Brentwood Town v Cray Wanderers- Isthmian Premier – Saturday 31st October – Match Report
Brentwood Town 1
Zhudu 25
Cray Wanderers 4
Yusuff 20, 45, Ogunwamide 65, Ufuah 69
Photos: Natalie Stribbling.
Cray Wanderers after a three week rest from league action moved out of the bottom four after an outstanding performance to beat Brentwood Town at the Arena for a second 4-1 victory of 2026.
The match was nicely poised after the opening twenty minutes but Cray took the lead when Frankie Morgan’s left wing cross was glanced in by Ade Yusuff for his twelfth goal of the season.
Brentwood though who had won their last two league games levelled five minutes later when Suley Zuhdu was on hand to convert Alfie Cerulli’s cross.
The Wands though restored the lead just before half time when after a corner the ball came to Alex Hernandez whose disguised pass fell to Yusuff again who fired under Jack Giddens for a first half brace.
Cray dominated the second half and decided the game with two goals in four minutes. Firstly, Ola Ougnwamide scored his fifth of the season in the 65th minute with a simple finish after a rush of blood from Giddens who was caught in no-mans land to make it 3-1.
Then four minutes later it was 4-1 when John Ufuah who came close twice in the first half slotted in down the left from a tight angle to score on his Wands debut and Cray saw out the remaining minutes for a big three points and the perfect way to prepare for next Sunday’s momentous FA Cup tie with Stockport County.
This was Cray’s first league match since the 1-2 defeat to Lewes on 10th October which seems a lot longer ago than that. As a result of FA Cup and Trophy ties and with the postponement of Tuesday’s game with Stanway Rovers the Wands had dropped into the bottom four and started in 19th place albeit only playing nine games with twelve points. Cray incredibly had played seven less games than Maldon & Tiptree in 18th on fourteen points.
From the side which was due to start on Tuesday there was one change with John Ufuah signed from Havant & Waterlooville starting in place of Tobi Tinibu. Loanee Jakob Lowe had been recalled by Leyton Orient for their FA Youth Cup tie at Chelmsford City on Friday.
Brentwood Town had lost six of the first seven games but had turned things around and had moved up to 13th in the table on fifteen points with back to back league wins and also had a run in the FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round. There were two changes to the side which beat Cheshunt on Tuesday with Matt Cripps and Jayden Gipson coming in for Tommy Davis and Harry Gibbs.
Before the game there was an excellent Remembrance Service from Brentwood Town involving local servicemen and cadets and the period of silence was impeccably observed.
The first half began with Cray edging the early exchanges and had the first real opening in the 13th minute when after Ola Ogunwamide’s effort was blocked the ball came to John Ufuah who stabbed the ball wide of the left post.
A minute later Suley Zudhu for Brentwood was booked for a late challenge on Alex Hernandez which also resulted in a yellow card for Sammie McLeod but overall there were few flash points in this game.
In the 20th minute Cray deservedly took the lead when from a corner won down the right after a few seconds the ball was switched out to the left and Ufuah found Frankie Morgan who whipped over a great cross which was met by a terrific header from Ade Yusuff who despatched his twelfth goal of a already a prolific season.
Brentwood though barely threatening in the early stages levelled in the 25th minute with a well worked goal with recent signing Alfie Cerulli from Billericay down the right finding Zudhu who finished well inside the area.
Ufuah fired over for Cray while For the home side from a free kick out on the right Cerulli’s free kick was deflected and JJ Briggs had to get down to save with the ball going out for a corner.
From the corner though Cray broke away to almost score when Ufuah was desperately unlucky not to score as down the left he lofted the ball towards goal but the ball bounced and went over the bar.
Ex-Wands Charlie Edwards saw a shot blocked but Cray ended the half on top and Lateef Adaja looked to have been caught perhaps just outside the area but the ref played an advantage and the ball went out for a corner.
From the left wing corner in the final minute of the half the ball came to Alex Hernandez who feinted to shoot but in the end played a pass into Yusuff in the box who made no mistake to make it 2-1 at half time.
HT: 1-2
Brentwood started the second half more on the front foot winning an early corner and did pose a threat but Cray were defending superbly and the Wands were able to take the sting out of the match.
The nearest Brentwood came in the game was in the 58th minute when from a corner down the left Cerulli saw his shot pushed out well by Briggs.
Cray though were thoroughly impressive and resilient and wrested away the initiative and won corners and free kicks especially after Hernandez was caught by another late challenge from Ryan Henshaw out on the left touchline.
Two minutes after that Cray had an element of comfort after hesitation at the back following the above free kick and Jack Giddens in the Town goal was caught in no mans land outside the area and the ball fell nicely to Ola Ogunwamide who took a touch and stroked the ball into the net.
Cray were now playing with supreme confidence and four minutes later there was no real doubt in the outcome as down the left Ufuah was left in space to fire across the keeper and into the bottom corner for a terrific debut goal for the former Merstham, Margate, Chatham Town and Welling United winger.
The Wands for the last twenty minutes were able to make changes for key personnel ahead of Sunday with Ogunwamide, Hernandez, Yusuff, Frankie Raymond and Lateef Adaja all replaced by the experience of Tobi Tinibu, Soul Kader, Seidou Sanogo, Alfie Payne and Bayli Spencer-Adams.
Cray were able to batten down the hatches with messrs Lema, Strachan and Morgan impressive and JJ Briggs was well protected with no real chances for the home side who made their five substitutions in the second half.
Cray almost added to the scoreline when Ufuah saw a shot blocked, Then into stoppage time Soul Kader was played through but was denied by a good blocked save by Giddens.
In the end Cray picked up the three points which was welcome and moved the Wands up the table slightly to 18th on fifteen points and strangely now above Brentwood on goal difference. The Wands though have a number of games in hand in teams around them with the next league game on Tuesday 10th November vs Three Bridges at Flamingo Park.
Tim O’Shea’s side continue to make the club proud as do the Wands supporters who warmed up for Sunday with a visit to the impressive facilities at Brentwood Town and went home happy after a classic away day. 
Brentwood Town: Jack Giddens, Wyan Reid (George Saunders, 62), Matt Cripps (Capt.) (Bradley Sach, 71), Luke Read, Nat Mardell (Malachi Linton, 78), Andrew Freeman, Charlie Edwards (Jayden Robinson, 53), Jayden Gipson, Alfie Cerulli, Ryan Henshaw, Suley Zudhu (Freddie Sears, 62)
Booked: Zudhu 14, Henshaw 63
Cray Wanderers: JJ Briggs, Crossley Lema, Robert Strachan, Frankie Morgan, Frankie Raymond (Capt.) (Alfie Payne, 80), Sammie McLeod, Lateef Adaja (Bayli Spencer-Adams, 87), Ola Ogunwamide (Tobi Tinibu, 70), Alex Hernandez (Soul Kader, 73), Ade Yusuff (Seidou Sanogo, 73), John Ufuah
Booked: McLeod 14
Referee: Marcus Tingey
Assistants: Charlie Roberts, Ashley Diamond
Att: 423
