Cray Wanderers vs Lewes – Isthmian Premier – Saturday 11th April – Match Report
Cray Wanderers 3
Hernandez 2 mins (p), 71
Ajakaiye 49
Lewes 0
Photos: Natalie Stribbling
Cray Wanderers made it five wins from the last six games after victory against Lewes at Flamingo Park which although makes reaching the playoffs nigh on impossible at least has ensured at least a higher league position to last season and a third top ten finish in four seasons.
Cray got off to an electric start once again and took the lead in the second minute through an Alex Hernandez penalty after Daniel Ajakaiye was brought down by Rooks keeper Louis Rogers. Lewes though had much the better of the first half and came close to scoring but for a combination of Harry Seaden and the woodwork before Cray finished the match on top. Ajakaiye was lively throughout and added a second four minutes after half time and his first for the club. Hernandez made it 3-0 nineteen minutes from time to take him to twenty goals for the season and one behind leading scorer, Folkestone Invicta’s Jake Hutchinson. Cray saw out the game and although Lewes technically can still go down should be safe on forty five points in sixteenth place.
After bouncing back from the Billericay Town defeat at Cray Valley on Monday manager Tim O’Shea named an unchanged side and were looking to end the season on a high. Cray had sixty four points at the start of play, six behind Chatham Town and seven behind Brentwood Town The playoffs was always going to be a tall order and with Brentwood Town and Chatham Town winning that leaves Dartford in sixth the main contenders now for a playoff place.
Lewes were seven points clear of Hashtag United and Welling United at the start of the match and with Hashtag drawing with Cray Valley, Welling United beating Dulwich Hamlet and coupled with Carshalton’s defeat to Brentwood this means a point against Wingate & Finchley would ensure safety for next season. There was one change to the side which beat Whitehawk on Easter Monday with Bobby Unwin coming in for Devonte West.
On what started a grey afternoon suddenly turned to sunshine with a brief second half shower thrown in and there was a calm atmosphere for the penultimate home game of the season.
Cray as in many games this season and especially of late began the game well and in the second minute took the lead from the penalty spot. After Dan Ajakaiye broke into the area with pace the striker was brought down by keeper Louis Rogers for the penalty award. From the spot, Alex Hernandez stroked home his nineteenth goal of the season.
From here though Lewes applied pressure and played some good football which belied their lowly league position in the first half. Their first shooting chance came from a free kick in the eleventh minute when from eighteen yards Tyler Christian-Law curled the ball round the wall but was well held by Harry Seaden at the right post.
For Cray, Hernandez found Ola Ogunwamide down the right and put over a fine cross which Rogers did well to claim. For Lewes, Beaux Booth worked a shooting chance but was denied by an excellent block by Quade Taylor.
In the 24th minute Lewes came closest yet when Ryan Bernal down the right found space in the area but Seaden made a smart blocked save and following up Danny Bassett, one of three ex-Wands in the side along with Charlie Paye and Jack Enkh fired over the top.
Cray looked to score a second and Hernandez set up Frankie Raymond who shot over the top but Lewes were still looking dangerous and Bobby Unwin broke down the right and was unlucky to see his shot cannon back off the right post and back out into play.
In the 34th minute Cray were indebted to Seaden once again as Unwin down the right played in Charlie Walker but Seaden spread himself well to save with his legs.
From here Cray just managed to baton down the hatches until half time to go in at the break one nil up but not exactly comfortable.
HT: 1-0
The second half began much like the first with Cray emerging much sharper kicking down at the gold firing range end. Firstly, Raymond found Adjakaiye down the right whose ball to the near post was fired against his own crossbar by Jamie Watson.
A minute later in the 49th minute Cray scored a second when Hernandez found Ajakaiye who took on a defender and from just inside the area placed a shot wide of Rogers into the net for his first Wands goal.
The match became a more low key for the remainder of the game with a full compliment of substitutions made for both sides.
In the 70th minute Cray almost added a third when after hesitation at the back Hernandez nearly caught out Rogers with a fine strike from twenty five yards which only just went past the left post.
A minute later it was three nil as Hernandez added his second and twentieth of the season with a crisp turn and finish down the right of the area to with all intents and purposes seal the three points.
For Lewes, Bassett turned sharply to fire in a cross-shot which Seaden turned behind for a corner.
Towards the end, Hernandez searching for a hat-trick was found by Frankie Morgan down the left but drove a near post shot into the side netting. This was followed by a ball in the area being headed over by Max Fiddes.
In the end Cray saw out the remaining minutes fairly comfortably and made it three home wins out of four and move on to sixty seven points and ensure at least a top eight finish for the season.
For the second game running now a word of praise for the match officials who were hugely efficient and allowed the game to flow and there were no cautions during the match.
With two games to go for the Wands with the playoffs now impossible can go into those matches at home to Welling United next Saturday and at Burgess Hill Town on 25th April looking to maintain momentum but with the pressure off. It has been a season where Cray have been in the top seven virtually all season and can be extremely proud of the achievements and but for maybe a few less draws from games in winning positions the Wands could have extended the season going into the Bank Holiday weekend with a playoff place but certainly the forming of a great side is there with potential for 2026-27 season.
Cray Wanderers: Harry Seaden, Crossley Lema (Adrian Owiredu-Gyamera, 72), Remi Sutton, Quade Taylor, Frankie Morgan, Frankie Raymond (Capt.), Alex Stepien-Iwumene (Ralfi Hand, 89), Lateef Adaja (Shae Hutchinson, 63), Ola Ogunwamide (Jordy Mongoy, 63), Daniel Ajakaiye (Max Fiddes, 62), Alex Hernandez
Lewes: Louis Rogers, Ryan Bernal (Parish Muirhead, 62), Tyler Christian-Law (Jackson King, 62), Jamie Watson, Charlie Paye, Alfie Allen, Beaux Booth (Mackenzie Richardson, 77), Jack Enkh (Alex Kpakpe, 68), Bobby Unwin, Charlie Walker (Taurean Roberts, 77) Danny Bassett
Referee: Patrick Nixon
Assistants: Kehinde Agboola, Jamaal Horne
Att: 512
