Cray Wanderers 1 Margate 0 – Isthmian Premier, Monday 29th August – Match Report

Cray Wanderers vs Margate – Isthmian Premier – Monday 29th August

 Match Report

 

Cray Wanderers                                1

Bassett 28

Margate                                             0

Cray Wanderers continued their good start to the season with a narrow but deserved victory against Margate at Hayes Lane.  In a game of few chances, Cray took the lead in the 28th minute when substitute Dan Bassett, two minutes after entering the fray hooked onto Tom Derry’s pass down the left to shoot past Amadou Tangara and ultimately proved decisive.

On a mild if at times overcast Bank Holiday Monday the mood around Hayes Lane pre-kick off was optimistic following three games unbeaten and a merited draw at Bishop’s Stortford on Friday night.  From the side which started that match there were a couple of changes with Anthony Cook, Billy Crook, Ben Krauhaus and Sinn’kaye Christie coming in for Harold Joseph, Dan Bassett, Sam Skeffington and Michael Ademiiuyi.  

Margate came into the game one place above Cray in 12th and Andy Drury’s side also drew on Friday night at home to Horsham.  There was one change to that side with Freddy Barton coming in for Harrison Hatfull.

Cray started the game the brighter and Krauhaus in the opening minute made a burst into the box and looked to shoot but keeper Amadou Tangara managed to narrow an angle for a shot and the ball was cleared.  Then Roman Charles-Cook found Mitch Chapman whose shot was charged down.

From there the game was a little scrappy but Cray had the first shooting chance when Nyren Clunis found space to shoot and his effort was gathered by Tangara.

From a corner, Cray again threatened when Wood’s cross from the right found Krauhaus whose shot was blocked.  There was a blow for Cray though just after the 25 minute mark when Clunis had to leave the field through injury and Dan Bassett came on.

Two minutes later Cray went in front when a ball was played towards Tom Derry outside the box and with his back to goal turned and swept a ball through to Bassett down the left of the area and showed composure to bury the ball into the bottom right corner of the net.

The goal was a bit out of context of the game but Cray had been patient with their build up and deserved their lead.

Margate had more of a say coming into the later stages of the half and ex-Wand Cameron Brodie saw a shot deflected behind for a corner.  Then Sam Blackman hooked a shot over.

The last action following eight minutes of added on time came from a corner from Margate when Ben Greenhalgh’s ball to the far post found Fjord Rogers but his flick was gathered by Shaun Rowley.

HT:  1-0

Cray began the second half on the front foot and won a couple of early corners as the Wands continued to look the more threatening side.  From a corner down the right, Wood’s cross was knocked behind by Mitch Chapman.

Margate had more possession but Cray still had the edge and a Wood free kick into the box saw Derry go for the ball and perhaps came off his shoulder and was cleared.

The best Wands chance of the half fell to Anthony Cook who was played through superbly by Billy Crook and inside the area just pulled the ball wide of the right post as Tangana came out to meet the Wands skipper.

Margate though were only a goal down and still in with a shout and from a free kick out on the left the ball came to Brodie who shot wide.  Then from another free kick played into the area Brodie volleyed over the top.

With the game still delicately poised, Margate’s best chance came when down the right, Troy Howard cut into the area and his shot was pushed out well by Rowley and following up Cray were able to clear in a goalmouth scramble before Rogers could get to the ball.

Cray were able to stem any Margate fightback and came close to adding to the lead when down the right, a Wood corner towards the far post was volleyed just wide of the right post by substitute Gary Lockyer.

The Wands had most of the possession in the latter stages and were able to see out the remaining minutes for their second home win of the season and move up to 7th in the table ahead of next weekend’s FA Cup tie at Bognor Regis.

 

There were some fine performances once again for the Wands with defensively Sinn’kaye Christie and Jalen Jones superb and kept Shaun Rowley relatively well protected while Ben Krauhaus showed his potential with some fine running and passing and also Dan Bassett when he came on, as well as his goal worked very hard down the left channel and Derry and Lockyer when he came on won flicked headers and kept the ball down the Margate end while Chapman has also started the season in impressive form. 

After five games Cray have begun the season with three unbeaten at home and will be looking to make Hayes Lane a fortress this season as in a tight league, consistency especially at home will be crucial as the season draws on.

Cray Wanderers: Shaun Rowley, Roman Charles-Cook, Sinn’kaye Christie, Jalen Jones, Sam Wood, Mitch Chapman, Ben Krauhaus (Sam Skeffington, 82), Billy Crook, Anthony Cook, Nyren Clunis (Dan Bassett, 26), Tom Derry (Gary Lockyer, 73): Subs: Alex Bentley, Michael Ademiluyi

Booked: Krauhaus, Cook

Margate: Amadou Tangara, Freddy Barton (Harrison Hatfull, 58), Taylor Fisher, Lewis Knight, Harry Hudson, Sam Blackman, Cameron Brodie, Troy Howard, Kieron McCann (James Bessey-Saldanha, 68),, Ben Greenhalgh (Harvey Smith 82), Fjord Rogers: Subs:  Montrelle Deslandes, Peter Ojemen

Booked: Blackman, Hudson, Knight, Fisher

Attendance:  312

Referee: Stuart Kyle

Assistants: Charlie Roberts, Alphie Ibrahim