Cray Wanderers vs. Lewes – FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round Replay – 8/9/26 – Match Report
Cray Wanderers 1
Hernandez 47
Lewes 0
Pics: Natalie Stribbling
Cray Wanderers advanced to the 2nd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup as an Alex Hernandez header seventy seconds after half time settled a finely balanced tie between two in form Isthmian Premier League clubs. The Wands now have the prize of one of the ties of the round at home to National South League leaders Maidstone United at Flamingo Park on 19th September.
This was a match necessary after a fightback from Lewes from 2-0 down to level in added time forced a replay last Saturday and after a scrappy opening the match settled down into an engaging contest which the winners would know would have to do things the hard way.
Cray who played well on Saturday but just couldn’t get over the line made one change to the starting line up with 17 year old Oscar Johnson making his second appearance in goal and his first start in place of the suspended Henry Molyneux. On the bench were four U23s players, goalkeeper Kian Eyers, defender Kane Atkins, wide midfielder Billy Wall and striker Abdul Cole.
Lewes who had three ex-Wands in the side with Ben Mundele and Jack Enkh and Danny Bassett on the bench finished the game strongly on Saturday made four changes. Enkh, Andrew Briggs, Noel Fisher and Charlie Walker who netted the two goals starting in place of Josh Spinks, Bassett, Parish Muirhead and Tom Bender.
With the stakes high and two sides noted for their quality going forward the match took around fifteen minutes to really take shape.
Lewes perhaps edged the opening exchanges and certainly looked to test Johnson early on. Firstly, Tyler Cox who had a good game for the Rooks put over an early cross from the right which Johnson had to punch away. Then shortly after down the left Bobby Unwin’s swinging ball towards goal was palmed away well by Johnson.
In the 18th minute Cray forged the first real opening when Alex Hernandez found Soul Kader who played a ball into Ade Yusuff down the right of the area who fired a shot just past the left post. This was the catalyst for the game to come alive and the rest of the half was an enjoyable watch.
Two minutes later Noel Fisher out on the left cut inside and hit a well struck shot which went into the midriff of Oscar Johnson and steady piece of goalkeeping.
Cray had a little spell in the ascendancy. Kader and Yusuff fashioned an opening for Frankie Raymond down the left of the area but crashed his near post shot wide. Then the as ever influential Ola Ogunwamide fired wide of the left post from outside the box.
The best opening for Cray in the first half fell just before the half hour when Tobi Tinibu crafted an opening down the left but saw his shot saved by the legs of Louis Rogers.
For Lewes, Cox did well to find Fisher inside the area but was denied by a fine block from Crossley Lema. Meanwhile for Cray Alex Hernandez fired over and then just couldn’t get on the end Kader’s ball across from the left.
Lewes had a half chance when from a Andrew Briggs corner from the right to the near post put pressure on Johnson but Tyrese Owen glanced the ball wide. Then Johnsond did very well to hold a fierce shot from Mundele from twenty five yards low down at the right post. Despite some good attacking play the half ended goalless with all very much still to play for.
HT: 0-0
It didn’t take long for the decisive moment to arrive in the second half as just seventy second in following the Wands first corner of the night, Ogunwamide received a pass from Frankie Raymond and whipped over a fine cross down the right into the area for Hernandez who is becoming more and more the complete centre forward glanced home from around six yards for his fourth goal of the season.
The match would become more competitive with a few yellow cards in the second half, six in all for Lewes but was hardly that type of game.
Cray almost added a second half two minutes later when from another Ogunwamide assist the ball came to Soul Kader who hit a cracking shot which Rogers did well to turn over the bar. Then Yusuff clipped an effort over the top.
Lewes though were very much in the game and chasing the equaliser and Tyler Cox and Ryan Gondoh combined to set up Noel Fisher who shot past the left post.
The Rooks arguably played better this evening than on Saturday and came close to levelling after a fine move down the left when Gondoh set up Cox down the left who returned a pass to Gondoh to fire in a shot which hit the angle of post and crossbar and fell to Owen who shot wide of the left post. For Cray, Hernandez shot over from a free kick.
Cray were able to batten down the hatches for a while and brought on Alfie Payne and for his first team debut, Abdul Cole for the last twenty minutes.
However, Lewes missed a great chance to equalise in the 78th minute when down the left Cox’s cross fell nicely to substitute Danny Bassett who lashed his shot over the top for a bit of a let off.
Helped by the immaculate Rob Strachan at the back Cray were able to venture more forward and from Raymond’s ball into the box caused consternation and Kader helped the ball on to another sub Mitch Chapman who hooked over.
After seven minutes of added time there was one last opening for Lewes and Bassett down the right set up Brian Garzon for a shot which Johnson whose handling was excellent all game did well to claim at his near post after a slight deflection.
In the end Cray had held out and had perhaps over the two ties merit the win and now can set up the prospect of a meeting with Maidstone United.
Before that though Cray will need to focus on two big league matches against teams north of the Thames at league leaders Enfield Town on Saturday and then a midweek home match with St Albans City on 15th September so will need to recover quickly.
This was Cray’s third straight home win and a clean sheet was just reward for the team’s effort but especially for Oscar Johnson who can take pride in his performance and looks like an incredible prospect with a lucrative future in the game.
Cray Wanderers: Oscar Johnson, Crossley Lema, Rob Strachan, Frankie Morgan, Tobi Tinibu, Frankie Raymond (Capt.), Sammie McLeod (Mitchell Chapman, 83, Ola Ogunwamide, Ade Yusuff (Abdul Cole, 75), Alex Hernandez (Alfie Payne, 70), Soul Kader: Subs: Kian Eyers, Lateef Adaja, Kane Atkins, Billy Wall
Booked: Kader 55, Johnson 90+2, Cole 90+7
Lewes: Louis Rogers, Tyler Cox, Jack Enkh, Andrew Briggs (Capt.), Tyrese Owen, Noel Fisher (Brian Garzon, 87), Ben Mundele (Parish Muirhead, 90+6), Bobby Unwin (Danny Bassett, 71), Olly Hamstead, Ryan Gondoh, Charlie Walker (Calum Newson, 71): Subs: Mackenzie Richardson, Gio Clarke, Tyler Christian-Law
Booked: Gondoh 27, Briggs 48, Walker 58, Owen 68, Cox 85, Mundele 90+5
Referee: Toby Carlisle
Assistants: Christopher Bowdery, Promise Phillips
Att: 174
