Cray Wanderers vs Aveley – Isthmian Premier – Friday 9th January – Match Report
Cray Wanderers 0
Aveley 3
Hubbard 59, Aromolaran 77, 80
REPORT
Cray Wanderers three game winning run came to an end as the Isthmian Premier’s in form side Aveley remained unbeaten away from home anf made it sixteen league games without defeat with three second half goals at a cold and wet Flamingo Park.
The match saw Cray in 5th and Aveley in 4th place and the Wands were buoyant after scoring nine in the last two games and had beaten another side currently in the playoff places Brentwood Town 4-1 last weekend. Aveley who still have games in hand on the other contenders came into the game after an impressive 1-0 win at league leaders Folkestone Invicta on Tuesday night and Brett Munyard’s team had five changes to that line up.
There was one change to the Wands lineup with a new loan signing from Gillingham in striker Harry Bridle remaining to the end of the season. Harry spent a couple of successful spells with Whitehawk including up to December.
Two well-schooled defences meant the first half was rather tight and both teams with the conditions looked to feel their way into the game and come to terms with the conditions.
Around the twenty minute mark the game began to have some action with Lateef Adaja down the right byline seeing his near post effort smothered behind by Mitchell. At the other end, Aveley posed a threat down the left and Ollie Peters set up Jayden Robinson who tested Harry Seaden with a low shot from inside the area.
For Cray, Frankie Raymond down the left floated in a free kick which was partially cleared to Jordy Mongoy who hooked his effort wide of the right post. In the 34<span;>th<span;> minute Raymond’s pass fell to Bridle who worked an opening by cutting into the area but saw his effort go into the arms of Mitchell. Then Harry Waldock fired wide for the home side.
Perhaps the nearest any side came was four minutes before the break when Raymond down the left curled an effort towards goal which looked to dip and clipped the far post and Adaja couldn’t convert the follow up.
HT: 0-0
The second half certainly saw the game open up and Adaja for Cray in the opening minute cut inside down the right and curled a shot wide of the left post. Then Alex Hernandez was found by Adaja and saw his shot blocked by Matt Johnson.
In the 59th minute Aveley took the lead after a short spell of pressure when Peters found Fletcher Hubbard who then received a smart return pass from Louie Kudubor to break through and fire home his first goal for the Millers with great composure.
Cray were unfortunate not to level when down the right Hernandez set up Mongoy who looked to have the goal at his mercy but Mitchell pulled off a fine save to turn the ball behind.
The sides were still evenly matched but in the 77th minute Aveley added a second goal when a ball out from the back came to substitute Toby Aromolaran who advanced on goal and round Seaden to stroke the ball in the net.
Three minutes later it was 3-0 and perhaps give the scoreline a harsh look when a stray pass from Cray came to Jesse Nwabueze who set up Aromolaran for a second goal with another composed finish.
There could have been a fourth when Aromolaran set up Tobi Tinibu for Aveley who saw his shot hit the left post.
The Wands had deserved something for their efforts on the night but couldn’t quite make a breakthrough and Raymond saw a strike from distance go just wide and Waldock fired past the post but in the end a well drilled and confident Aveley side had just done enough to win the game.
As a result Cray dropped down to 6th on 41 points and will look to bounce back at Hashtag United on Saturday 17th January.
Cray Wanderers: Harry Seaden, Adrian O-Gyamera, Remi Sutton, Tom Bonner, Frankie Morgan, Frankie Raymond, Harry Waldock, Lateef Adaja, Jordy Mongoy (Chris Dickson 85), Alex Hernandez, Harry Bridle: Subs: Billy Wall, Quade Taylor, Prosper Keto, Ralfi Hand.
Booked: Bonner 23
Aveley: Rylee Mitchell, Tobi Tinibu, Harry Critchley (Jesse Nwabueze, 59), Jayden Robinson (Chris Harris, 59), Ryan Henshaw, Harry Haysom (Jayden Gipson, 47), Ollie Peters, Ryan Charles, Matt Johnson, Louie Kudubor (Toby Aromolaran, 74), Fletcher Hubbard (Louis Robinson, 78)
Booked: Critchley 54, Charles 76
Referee: Adam Steele
Assistants: Bogdan Caraghin, David Lolgren
Att: 688
