Cray Wanderers 2 Bedfont Sports 1 – FA Trophy 1st Round – Sat, 13th November, Match Report

Cray Wanderers vs. Bedfont Sports – FA Trophy 1^st Round

Saturday 13^th November, 2021 – Match Report

Cray Wanderers                                2

Coombes 79, 90

Bedfont Sports                                 1

Jackson 82

Pics: Jon Hilliger/www.hilligerpix.com

Cray Wanderers advanced to the 2^nd Round of the FA Trophy for the second successive season after an exciting and dramatic finale to the clubs 50th FA Trophy tie saw Adam Coombes score twice in the last 11 minutes including a 90^th minute winner after Bedfont had pulled level.

 The match was delicately poised going into the last quarter of an hour and seemed set fair to go to penalties when Adam Coombes struck with a classy half volley after good work between Jai Reason and Chris Dickson down the left from 12 yards.  Bedfont though have been cup tie specialists this season and four minutes later levelled when Ricardo Andre’s cross was hard to defend against and Joe Jackson was on hand to score from close range.  Again it looked like being a shoot-out but in the last minute Coombes show incredible opportunism to fire home from almost 30 yards after Bedfont keeper Dimitrious Kyriatzis had done well to punch clear from Chris Dickson and the Wands striker hit a fine shot which hit the top left hand corner of the net.

This was the second cup tie meeting in two seasons and Cray came into the game a bit low after a 0-2 defeat at Merstham on Tuesday night.  From the side which started that match into the starting lineup came Freddy Barton, Tom Hanfrey, Jack Hanson, Daniel Uchechi and Adam Coombes in place of Marvin McCoy, Kasim Aidoo, Cameron Brodie, Anthony Cook, Richard Afrane-Kesey. Bedfont were in good shape going into the game  unbeaten in eight games and had beaten Romford and Harlow Town en route to the 1^st round and had won at  Dulwich Hamlet in the FA Cup and beaten Enfield Town in the Middlesex County Cup in midweek so the game was ripe for another major scalp for the Isthmian South-Central side.

 On a mild but grey afternoon, Cray began the game moving the ball around well but it was Bedfont who carved out the first real shooting opportunity in the 11^th minute when top scorer Darryl Sanders down the left cut inside and fired over the bar from the edge of the area. A minute later Cray looked to open the scoring with the hard working Jai Reason firing wide from outside the area.

The best moment of the first half came in the 19^th minute when good link up play between Tom Hanfrey and Chris Dickson saw Adam Coombes play a return pass to Dickson down the left of the area and his cross-shot was pushed wide of the right post by the finger tips of keeper Dimitrious Kyriatzis.  From the corner the keeper did well to punch the ball away under pressure from Dean Beckwith.

 Cray were still playing some good football and the 25^th minute, Dickson made a strong run forward and his shot from outside the area was safely held by Kyriatzis.  Shortly after Reason set up Dickson for another shot which required the keeper to save and then was unlucky not to get his head to a fine ball in from the right by Freddy Barton and the ball flashed just wide.

  Bedfont had been resolute and solid at the back with Michael Kinsella and Ethan Kaiser winning a lot of headers and challenges but Cray just needed a goal to reflect their superiority in the scoreline.

 HT: 0-0

 The second half in truth at times was a bit of a slow burner with Bedfont much more prominent in attack as both teams chased avoiding a penalty shoot-out. Cray though did have the first shooting chance of the half when Barton found Coombes who strode forward and his shot was well held by Kyriatzis.

 Bedfont had a chance to go ahead when Sanders ball across from the right into the area found Lewis Flatman who was denied by a good block from Beckwith for a corner. From the corner the ball came to Sanders who fired wide. 

 Cray were not finding it as easy to get their passing game going and Bedfont came close when substitute Charlie Postance shot over on the turn. Then there was a bit of a let off when down the left, Sanders curled a shot inches past the right post.

 It was looking like one goal would win the tie and Cray threatened down the left when Tom Hanfrey’s ball across towards Dickson at the near post had to be blocked by Kaiser.  For Bedfont a good run from Lewis Pegg saw the ball played to Joe Jackson who shot over from the edge of the area.  Then Cray looked to break the deadlock as Coombes on the turn fired in a shot from just outside the box which was gathered by Kyriatzis.

In the 79^th minute the game exploded into life as down the left, from Jack Turner’s ball out to Coombes, the striker found Reason who then played in Dickson whose ball across fell invitingly to Coombes who from 12 yards hit a crisp half volley which flew into the bottom right corner.

 From here it seemed Cray had finally taken a grip but Bedfont showed good character to pull level three minutes later when Ricardo Andre down the left who whipped over a terrific cross into the area which Jackson who scored in the only other previous meeting between the sides deftly nudged the ball into the net from 7 yards and it appeared to be penalties once again.

  With four minutes of injury time shown, there was a twist to the captivating plot and a ball forward sought out the forever busy and running Dickson and Kyriatzis did well to punch the ball clear but fell out to Coombes who from distance struck an incredible shot which crashed high into the top right corner to proverbially bring the roof off Hayes Lane.

It had been hard work against a side you can see has had good results but Cray saw out the remaining minutes and advanced to the 2^nd Round for the second season in a row. There were some very good performances from Danny Kedwell’s men with Coombes the official star man but you could have made valid claims for Freddy Barton, Tom Hanfrey, Chris Dickson and Daniel Uchechi amongst others.   The team were very solid especially in the second half when Bedfont pushed for a goal.

With a set of tough league fixtures upcoming it is hoped that the Wands can build on this victory but the team showed good character to bounce back from the disappointment of Tuesday night and gave one of their best displays of the season against a confident, well-organised side.        

VBET Sponsored MOM: Adam Coombes (pictured with Jim Jackson)

Cray Wanderers:       Jack Turner, Freddy Barton, Dean Beckwith (Capt.), Richie Danquah, Tom Hanfrey, Andy Drury, Jack Hanson (Anthony Cook, 60), Jai Reason, Daniel Uchechi (Jamie Yila, 81), Adam Coombes (Cameron Brodie, 90+2), Chris Dickson. Subs: Kasim Aidoo, Fjord Rogers, Richard Afrane-Kesey     

Booked:         Barton

Bedfont Sports:        Dimitrious Kyriatzis, Lewis Pegg, Michael Dwayne-Holden (Ricardo Andre, 80), Michael Kinsella, Connagh Wilks, Ethan Kaiser, Joe Jackson (Capt.),Tom Brunton, Max Webb, Lewis Flatman (Charlie Postance, 57), Darryl Sanders: Subs:Kevin Diomande, Ezekiel Bademosi, Jordan Esprit, Kelvin George Gay, Kelvin Amaefule

 Booked:         Kaiser

 Referee:         Nicholas Dunn

Assistants:    Williams Douglas, Nigel Owen

 

 

Att:      163