Cray Wanderers U23s vs Tunbridge Wells U23s – SCEFL Development League West – Friday 10th January, 202
Cray Wanderers U23s 4
Borders 28, Damyanov 50, 88, Raper 78
Tunbridge Wells U23s 2
Dunmal 73, Lambert 77
Cray Wanderers U23s made their return to league action for the first time since 26th November in an entertaining encounter against last season’s champions Tunbridge Wells U23s and moved two points behind leaders Erith Town with a 4-2 victory.
Roy Brooke’s side’s home games always produce goals and entertainment and on a freezing cold night at Flamingo Park this was no different and was a cracking game, keenly contested and Cray finished the game well after going two nil up through goals from Tom Borders and Victor Damyanov before Tunbridge Wells came back to make it 2-2 but goals from Ben Raper and a second for Damyanov sealed the win.
The first half was lively affair and Tunbridge Wells perhaps just edged the first quarter of an hour and Finn Hartely saw a shot out on the left held by Nathan Manwaring.
Cray began to apply pressure and won a couple of corners and from the right, George Brooke’s cross into the box saw a shot block and came to Ed Mare who shot wide of the right post.
For Tunbridge, a free kick twenty-five yards from goal from Hartley was on target and went into the arms of Manwaring.
Cray were unlucky not to take the lead in the 16th minute when Brooke was brought down by keeper Tommy Sceal just on the edge of the area but only shown a yellow card. From the free kick, Brooke’s shot was blocked. Then from another free kick out on the left, Victor Damyanov shot over the top.
In the 28th minute Cray took the lead with a fine passing move and Damyanov found Michael Ihiedi who set up Andy Dzontoh down the right and his pinpoint cross into the six yard box came to Tom Borders to score from five yards.
Tunbridge Wells almost levelled when Ollie Thomson shot wide of the left post from twenty five yards but Cray came close to making it two nil when Brooke set up Borders down the left of the area who turned inside the area but his near post shot was blocked by Sceal.
Before the break, Tunbridge Wells had a great chance to level when Hartley played a fine ball through to Max Lambert who bore down on goal but fired his shot wide of the left post.
The last chance of the half fell to Cray and Ihiedi who recently made a big impact in the first team’s 1-0 win vs Dulwich Hamlet on New Year’s Day struck a volley well wide.
HT: 1-0
The second half saw Cray begin much more on top and five minutes after half time went two nil up when a ball forward from Corey Holden was met by the head of Damyanov who glanced the ball past Sceal and tapped the ball into the net.
Cray came close to a third when down the right Ihiedi’s cross-shot was saved by the legs of Sceal and then Damyanov set up Iheidi down the right and his shot cannoned back off the right post.
For Tunbridge Wells Ben Hermitage fired a free kick over the top but Cray continued to attack and Brooke set up Borders who saw a shot blocked as did Damyanov. Then Borders held the ball up well down the left and after his first shot was blocked, fired wide of the left post.
In the 73rd minute Tunbridge Wells pulled a goal back when down the left a free kick from Matty Dunmal found it’s way into the net to set up a cracking end to the game.
Cray almost restored the two goal advantage when first Ihiedi saw a shot saved by Sceal and then Freddie Warwick steered a shot wide.
Tunbridge Wells though levelled in the 77th minute when a shot down the right of the area was saved by Manwaring but following up Lambert was on hand to score.
A minute later Cray were back in front when down the left substitute David Boateng saw a curling shot blocked but the ball fell invitingly for fellow substitute Ben Raper who netted with a composed finish.
The last ten minutes saw Cray finish the game with some style and Cameron McQueen fired over the top. Then Raper found Damyanov down the right who cut inside and was unlucky to see his shot come back off the left post.
In the 88th minute Cray sealed the win with another fine goal as down the right McQueen’s ball down the line came to Tommy Allen-Beattie who set up Damyanov to score his second of the night.
There was still time for Boateng to curl a shot wide of the right post, Damyanov on a hat-trick shot wide and then Boateng set up Damyanov who steered his shot past the right post.
In the end, Cray were deserved winners and now move on to 25 points after 11 games and are two points behind Erith Town at the top. The Wands are always worth a watch and are in action again next Friday (17th January) when Croydon are the visitors to Flamingo Park. 7.45 pm ko.
Cray Wanderers: Nathan Manwaring, Andy Dzontoh, Corey Holden (Lincoln Hunter, 58), Oliver Chiriseri (Cameron McQueen-Hinckley, 58), Ed Mare, Bobby Parkes, Michael Ihiedi (Tommy Allen-Beattie, 80), Freddie Warwick, Tom Borders (David Boateng, 70), George Brooke (Ben Raper, 70), Victor Damyanov
Tunbridge Wells: Tommy Sceal, Conor Knight, Rockie Burke, Matty Dunmal, Lenny Minihane, Ronnie Little, Max Lambert, Ollie Thomson, Finn Hartley, Fin Wolvey, Ben Hermitage
Subs: Charlie Brown, Duncan Ibbotsen, Loic Lewis, Ollie Sugden, Phill Abbot
Att: 58
