Cray Wanderers vs SC Thamesmead – SCEFL Development League West – Friday 27th September
Cray Wanderers U23s 8
Damyanov 15, 19, Brooke 29, 74,
Borders 41, Ihiedi 67, 81 pen, 84
SC Thamesmead 2
Cray Wanderers moved back to the top of the SCEFL Development League West on goal difference after a strong attacking performance to beat SC Thamesmead at Flamingo Park.
A brace each from Victor Damyanov and two class George Brooke strikes were added to by a Tom Borders first half goal. In the second half substitute Michael Ihiedi scored a hat-trick to complete a second eight goal performance of the season.
On a chilly night, Cray almost scored in the second minute when down the right Corey Holden hit a powerful shot which crashed off the crossbar.
Then two minutes later Holden’s cross came to Tom Borders whose shot was saved and then turned the rebound past the right post. This was followed by Borders setting up Victor Damyanov whose shot was pushed behind for a corner.
In the 15th minute Cray took the lead when down the left Borders broke through into the box but unselfishly laid the ball across into the area when Damyanov was on hand to turn the ball home.
SC Thamesmead did have the ball in the net from a header following a free kick but was disallowed for offside.
Cray scored a second in the 19th minute when Damyanov was played through again down the left and tucked home a fine finish wide of the keeper.
For SC Thamesmead from a free kick a header was flicked onto the no 10 whose shot was held by Nathan Manwaring.
In the 23rd minute, the visitors pulled a goal back when from a corner a flick on fell to the no 10 who scored from close range.
Cray restored the two goal advantage in the 29th minute with a cracking strike from George Brooke, playing at left back who from 30 yards hit a crashing shot which flew into the top left corner of the net.
The Wands had the better of the rest of the half and Borders made a run forward and saw his shot held and then in the 41st minute took advantage of Bobby Parks ball over the top and beat the offside trap to slot home his 13th goal of the season.
Before the break, Brooke’s free kick down the right was headed over by Freddie Warwick and then also down the left Holden saw his cross shot parried.
HT: 4-1
The second half began with Michael Ihiedi coming on and immediately saw a shot blocked from Brooke’s pass.
In the 56th minute, SC Thamemead pulled another goal back when the no 15 down the left put over a cross to the far post tapped in by the no 8.
Ihiedi then saw a shot go wide and a header from Ed Mare’s free kick was turned aside well by the keeper. At the other end the no 9 curled a shot wide.
In the 67th minute Cray scored a fifth goal when Damyanov played a great pass through to Ihiedi inside the area who found space to score from 8 yards.
It was 6-2 in the 74th minute with another quality piece of finishing from Brooke who received a pass in midfield and cut inside from the left and curled a fine finish into the bottom right corner from twenty yards.
Nine minutes from time, Ihiedi was tripped inside the area and scored his second and the Wands seventh with a well struck penalty into the left corner of the net.
Then in the 84th minute Iheidi completed his hat-trick when he steered in a right wing cross to make it 8-2.
Before the end, Callum Redman’s cross was steered wide by Benedict Raper but an enjoyable game in which both teams deserve credit came to an end with the Wands going top on goal difference ahead of Stansfeld with both on 12 points.
The Wands next league fixture will be on Wednesday 16th October at Holmesdale and the next home game will be against Stansfeld on 25th October.
Team: Nathan Manwaring, Callum Redman, George Brooke, Oliver Chiriseri, Eduard Mare, Bobby Parkes, Corey Holden (Benedict Raper), Freddie Warwick (Michael Ihiedi), Tom Borders (David Owusu-Boateng), Carl Anderson (Jaden Bains), Victor Damyanov (Neil Ntsiomo)
