Pre-season Friendly – Cray Wanderers 0 Welling United 2 – 5/7/22
Pics: Jon Hilliger/www.hilligerpix.com
BROMLEY, GREATER LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 05: Cray Wanderers’s Daniel Bassett cuts the ball back across the area during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Cray Wanderers and Welling United at Hayes Lane on July 05, 2022 in Bromley, Greater London, England . (Photo: © Jon Hilliger / HilligerPix)
Cray Wanderers first home pre-season game ended in defeat as two goals in a minute just before half time settled the match in Welling United’s favour.
It was a lively contest which for most of the first half was fairly even but two clinically taken goals from the no 12 in the 43rd and 44th minutes turned the game in the Wings way
On a sunny evening it was Cray who created the first real chance of the game when Dan Bassett broke down the right and unselfishly looked to square the ball across and as the Wings keeper blocked the cross, the ball came to Sam Skeffington who looked destined to score but for a block on the goal line.
Welling posed a threat especially down the right and the no 23 sent over a cross to the far post where the no 11 volleyed over. Then at the other end, Anthony Cook’s right wing cross was put behind by the no 2 for a corner.
BROMLEY, GREATER LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 05: Cray Wanderers’s Billy Crook plays on during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Cray Wanderers and Welling United at Hayes Lane on July 05, 2022 in Bromley, Greater London, England . (Photo: © Jon Hilliger / HilligerPix)
Welling were unlucky not to take the lead when the no 23 from 30 yards fired a shot towards goal which came back off the top of the crossbar and over.
Cray though were looking good going forward and Bassett who looked sharp received the ball down the left of the area and his shot was deflected to the Welling keeper.
Welling almost went in front but the no 17 was denied a goal after a hooked shot from just outside the area was pushed over the bar superbly by the Wands keeper.
The game was going from end to end and five minutes before half time Skeffington’s cross from the right was met by a glancing header from the Wands no 9 who was unlucky to see the ball come back off the left post and claimed by the keeper. At the other end the no 23 hit a snap shot which was well held by the keeper.
BROMLEY, GREATER LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 05: Cray Wanderers’s Sam Skeffington fires off a shot from the edge of the box during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Cray Wanderers and Welling United at Hayes Lane on July 05, 2022 in Bromley, Greater London, England . (Photo: © Jon Hilliger / HilligerPix)
The deadlock was broken two minutes before half time when the 23 showed good pace to find space to play the ball through to the no 12 who from 10 yards placed the ball under the keeper and into the net.
A minute later it was 2-0 as a fine cross from the left was met by the no 12 who showed composure to tuck the ball into the net.
The second half saw Welling change their team while Cray made a handful of trialist substitutions save for Sam Wood’s first appearance of pre-season.
For Cray, a shot from the no 4 went over the bar and then Skeffington hooked a shot from just outside the area. Then Skeffington from 25 yards tested the Welling keeper with a low skidding shot.
For Welling, the no 22 picked up the ball and found space to fire a shot fractionally past the left post and for Cray, Wood set up the trialist no 20 who fired wide of the left post.
As the half went on Welling took more control and the no 10 floated a cross to the far post which only just went wide and for Cray the no 4 hit a shot which the keeper had to push aside.
Welling won a handful of corners in the latter stages and the no 10 shot wide and was the last chance of a decent workout for both teams.
Neil Smith’s Cray side had played well especially in the first half and were just undone by some good finishing. The Wands next meet Tonbridge Angels on Saturday, 3pm.
