Cray Wanderers Beckenham Town – PSF – Saturday 5th July
Cray Wanderers 3
Nzala 23, Hernandez 63 pen, Briscoe 81
Beckenham Town 1
Ryan 15
Photos to follow
Cray Wanderers began pre-season with a polished win against a Beckenham Town side also playing their first game at Flamingo Park.
On a grey and drizzly afternoon at times there was a serene but good humoured crowd for this opening pre-season game for both sides.
For the Wands there were a number of new faces especially in the first half with Harry Seaden in goal, Ashley Nzala, Nodirbek Bobomurdov, Alex Hernandez and Luke Allen starting the game with Tyrese Briscoe on the bench. Tom Bonner and Frankie Morgan were absent for Cray but stalwarts Remi Sutton, Frankie Raymond and Josh Williams began the match as well as George Brooke and a trialist playing at right back.
Beckenham with ex-Wands Sam Wood, George Porter and Jack Holland in the starting lineup are under new management with Danny Waldren taking charge and were certainly the better side for the first half of the opening half.
Sam Wood threatened with a volley over the top perhaps picked up by the wind and then a couple of minutes later on the quarter hour mark Beckenham took the lead with a quality half volleyed finish down the right of the area by Bradley Ryan who played for Cray during the last pre-season which gave Harry Seaden no chance.
Cray though responded well and in the 23rd minute a cross down the left was met by a header from Ashley Nzala and the ex-Billericay man was off the mark.
Beckenham still held the bigger threat and before half time from a free kick down the left of the area Louie Theophanous’ shot was pushed out and behind by a diving Seaden.
The final action of the half saw Ryan blaze a shot over from a free kick. Perhaps the highlight of the half for the Wands was the performance of the trialist no 18 playing at right back who was outstanding both in defence and going forward.
Beckenham made a complete change of team in the second whilst Cray made some tinkering as the game went on. Lateef Adaja, three trialists, Tyrese Briscoe, Freddie Warwick and Michael Ihiedi all making positive contributions off the bench
Cray took more control in the second half and Adaja flashed a shot across goal. Then in the 63rd minute Adaja won a penalty after a trip from the no 7 which was converted by another new signing in Alex Hernandez.
Towards the end of the game the Wands side had a healthy contingent of U23s/U18s players really looked the part and Tyrese Briscoe saw an effort cleared almost off the line.
The Wands did add a third nine minutes from time when down the right Michael Ihiedi’s ball to the near post was turned in by Tyrese Briscoe.
George Brooke hit the bar late on for Cray who after a quiet start had done more than enough for to begin pre-season with a win.
Cray next Saturday host a Crystal Palace XI while Beckenham Town who we thank the management, players and supporters for visiting travel to Tonbridge Angels.
There were positives on the pitch but for me the highlight of the day was a reunion of sorts with the supporters after two and a bit months and it was a fun afternoon.
Cray Wanderers: Harry Seaden, Trialist C, Quade Taylor, Remi Sutton, George Brooke, Frankie Raymond, Luke Allen, Nodirbek Bobomurodov, Josh Williams, Ashley Nzala, Alex Hernandez; Trialist A, Lateef Adaja, Tyrese Briscoe, Kevin Kardel, Trialist B, Freddie Warwick, Michael Iheidi, Bobby Parkes, Trialist D
Beckenham Squad: Trialist, Joe Chalker, Henry Douglas, Jack Holland, Mudiaga Wanogho, Abbas Agoro. Casey Dudley, Felix Dudley, Tom Heaver, Freddie Nyhus, Bradley Ryan, Sam Wood, George Porter, Louie Theophanous, Steve Townsend, Abel Vendrelis
Referee: Harry Phillips
Assistants: Ian Bentley, Alexis Stacchini
Att: 243
