Cray Wanderers vs Folkestone Invicta – Pre-Season Friendly – Tuesday 14th July – Match Report
Cray Wanderers 3
Yussuf 52, Morgan 66, Kpotie 78
Folkestone Invicta 1
Pigott 38
Photos to follow
Cray Wanderers third game of pre-season ended in an excellent victory as Tim O’Shea’s side came from a goal down at half time to beat last season’s Isthmian Premier League champions Folkestone Invicta after a Joe Pigott goal. Three well taken goals in the second half with two from ex-Invicta players Ade Yussuf and Frankie Morgan and a third for U23s/U18s player Tade Kpotie helped Cray to a morale boosting win.
Cray looked to build on the positives of an encouraging performance at Dover last Saturday against another National South team and it was a fine match, competitive and played like a league match rather than a friendly.
Folkestone had most of the possession early on but Cray won the first corner and Dan Ajakaiye saw a shot go wide. Invicta threatened with Ben Mason firing in a shot that just went over the bar.
Cray came close in the 13th minute when Lateef Adaja did well down the right to hold the ball up in the area and played a pass to the impressive Ola Ogunwamide whose shot was turned round the left post by Ted Collins.
The game played in a sultry heat was played at a steady pace but there was a real competitive edge to the game, a few tackles going in but played in a good spirit. Folkestone came close in the 25th minute from a free kick to the right of the area and Alejandro Machado’s strike clipped the right post.
Folkestone took the lead in the 38th minute when the trialist no 15 down the right did well to play a pass across to Joe Pigott who made no mistake with a quality finish.
Invicta almost scored again a minute later when the trialist’s cross to the far post for Reggie Young was cleared off the line.
Cray though ended the half encouragingly with Alfie Payne firing over then Ade Yussuf headed wide from a right wing cross.
Just before half time Rob Strachan headed wide from a Frankie Raymond corner but at the break Invicta went in with the lead.
HT: 0-1
Frankie Morgan was introduced for Lateef Adaja for the start of the second half and had a storming game going forward as well as defensively.
Folkestone had most of the ball early on but Cray in the 52nd minute levelled after a swift counterattack down the left. Frankie Raymond found Morgan who in turn played a pass through to Ajakaiye who looked to set himself up for a shot but chose unselfishly to set up Yussuf who with time placed a shot under Collins to make it two goals in pre-season for the new signing from Invicta.
For Cray Ogunwamide fired a shot wide and for Folkestone Liam Smith headed over from a corner as the game went from end to end.
In the 66th minute Cray went in front with another strong riposte to a Folkestone attack started down the right and eventually Alex Hernandez saw his shot spilled by Collins and fell to Frankie Morgan to turn the ball in from close range.
Folkestone sought a leveller and Aaron Cosgrave was found by Smith’s pass and flashed the ball across the face of goal where Josh Strouts couldn’t apply a touch.
In the 78th minute Cray had a bit of breathing space with another goal but only after a number of changes and one of those changes made a difference as down the left Morgan’s superb cross to the far post came to Tade Kpotie who made a lively cameo appearance and was genuinely delighted to turn the ball into the net for his first senior goal.
Folkestone looked to hit back straight away and Ollie Black saw a couple of shots blocked on the line. Then Smith hit a sweet strike which Kian Eyers did well to push the ball behind for a corner.
Cray almost rounded off the evening with a fourth goal when Shae Hutchinson fired in a great finish down the left of the area but the flag went up for offside which didn’t seem evident at the time.
In the end though it didn’t matter as Cray won the match and although not quite eradicating the memory of the 8-1 defeat at Cheriton Road last November it did go some way to showing Cray’s improvement in that time and with a mixture of what is likely to be the first team and some fine youngsters coming on against a strong and experienced Invicta side will hold the Wands in good stead for the season to come and tough challenges. Folkestone will certainly ruffle a few feathers in the National South and good luck to the champions for the season ahead.
Cray will next go into another Kent derby against a National South side as Tonbridge Angels are the visitors to Flamingo Park. Please note the 12 pm kick off for this fixture.
Cray Wanderers: Henry Molyneux, Crossley Lema, Charlie Paye, Rob Strachan, Alfie Payne, Frankie Raymond, Lateef Adaja, Ola Ogunwamide, Dan Ajakaiye, Alex Hernandez, Ade Yussuf: Subs: Frankie Morgan, Kian Eyers, George Brooke, Tade Kpotie, Mitch Chapman, Harry Brooke, Shae Hutchinson, Trialist A, Trialist B.
Folkestone Invicta: Ted Collins, Ben Mason, Dan Quick, Kevin Loko, Ike Orji, Alex Woodyard, Reggie Young, Trialist, Joe Pigott, Alejandro Machado, John Akinde: Subs: Liam Smith, Harvey Kedwell, Adam Lovatt, Aaron Cosgrave, Ollie Black, Josh Strouts, Dillon Simmons, Freddie Francis, Harry Ottley
Referee: Tom Berry
Assistants: Ban Al-Shaikh, Albert Warr
