Erith Town vs Cray Wanderers
FA Youth Cup – Preliminary Round – Thursday 5th September – Match Report
Erith Town 2
Diamond 53, Boyle 85 pen
Cray Wanderers 1
Raper 19
Cray Wanderers FA Youth cup campaign ended in the Preliminary Round after a stirring battle with Erith Town which saw the home side come from behind at half time to win with an 85th minute penalty.
The Wands just edged an engaging first half and Benedict Raper was on hand to follow up Michael Ihiedi’s saved shot to score in the 19th minute.
Erith though were back on level terms eight minutes after the break when substitute Lennon Diamond took advantage of a lapse at the back to turn and score.
Both sides had their spells of dominance but the game looked to be going to penalties but in the 85th minute Erith took the lead when Brandon Hatega was clipped just inside the box and Riley Boyle stroked home the penalty and despite late Cray pressure held on to win.
On a wet and drizzly night both teams began in enterprising fashion with Erith just having the edge and came close to scoring when Riley Boyle picked up a loose ball and hit a shot which was deflected just over the top for a corner.
Cray though were very much in the game and won a couple of corners and from one of these down the left, Cameron McQueen’s ball went across the box with no takers.
In the 15th minute Erith came closest yet when Jacob Connor from 20 yards hit a fine shot heading for the top right corner but Kevin Kaydel made a superb one handed save to push the ball over.
However, slightly against the run of play Cray took the lead in the 19th minute when after a slick passing move, Aaron Shawa and David Owusu-Boateng combined down the right to slip Michael Ihiedi a fine ball and from inside the area saw his shot parried by Woody Leach and following up Benedict Raper scored from close range.
The game continued to be played at a great pace and Erith came close to levelling but Rueben Lammie down the left was denied a goal by a good save by the legs of Kardel.
Down the other end Raper became provider when he cut in from the right and set up Freddie Warwick who fired a shot over the top.
Then for Erith, Connor flashed a shot just wide before Cray began to hold firm at the back and defended well and took the sting out of the game.
Before half time, Raper played a pass to Shawa who looked to place a shot into the net but perhaps under pressure from Ted Miles shot over the bar. At the break though Cray held a slender advantage.
The second half began the same as the first with both teams on the front foot and Raper saw a shot from 25 yards held by Woody Leach. Then at the other end, Connor and Hatega combined to set up Riley Boyle for a shot which was held by Kardel.
Cray came close to scoring a second from a free kick out on the left from Cameron McQueen into the box but Luke Witter’s glanced a header just wide of the right post.
In the 53rd minute Erith drew level with a goal out of nothing when from a ball into the box down the right, Cray couldn’t clear their lines and Lennon Diamond found time to get space in the area and slot into the net.
Erith had a good spell after this and Boyle saw a shot blocked as did Diamond from the follow up. Then for Cray, substitute Beau Walsh saw a shot charged down.
The game then went through a bit of a scrappy phase as the match was on a knife edge and it looked like one goal was going to win it.
Cray though towards the last quarter of an hour seemed to have a second wind and Billy Wall put a cross-shot wide and then a run and shot from Walsh was held by Leach.
The game looked like it might be heading for a penalty shoot out but in the 85th minute Erith had a chance to win it in normal time when down the right Hatega was clipped inside the area by Jayden Baines and from the spot, Kardel almost got to the ball but Boyle fired in at the left post.
The remaining minutes saw Cray looking to get back on terms and had plenty of the ball, put over crosses and saw efforts blocked and Erith having to defend desperately at times and struggling to get the ball forward. Teddy Campbell saw a shot deflected behind for a corner. Then the excellent Callum Redman found Ihiedi who won a corner from which, Campbell’s cross was headed wide by Lincoln Hunter.
Perhaps the best chance for Cray came towards the end of six minutes of injury time when Wall put a cross over from the right and Ihiedi flicked a header wide of the left post.
In the end Erith held out to win what was a really good contest and there was nothing to reproach the Wands for in terms of attitude and performance and can now go on to challenges in the Kent Youth League and those U23s players have a demanding season in the SCEFL Development League knowing they can have a great season.
Erith Town: Woody Leach, Charlie Lottes (Trey Roberts), Ted Miles (Lennon Diamond), Chris Loko, Josh Woods, Jacob O’Connor, Brandon Hatega (Raymond McCreedy), Sid Petters (Capt.), Jack Almond (Alen Mula), Riley Boyle, Reuben Lammie: Subs: Louis Hall,
Cray Wanderers: Kevin Kardel, Callum Redman, Jayden Baines (Tristan Jess, 88), Cameron McQueen, Luke Witter, Lincoln Hunter, Benedict Raper (Ralph Short, 58), Freddie Warwick (Teddy Campbell, H/T), Michael Ihiedi, Aaron Shawa (Billy Wall 69), David Owusu-Boateng (Beau Walsh, 58): Subs: Jago Piper, Charlie Halls
Referee: Nicholas Kinghorn
Assistants: Dan Boulden, Emmanuel Lawrence
Att: 105
