Carshalton Athletic vs Cray Wanderers – Isthmian Premier – Saturday 13th September – Match Report
Carshalton Athletic 2
Read 51, Ladapo 78
Cray Wanderers 2
Hernandez 34 pen, Williams 40
Cray Wanderers remain unbeaten away from home in the Isthmian League but had to be content with a point for a second successive 2-2 draw at Carshalton Athletic at a wet and soggy Colston Avenue.
The match for the Wands was the polar opposite of last Saturday at Lewes where Cray came from two down to grab a point whereas on this day it was Cray who led two nil at half time before the Robins dominated the second half and came from behind to draw.
After a quiet first twenty five minutes the game came alive before half time as Cray went ahead from the penalty spot in the 34th minute from the penalty spot netted by Alex Hernandez for his first Wands goal.
It got better for Cray five minutes before half time as direct from a right wing corner Josh Williams ball into the box found its way in without a touch.
The heavens opened in the second half and Carshalton got on top and pulled a goal back in the 51st minute headed in by Luke Read and from here they penned the Wands back.
A leveller looked on the cards for the Robins and came twelve minutes from time when substitute Tolu Ladapo on his debut was on hand to force the ball in from a free kick. Both teams could have won it but ended in a draw.
Cray in eighth place in the league were looking to build on the point gained at Lewes but had a setback against Herne Bay in the Kent Senior Cup in the week. There were a few absences from the side which started the Herne Bay game with Harry Seaden, Remi Sutton, Adrian Owiredu-Gyamera, Frankie Raymond, Luke Allen, Alex Hernandez and Josh Williams returning in place of Kevin Kardel, Ed Mare, Marc-Anthony Okoye, Victor Damyanov, Nods Bobomurodov and also Ben Wells and Jamie Watson who have both departed the Wands. Making his debut for the Wands was Friday afternoon signing, Kareem Isiaka who last season netted 18 goals in 30 games for Chatham Town.
Carshalton had lost the last three in the league and stood 17th and there was one change from the side which were beaten at Brentwood Town last Saturday with Olu Atewologun coming in for Abdul Sankoh.
The Wands started the game positively and an early free kick out on the left saw Luke Allen’s ball to the near post reach Alex Hernandez but Matt Kerbey in the Carshalton goal had to turn the ball away.
The match then settled for a few minutes at a very sedate pace but Carshalton edged possession and in the 11th minute threatened when Sharon Ifeanyi who had a great game out on the right put over a cross that was headed over by Kola Salami. Then three minutes later another Ifeanyi cross just looped towards goal and clipped the crossbar and over.
The match then drifted for a few minutes but in the 27th minute Carshalton came close when Tommy Bradford set up Ifeanyi for a shot that was well pushed out by Harry Seaden with Ricky Korboa shooting over from the rebound.
On the half hour Cray had their best moment so far when Adrian Owiredu-Gyamera made a great run forward and into the box and unselfishly set up Kareem Isiaka who seemed destined to score but a great block meant the ball went over for a corner.
In the 34th minute Cray took the lead following an award of a penalty when Korboa clipped Josh Williams down the right of the area. From the spot, Alex Hernandez netted his first Cray Wanderers goal.
Cray were looking more on top at this stage and five minutes later after a Hernandez shot was deflected for a corner, Williams from the right swung in his cross which was missed by defenders and keeper Matt Kerbey.
Just before half time Bradford saw his shot hit the crossbar and go over but at half time Cray had an element of control with a two goal lead.
HT: 0-2
With the rain now pouring at the start of the second half, Cray looked to carry on where they left off and Hernandez shot over and then set up Isiaka for a first time shot over the bar.
This proved a pivotal moment because if they had it made it 3-0 it would have been very difficult for Carshalton to come back. There was a half shout for a penalty for the home side when Luke Read went down in the box but the ref waived away their claims.
In the 51st minute Carshalton pulled a goal back when from a corner down the left, Bradford after his initial cross was blocked put the ball into towards the near post and Read diverted a strong header into the net.
This definitely rock the Wands back on their heels and Carshalton definitely wrested the initiative away from Cray who couldn’t get anything going in the forward areas.
On the hour Carshalton had the ball in the net through Olly Hamstead but was disallowed for offside and for the next ten minutes Cray had to show resolve from plenty of Carshalton attacks and also substitutions.
One of those subs, Tolu Ladapo making is league debut made an impact and twenty minutes from time came close with a shot that well saved by Harry Seaden.
Five minutes later and again Cray just about survived when Ifeanyi saw a shot pushed out by Seaden and following up Mason Saunders-Henry turned the ball over the top.
In the 78th minute it was 2-2 when from a free kick out on the right, Bradford’s cross was hard to defend against and from inside the area Ladapo was on hand to score from close range.
Both sides could have won the game in the last ten minutes with Carshalton still carrying the fight and down the left the ball was worked for Korboa to put in a cross for Ifeanyi whose effort was held by Seaden. Then Read put over a cross down the left for Ladapo but again Seaden was required to save.
Going into injury time Cray looked to grab a winner. First from a free kick down the left the ball into the box was glanced off target by Quade Taylor.
Then with the last kick of the game down the left again, Lateef Adaja sent a fine ball across to the far post for Nods Bobomurodov who volleyed over the top but in the end it finished 2-2. For Cray perhaps this will seem like two points dropped as could have gone into the top 5 with a win but having to withstand a lot of pressure second half would rather have taken a point then none at all as could have ended in defeat. The Wands move up one place to 7th on 12 points while Carshalton are 16th on 7 points. Cray will now have a week respite before entertaining Hashtag United next Saturday, 3 pm.
Carshalton Athletic: Matt Kerbey, Ollie Hamstead (Tolu Ladapo, 68), Laurence Ernest, Olu Atewolgun, Sharon Ifeanyi, Ricky Korboa, Tommy Bradford (Capt.) (Abdul Sankoh, 87), Luke Read, Mason Saunders-Henry (Lucas Dyer, 90), Josh Shonibare (Parish Muirhead, 68), Abdul Salami (David Smith, 68)
Booked: Ladapo 80, Saunders-Henry 89
Cray Wanderers: Harry Seaden, Adrian Owiredu-Gyamera, Remi Sutton, Quade Taylor, George Brooke (Andrew Dzontoh, 59), Frankie Raymond (Capt.), Luke Allen, Lateef Adaja, Josh Williams (Nods Bobomurodov, 78), Alex Hernandez, Kareem Isiaka: Subs: Marc-Anthony Okoye, Chris Dickson
Booked: Brooke 52, Raymond 83
Referee: Joseph Gray
Assistants: Jake Martin, Bruno Marques
Att: 415
