Cray Wanderers vs Cray Valley PM
FA Youth Cup Preliminary Round – Friday 5th September – Match Report
Cray Wanderers 2
Robinson 14, 70
Cray Valley PM 1
Dros 88
Cray Wanderers advanced to the 1st Qualifying Round of the FA Youth Cup and to an away tie with Tonbridge Angels after a hard fought victory in the Cray derby against Cray Valley PM U18s.
This was the first ever meeting between the sides in the FA Youth Cup and in front of a crowd of just over 300 both teams contributed to a cracking cup tie. Sam Robinson netted a brace for the Wands, with a goal in each half to make it 2-0 but the Millers made it a grandstand finish with Tomasz Dros’s goal two minutes from time.
The game got off to a lively start with the Wands having the most possession but Cray Valley created the first real shooting chance when Shae John set up Erikas Pinskis for shot from the edge of the area which went wide of the right post.
For Cray Wanderers, Archie Morley’s set pieces were a constant threat and in the 8th minute his left wing corner was headed over by Billy Wall.
The Wands took the lead in the 14th minute when from a right wing corner, Morley’s cross into the six yard box was glanced goalwards by Sam Robinson and into the net although Louis Edwards was close to getting a touch on the line.
For Cray Valley, Jimi Arnolin saw a shot blocked but Cray Wanderers had their tails up and a terrific Wall cross from the right to the far post fell to Jude Whelan whose first time shot was pushed over well by Noah Smallings.
There was a let off for Cray Wanderers when Miller Fleming gave the ball away and was picked up by Thomasz Dros who advanced towards goal but was thwarted by a great recovery tackle by Fleming.
Shortly after Cray came close again when Edwards found Robinson inside the area but Smallings did well to bravely block the shot.
Cray Wanderers looked to be more in control up to half time with first Ralph Short flashing a shot across goal. Then Wall fired a shot well over the top,
Then Wall and Morgan Hill combined down the left combined to set up Leroy Adedoyin for a shot that was deflected to Smallings. The final effort came to Cray Wanderers with Wall shooting wide of the left post.
HT: 1-0
The second half was a more scrappier affair as neither team could get full control of the game. For Cray Wanderers, Whelan saw a shot blocked by the Cray Valley defence. Then Wall and Whelan combined to find Short who shot wide.
Then Short hit a shot from distance which Smallings got down to push away and then Wall following a great piece of skill and impudence got the ball under control and hit a shot from 25 yards wide.
Cray Valley though were very much still in the game and from a free kick in a decent position outside the area Theo Jeffrey fired a shot past the right post.
The game was still finely balanced but in the 70th minute Cray Wanderers added a second goal which was well worked after Edwards won the ball in midfield and found Wall and Morley who down the left found substitute Jake Offley whose initial shot was blocked but fell for Robinson who tucked away a tidy finish from twelve yards.
Cray Wanderers now had a bit of daylight with the scoreline and Edwards was unlucky with a volley over the top and then fired a shot just wide. Nick Desanges’ Cray Wanderers team were looking like finishing the game well and Finlay Flint hit a shot wide and then Luke Witter down the left curled a shot just past the right post.
Cray Valley to their credit never gave up and two minutes from time pulled a goal back which was started by Jake Wilkinson and Rhys Evans and this led to a layoff to Thomasz Dros who hit an unerring shot from 14 yards which hit the top right hand corner of the net.
This led to some frantic activity in the closing minutes and there was a scare for Cray Wanderers when it looked like a four on two breakaway led by Shae John who looked certain to get a shot in but again the quickness of Miller Fleming led to a great tackle and the pressure was off.
The Wands managed to see out the six minutes of added time and showed their qualities in front of a big crowd but certainly had to work hard for the win and now will travel to Tonbridge Angels in the 1st Qualifying Round in a tie to be played w/c 15th September.
Cray Wanderers: Kevin Kardel (Capt.), Morgan Hill (Maxwell Fisher-Alves, 90+4), Luke Witter, Miller Fleming, Archie Morley, Ralph Short (Charlie Halls, 75), Louis Edwards, Leroy Adedoyin (Finlay Flint, 54), Sam Robinson, Billy Wall, Jude Whelan (Jake Offley. 61): Subs: Mitchell Everitt, Freddie Newman, Karl Hudson
Booked: Robinson 90+6
Cray Valley PM: Noah Smallings, Mat Strzpiol, Kieran Taylor (Pawel Markowski, 76), Erikas Pinskis, Jimi Arnolin (Kunti Gnoan, 57), Theo Jeffrey (Capt.), Oliver Morris (Rhys Evans, 72), Will Benedict, Shae John, Matas Barcas (Jake Wilkinson, H/T), Thomasz Dros: Sub: Harry Cowell
Referee: Ashley Diamond
Att: 301
