Cray Wanderers U23s vs Punjab United U23s
SCEFL Development League West – Friday 25th October – Match Report
Cray Wanderers U23s 5
Ihiedi 12, Holden 45, 64, Borders 46
Damyanov 82
Punjab United U23s 1
Cray Wanderers U23s made it five league wins in a row and moved six points clear at the top of the SCEFL Development League West after a 5-1 win vs Punjab United at Flamingo Park.
The game was played at a decent pace throughout and was even for the opening minutes but Cray began to exert authority and a left wing corner was headed wide by Tom Borders. Then Corey Holden down the left found George Brooke who fired into the side netting.
In the 12th minute Cray took the lead when down the right, Oliver Chiriseri found Michael Ihiedi who drilled in a shot which went in at the near post possibly via a deflection and made it six goals in three games.
Cray then had a fair amount of control for the rest of the half. First, Ihiedi shot wide of the right post. Then from a corner the ball came to Brooke who shot on the turn and was saved by the keeper.
For Cray, Carl Anderson fired a terrific cross across the box from the right and then Neil Ntsiomo blazed a shot over. This was followed by Edward Mare having a shot from outside the area fall into the arms of the keeper and then saw a shot deflected behind for a corner. Shortly after, Brooke saw an effort blocked, Borders an effort held and Chiriseri shot wide of the right post.
A second goal was on the cards and came a minute before the break when Chiriseri put over a cross towards the left post which Borders contested with the keeper and the ball was turned in from close range by Holden.
HT: 2-0
A minute after the restart Cray made it 3-0 when Holden hit a shot just outside the area which was parried by the keeper and following up Borders scored his 13th goal of the season.
From here Ihiedi fired over the top, then Holden cut inside from the left and shot wide of the left post.
Punjab United almost pulled one back when from a free kick down the left, the ball was played to the far post was punched out by Nathan Manwaring and the no 10 saw a shot cleared away off the line.
In the 64th minute, Cray scored a fourth with a second goal scored by Holden after beating the offside trap and Borders unselfishly went round the keeper and squared for Holden to score.
Then, Brooke saw a shot hit the post and Uziel Bateki saw a shot held before Punjab came close from a free kick from the no 15 which was pushed behind well by Manwaring. Then the no 7 headed over from a free kick.
In the 81st minute Punjab pulled a goal back when from a free kick down the right the ball was cleared out to the no 7 who rifled in a shot which found its way into the bottom right corner.
A minute later though the scoring was completed when Brooke’s left wing cross was blocked and came to Victor Damyanov to tap in.
In a late flurry, Brooke saw a shot parried, Ihedi shot wide who then set up Damyanov who shot over and for Punjab the no 8 shot wide from a free kick.
In the end Cray had done enough for another three points and improved their goal difference to +24 and with 18 points but have played two more games than Stansfeld and Erith Town on 12 points.
Cray are a very good side to watch and can also defend well and not much gets past Bobby Parkes and Lincoln Hunter at the back. The next scheduled game looks to be at Croydon FC on Wednesday 13th November.
Cray Wanderers: Nathan Manwaring, Carl Anderson (Uziel Bateki, 70), Edward Mare, Neil Ntsiomo (Cameron McQueen, 63), Bobby Parkes, Lincoln Hunter (Jaylen Bains, 63), Michael Ihiedi, Oliver Chiriseri (Victor Damyanov, 77), Tom Borders (David Boateng, 70), George Brooke, Corey Holden
Booked: Borders
