Cray Wanderers U23s v Rusthall U23s
Presence & Co Southern Counties East Football League Development League West
Friday 7th March 2025, 7:45 PM @ Flamingo Park
Match Report – by Charlie Bradford
Res: Cray Wanderers U23s 9 v Rusthall U23s 2
A fortnight on from their emphatic 12-0 victory over Holmesdale, Cray Wanderers’ U23s once again took to the field tonight in the Southern Counties East Football League Development League West – this time against 11th placed Rusthall.
With Cray having the opportunity to go top of the league with a positive result, albeit having played two more league games more than title rivals Erith Town, the onus was on Roy Brooke’s young chargers to play on the front foot…
I certainly saw the young Wands entertain with a dazzling display although it was Rusthall who had the first chance of the game when their number 7 struck down the throat of Cray goalkeeper Nathan Manwaring.
Cray then had the next three chances in the game when firstly Victor Damyanov had a shot to the bottom right well saved around the post, Bobby Parkes had an effort at a corner saved into the path of Tom Borders who somehow missed the target, and David Boateng had a shot to the bottom left saved around the post.
After Cray’s Bobby Parkes had a 20 yard effort screw past the left post, Rusthall took the lead against the run of play in the 29th minute when their number 5 headed down a corner and their number 8 was on hand to finish the chance.
Three minutes later however Cray equalised when a pull back by Andy Dzontoh saw Victor Damyanov slot into the bottom left.
A minute later and Cray took the lead – this time George Brooke supplying the ball from the right for Tom Borders to score six yards out.
And, on the stroke of half time, David Boateng made it 3-1 to Cray when he turned home yet another ball from the right.
HT: 3-1 and cue a nice slice of half time cake!
Cray were rampant and made it 4-1 shortly after the break when Victor Damyanov was fed the ball after Rusthall gave it away and he squeezed the ball into the bottom right via the hand of the Rusthall goalkeeper.
Four minutes later and Cray had another – the right flank once again baring fruit as Tom Borders tucked home his second from a similar position to his first.
Cray continued to sparkle with Corey Holden hitting the right post and George Brooke showing some nifty footwork in the box before his shot to the bottom left was well saved around the post.
Cray eventually scored their sixth in the 69th minute when George Brooke delivered a low ball from the left for Michael Ihedi to tap home.
Rusthall pulled a goal back four minutes later and in some fashion when their number 5 found the top left corner from the edge of the box.
This was a mere blot on the copybook for Cray however who scored a seventh when a ball over the top saw Corey Holden in one on one and he lashed home.
Four minutes from the end Cray got an eighth when Tommy Allen-Beattie was played in one on one to finish into the bottom left.
Cray got their ninth on the stoke of full time when Michael Ihedi headed home a free kick at the far left post to send Cray emphatically to the top of the table making Erith Town U23s V Cray Wanderers U23s on Thursday 20th March look every bit a title decider…! Unfortunately however I will be in Kosovo that night…!
FT: 9-2.
MOTM: George Brooke (Cray Wanderers U23s) – masterful in attack.
Cray: Nathan Manwaring, Andy Dzontoh, Corey Holden, Oliver Chiriseri, Eduard Mare, Bobby Parks, Michael Ihiedi, Jaylen Bains, Tom Borders, George Brooke, Victor Damyanov; David Boateng, Tommy Allen-Beattie, Cameron McQueen, Freddie Warwick, Archie Morley
Metrogas U18s v Cray Wanderers U18s Lions
Kent Youth League Cup Semi Final – 9/3/25
Cray Wanderers U18s Lions treble hopes came to an end as Metrogas earned a merited place in the Kent Youth League Cup Final with a narrow victory at the University of Greenwich Campus on a warm Sunday morning. The win was earned after a 23rd minute goal and a stoic defensive performance in the second half.
The Wands had reached the Semis with wins against Deal Town, Glebe and Sevenoaks Town and would have gone into the game probably as slight favourites for the game. Metrogas had beaten Folkestone Invicta and Phoenix Sports in order to reach the Semi Final.
Cray started the game brightly enough and on the front foot. Early on Ben Raper set up Freddie Warwick for a shot over the top. Then in a similar move, Callum Redman found Raper down the right and his cross fell to Warwick who hit a shot just over the bar from just inside the area.
Then from a Cameron McQueen corner the ball came to Oliver Chirseri who sliced a shot wide of the left post.
Metrogas though grew into the game well and a ball over the top came to the no 12 who down the left of the area took the ball round Kevin Kardel but with the angle narrowing shot into the side netting.
In the 23rd minute Metrogas went in front after a ball into the Wands box led to a collision between Kardel and Luke Witter and the ball came to the no 14 who despite seemingly had taken the ball away from goal close to the byline hooked the ball towards goal and into the net through a crowd of players on the line.
From here the home side dominated and the no 10 fired a shot over the bar. Then the no 5 was desperately unlucky not to make it 2-0 with an opportunist strike which hit the top of the bar.
For Cray Sam Robinson shot well wide but at the other end Kardel did superbly to make a terrific save from close range to deny the no 10 with his legs.
Just before half time Cray began to find their way back into the game and Robinson was played through down the right, took the ball round the keeper but his second touch just took him too wide and the ball went behind.
Then, Billy Wall set up Michael Ihiedi down the right of the area who cut inside but whipped his shot over from a promising position.
At half time Cray needed though a bit more and in truth were fortunate to be only one behind.
HT: 1-0
The second half certainly for the first twenty minutes saw Cray much more like themselves and Freddie Warwick shot over the bar. At the other end, the no 10 shot over from 20 yards.
Cray then had a decent spell with George Brooke to the fore firstly shooting over from just outside the area testing the keeper with a low drive.
Then out on the right Billy Wall was unlucky to see his shot come back off the right post with the keeper beaten. This was followed by Brooke shooting wide.
Archie Morley’s throw in’s from the left were becoming part of the Wands arsenal and these began to cause consternation and one flung to the near post had to be put behind for a corner. From which Morley’s cross was headed over by Ihiedi.
Perhaps Cray’s last big chance came in the 71st minute when Brooke down the right broke into the area but the keeper did superbly to come and make a smart block as Brooke looked to chip him.
For Metrogas who were defending stoutly the no 12 saw another shot well held by Kardel. Then, in the last minute Cray were awarded a free kick just outside the area from which Brooke’s shot hit the wall
Then towards the end grew more in confidence and looked more likely to score again. First, the no 11 hit a shot which Kardel had to turn behind for a corner. Then from a throw in the ball came to the no 6 who with more time flashed a shot well wide much to the frustration of the management team.
Cray’s final opportunity came with the last kick of the game for Ben Raper whose half hit shot down the right was gathered by the keeper but in the end, Metrogas held out for a deserved win as they had to show a different, gritty side to their game in the second half and will meet Old Wilsonians in the final who defeated Faversham Town 5-2 in the other semi-final.
Cray still have a chance for double silverware this season as 2nd in the Kent Youth League Premier on goal difference to Folkestone Invicta and in a real five team battle for the title with Invicta, Ashford United, Erith Town and Rusthall who Cray meet away on 23rd March. Then on Sunday 30th March meet Kings Hill in the Kent County Cup Final at Whitstable Town so all not lost.
Team: Kevin Kardel, Callum Redman, Luke Witter, Lincoln Hunter, Archie Morley, Cameron McQueen, Freddie Warwick, Oliver Chiriseri, Billy Wall, Sam Robinson, Ben Raper; Michael Ihiedi, George Brooke, Paddy McEwen.
