Cray Wanderers vs. Tottenham Hotspur U23s – PSF – Tues 6th August
Cray Wanderers 2
Clunis 22, Smith 24
Tottenham Hotspur U23s 2
Ajayi 39, Williams 75 pen
Cray Wanderers brought the curtain down on pre-season with an excellent performance and result to earn a draw against a very talented and skilful Tottenham Hotspur U23s side in front of an incredible Flamingo Park crowd of 1,047 on a warm and still Tuesday night.
The Wands soaked up early pressure to score twice in two minutes with goals from Nyren Clunis and David Smith before Damari Ajeyi pulled a goal back for Tottenham before half time. Tottenham levelled from the spot fifteen minutes from time scored by Jaden Williams and in the end a draw was a fair result.
Wayne Burnett’s Tottenham side were Premier League 2 Champions last season and throughout the game passed the ball around impressively but Cray defended well all game and despite not seeing much of the ball created chances especially in the first half.
Tottenham created the first opening in the 5th minute when Max McKnight found Yusuf Akhamrich whose shot was deflected behind off Quade Taylor.
However, Cray came close three minutes later when Charlie Edwards found space to lift a shot over the top. Then at the other end Leo Black fired over the bar from distance.
Tottenham then had a decent spell when Tyrese Hall’s cross was met by the head of Maeson King and was well gathered by Shaun Rowley. Then Rowley did well to get down to save when Akhamrich cut inside from the left and his shot was held.
Cray came the closest early on when from a corner from Nyren Clunis down the left to the far post was headed wide by Quade Taylor.
In the 22nd minute Cray took the lead when Darion Dowrich’s through ball put Clunis in on goal and finished coolly firing past Josh Keeley.
Two minutes later Cray scored a second when Rowley’s ball found a Wands trialist wearing no 19 who cut inside from the right and from inside the area squared the ball to David Smith who sidefooted into the net from ten yards.
Cray continued on the front foot and Dowrich saw a shot saved down the left before Damola Ajayi also saw a shot held by Rowley.
In the 39th minute Spurs pulled a goal back when Ajayi was found by Callum Oluesi and created time and space to shoot from 20 yards and into the top left corner. Despite the goal, Cray led at the break.
HT: 2-1
The second half began with Cray continuing to threaten and after a good spell of passing, Anthony Cook down the right set up Lateef Adaja for a shot which was deflected behind for a corner.
Then a terrific diagonal pass from Archie Johnson from the left fell to Charlie Edwards who drove just wide of the left post from just inside the area.
Cray were defending superbly and Tottenham didn’t create too many openings aside from and Ajayi cross headed wide by Jude Soonsup-Bell and then Max Robson inside the area was denied by a good save from Shaun Rowley.
There were a few substitutions for both sides but with Cray looking comfortable in the lead Tottenham were awarded a penalty when Jaden Williams was adjudged to have been clipped down the right of the area by either Anthony Cook or Quade Taylor and Williams slotted home from the spot to make it 2-2.
Tottenham dominated the latter stages and passed the ball around impressively but Cray hung on well and almost grabbed a winner when Arezki Hamouchene’s shot was deflected behind for a corner.
In the end though Cray ground out a deserved draw against a very talented side and can now go into Saturday’s league opener at Hashtag United with confidence and brought a long pre-season to an end on an incredible night for Cray Wanderers and the presence at Flamingo Park of a professional club of such stature and standing and a four figure crowd augurs well for the future..
Cray Wanderers: Shaun Rowley, Darion Dowrich, David Ijaha, Quade Taylor, Archie Johnson, Lateef Adaja, Frankie Raymond, Charlie Edwards, Trialist, Nyren Clunis, David Smith: Subs: Trialist (keeper), Alfie Evans, Anthony Cook, Alex Teniola, Trialist, George Brooke, Bradley Ryan, Arezki Hamouchene.
Tottenham Hotspur: Josh Keeley, Max McKnight, Maeson King, Callum Oluesi, Archie Bapitste, George Abbott (Capt.), Damola Ajayi, Tyrese Hall, Jude Soonsup-Bell, Leo Black, Yusuf Akhamrich; Subs: Max Robson, Elliott Krasniqi, Jahziah Linton, Pele Arganese McDermott, Rio Kyerematen, Jaden Williams, Oliver Irow, Will Andiyapan, James Rowswell
Referee: Daniel Blades
Assistants: Dane Johnson, Joshua Reid
Att: 1047
