one on one when it was 0-0 and for me we need to be more ruthless and take our chances when they come in front of goal.
When we look back on the game back we conceded a poor goal from our own corner and then we were not secure behind the ball and switched off and that to be fair was one of the few chances they had and Bailey hasn’t had to make many saves all night. That one lapse of concentration has cost us the game.
BROMLEY, GREATER LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 12: Cray Wanderers’s Jamie Yila is beaten to the cross by Bognor Regis Town’s goalkeeper, Amadou Tangara, who dives to his right to the ball during the The Pitching In Isthmian Premier League match between Cray Wanderers and Bognor Regis Town at Hayes Lane on January 12, 2022 in Bromley, Greater London, England . (Photo: © Jon Hilliger / HilligerPix)
For me there were some positives especially the performance of Luca Albon in midfield on his debut, Tom Hanfrey at the back and a special mention to Anthony Cook who played as centre half for the first time.
To be fair to Cooky, he rang me yesterday and said he was willing to play there which was good of him and really showed the captain in him and that he was up to it.
Luca is someone I’ve known for a long time, a very good footballer, intelligent, good energy and an excellent addition to the group and he had a positive debut.
BROMLEY, GREATER LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 12: Cray Wanderers’s Luca Albon during the The Pitching In Isthmian Premier League match between Cray Wanderers and Bognor Regis Town at Hayes Lane on January 12, 2022 in Bromley, Greater London, England . (Photo: © Jon Hilliger / HilligerPix)
The game is all about fine margins. The difference between winning and losing and switching off. You cannot afford to do that as teams punish you. The higher the leagues you go up you get punished even more. For me, if we were more ruthless in front of goal, created chances when we got into the final third and stayed concentrated at all times and did not switch off from our own corner, then the bare minimum we come away with is a draw and we don’t lose the match.
So disappointed with the result but there were positives amongst the performance but as I said in the dressing room, we need to go again now, put this game to bed, learn from it and go again Saturday.
Before the Bognor game I highlighted to the players we have four home games in a row and hopefully pick up twelve points. All the time I am here we will always be looking to win. It didn’t happen against Bognor but we go again against a very good Corinthian Casuals side and the players reflect, rest up and recover in time for Saturday in what is another big match for us.
