Bishop’s Stortford vs Cray Wanderers – FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round – Saturday 4th October – Match Report
Bishop’s Stortford 4
Haines 60, Melvin-Lambert 75, 90, Akanbi 85
Cray Wanderers 0
Cray Wanderers bowed out of the FA Trophy after a powerful last half hour from Bishop’s Stortford decided a tight cup tie with four unanswered goals to advance to the 1st Round draw on Monday.
The Wands had the better of the first half and came close just after half time when Lateef Adaja was denied by a fine save from Adam Hayton. However, Bishop’s Stortford took more control and went ahead on the hour when Mark Haines volleyed in at the far post from a Cole Dasilva corner.
Cray searched for a goal to level the tie but fell further behind fifteen minutes from time when from a breakaway Leon Davies’ cross was headed in by substitute Nahum Melvin-Lambert.
Chris Dickson hit the crossbar with a header for Cray but with the game virtually won the home side added two late goals to emphasise the win. Firstly five minutes from time Saleem Akanbi took advantage of hesitancy at the back to make it 3-0. Then in the last minute Melvin-Lambert netted his second when he fired in following a long throw-in.
The Wands were looking to continue the momentum of five unbeaten league games as Tim O’Shea’s side visited Southern League Premier Central Bishop’s Stortford on what was a blustery and chilly afternoon with both teams handily placed in their respective tables. There was one change to the Cray side which thrillingly beat Dulwich Hamlet on Tuesday with Josh Williams in for Kareem Isiaka. There was a new signing on the bench, midfielder Mannie Mensah signed from Dulwich but didn’t make an appearance.
The game began with Cray looking sharp and created the first opening in the second minute when Alex Hernandez played a pass through to Josh Williams down the right who shaped to cut inside and then fired in a shot which tested Adam Hayton. Then Harry Waldock found Williams down the right to the byline but his cross was claimed by Hayton.
Adrian Gyamera had an outstanding first half for Cray and down the left played a pass to Lateef Adaja tight to the touchline who looked to find space and looked to play in Ashley Nzala who got to the ball but as Hayton came out couldn’t get a shot in and went behind.
Cray were playing with confidence in the early stages and after a concerted passing move the ball was switched to the left to Gyamera who cut inside and fired a shot over the bar.
The Wands continued to play the better football despite the conditions and Hernandez and Adaja combined to set up Nzala who saw his low shot saved by Hayton.
Around the twenty minute mark the home side began to get more into the game and Aaron Greene and Obi Onyeagwara combined down the left to set up Leon Davies who lashed a shot over the bar.
Then in the 23rd minute came closest yet when Saleem Akanbi set up Fabio Virciglio who saw his goalbound shot turned round the right post by Harry Seaden.
Just after the half hour Cray were awarded a free kick in a central position and Hernandez clipped a shot round the wall but Hayton who had a fine game in goal got down to turn the ball aside.
After this the game seemed to drift and there wasn’t much goal mouth action for the remainder of the half and finished goalless at the break and with all very much still to play for.
HT: 0-0
The second half saw a few tackles and offences and yellow cards shown but wasn’t really a physical game and the home side looked more in control.
Cray did create the best chance of the game on 51 minutes out of nothing as Lateef Adaja did well to work an opening down the left and his goalbound shot saw Hayton get a hand to the ball to turn it past the right post.
Bishop’s Stortford had a good spell leading up to the hour and were pushing Cray back a bit more without creating many openings but were building up a head of steam.
In the 60th minute the Blues took the lead after a corner down the right which was floated to the far post by Cole Dasilva and met on the volley by Mark Haines to break the deadlock.
Cray introduced Nods Bobomurodov and were still very much in the game and Hernandez down the right of the area fired just over the bar.
The Wands though were caught fifteen minutes from time by a high quality break and goal from Bishop’s Stortford as down the left Leon Davies’ cross was met by a header from Nahum Melvin-Lambert who had only on the pitch for a minute following a substitution to give the home side a degree of comfort.
Cray still had time to reply and after introducing Luke Allen and Chris Dickson, the Wands were unlucky not to reduce the arrears when Dickson saw a header hit the top of the crossbar and go over the top. Then, Freddie Taylor who kept going at right back saw a shot from just outside the area go just over the bar.
The game was decided five minutes from time with quite a sloppy goal on Cray’s part as a clearance from another substitute Scott Kashket led to indecision in the penalty area and Saleem Akanbi nipped in ahead of Harry Seaden for a simple finish.
Then in the 90th minute with the game basically done and dusted Bishop’s Stortford added a fourth when from long throw from Kashket down the right the ball was flicked on Akanbi and fell to Melvin-Lambert who made no mistake with a no-nonsense finish.
In the end there could be no complaints as Bishop’s Stortford had taken their chances well where Cray couldn’t convert theirs and perhaps a little unusually finished the game groggy and rather out of sorts.
Cray who next face AFC Wimbledon in the London Senior Cup on Tuesday will then return to league action with a double header of away games against fellow early playoff contenders Dulwich Hamlet next Saturday and Chatham Town on 18th October.
The Wands just had a bad day at the office but have been playing well throughout the season and hopefully today was just a brief blip and can return to form during the rest of October and beyond.
Bishop’s Stortford: Adam Hayton, Cole Dasilva (Tommy Lethbridge, 88), Leon Davies (Rehan Field, 90+1), Jake Thompson (Capt.), Mark Haines, Aaron Greene (Nahum Melvin-Lambert, 74), Declan Phillips (Luka Chalwell, 39), Obi Onyeagwara (Scott Kashket, 69), Fabio Virciglio, Jack Smith, Saleem Akanbi:
Booked: Phillips 29, Virciglio 49, Haines 67
Cray Wanderers: Harry Seaden, Freddie Taylor, Remi Sutton, Tom Bonner (Capt.), Adrian Owiredu-Gyamera, Frankie Raymond, Harry Waldock (Luke Allen, 71), Ashley Nzala (Nods Bobomurodov, 61), Lateef Adaja, Alex Hernandez (Chris Dickson, 71): Subs: Quade Taylor, Mannie Mensah
Booked: Raymond 47, Nzala 59, Bonner 64
Referee: Joseph Karram
Assistants: James Kay, Richard Barlow
Att: 266
