Cray Wanderers vs Dartford – Isthmian Premier – Saturday 25th October – Match Report
Cray Wanderers 0
Dartford 2
Dsane 37, Jones 67
Photos to follow
Cray Wanderers remain fourth in the Isthmian Premier but saw the eight game unbeaten league run come to an end as Dartford moved up to fifth and a point behind with a goal in each half and prevent the Wands scoring in the league for the first time this season.
After a fairly cautious first half Dartford took the lead eight minutes before the break when Eddie Dsane pounced on a ball through from Olly Box to score. Cray came close twice to levelling in the second half but for good saves from Jonny Henly. The Darts though made it 2-0 half way through the second half with Callum Jones netting and saw out the remainder of the match for their first away win of the season.
In front of a four figure crowd there was much anticipation of a dramatic game like the final home game of last season where the Wands drew 2-2 with the Darts and with both teams in good league form with Dartford unbeaten in nine league games this looked like a game to savour.
For Cray there were two changes to the side which drew with St Albans City on Tuesday night with Josh Williams and Alex Hernandez coming in for Nods Bobomurodov and Ashley Nzala. Meanwhile there was one change to the Dartford side to which beat Potters Bar Town last Saturday with George Whitefield coming in for Sam Smith.
With a fairly brisk breeze on a grey afternoon the game never really got going until the last half hour with the teams maybe not quite getting to grips with the wind or being able to string too many passes together.
Cray looked to threaten through Adrian Gyamera down the left and made a charge into the box but his ball across was cleared. For Dartford, a free kick down the left from Samir Carruthers into the area was punched away under pressure by Harry Seaden.
The Wands won a couple of corners which didn’t lead to an opportunity but the first shooting chance fell to Dartford in the 19th minute when Jacob Bland made a run forward and fired in a shot into the arms of Seaden.
Six minutes later Cray came close when Josh Williams down the right put over a cross which Alex Hernandez flicked on and fell to Remi Sutton on the stretch who put the ball over the bar.
Then a free kick from Frankie Raymond into the box looked for Tom Bonner who went down but no penalty was given.
Dartford did have the ball in the net disallowed for offside with Joe Tennent flagged before Bonner put the ball in his own net.
Cray looked to increase the pace and Williams saw a shot well blocked inside the area and from this Dartford broke away to score in the 37th minute. From the break the ball came to Olly Box who played a ball towards Eddie Dsane who latched onto the pass and clipped his shot past Seaden and into the net.
The Wands never really got going in the first forty five minutes and trailed at the break.
HT: 0-1
The start of the second half saw a signal of intent from Tim O’Shea with three substitutions with Ashley Nzala, Nods Bobomurodov and Chris Dickson coming on to replace Josh Williams, Alex Hernandez and Kareem Isiaka and just before the hour Ralfi Hand came on for Harry Waldock.
The second half was much more like a derby with more intent and a couple of bookings for Cray for Nzala and Raymond and Dsane for Dartford but still early on in the half chances were few and far between.
Around the hour mark the shackles on the game began to be lifted and Dartford almost went two up when Box came close with a goal bound shot but was denied by a fine save by the legs of Seaden.
Then in the 60th minute Ralfi Hand who had just came on created an opening for Bobomurodov down the left of the area but his shot was well pushed out by Jonny Henly for the first of three key saves in the last half hour.
Four minutes later Cray came close again when from a free kick down the right from Raymond the ball into the area came off Darts defender Sam Okoye and Henly did superbly to tip the ball over for a corner.
This save proved vital as in the 67th minute Dartford got the second goal when a Carruthers free kick into the area came to Callum Jones who deflected the ball into the net.
From here Dartford defended resolutely but Cray did come close to a goal eleven minutes from time when another free kick from Raymond caused problems this time finding the head of Chris Dickson who was thwarted by another good save from Henly.
Four minutes from the end a Prosper Keto cross was nodded over by Dickson and despite some late pressure which led to a couple of corners after some pinball defending Cray couldn’t find a goal and Dartford had been canny enough in the second half to do what was required for the three points which moved Ady Pennock’s team into fifth on 21 points, a point behind Cray.
The Wands now go into November with games against Cheshunt next Saturday, Chichester City, Folkestone Invicta, Welling United, Burgess Hill Town and Canvey Island still in a good league position and looking to maintain the positives from the first three months of the season.
Cray Wanderers: Harry Seaden, Prosper Keto, Remi Sutton, Tom Bonner (Capt.), Adrian Gyamera, Frankie Raymond, Harry Waldock (Ralfi Hand, 59), Lateef Adaja, Josh Williams (Ashley Nzala, H/T), Alex Hernandez (Nods Bobomurodov, H/T), Kareem Isiaka (Chris Dickson, H/T): Sub: Quade Taylor
Booked: Nzala 50, Raymond 57, Keto 65
Dartford: Jonny Henly, Sam Okoye, Joe Tennent, Michael Olarewaju (Capt.), Jez Pinder, Samir Carruthers (Dan Carter, 80), George Whitefield, Jacob Bland, Callum Jones (Richie Atkins, 90+3), Olly Box, Eddie Dsane (Dan Smith, 72): Subs: Carter Sullivan, Sam Smith
Booked: Dsane 57, Whitefield 80
Referee: Derrick Laing
Assistants: Benjamin Maskery, Tom Simmons
Att: 1252
