Cray Wanderers 3 Lewes 1 – Isthmian Premier – 14/8/21, Match Report

Cray Wanderers vs Lewes

 Isthmian Premier – Match Report – 14/8/21

 Cray Wanderers                                                               3

Cook 16, 25, Yila 67

 Lewes                                                                               1

Tanner 37

Pics:  www.hilligerpix.com

BROMLEY, ENGLAND – August 14: ***NAME*** during the Isthmian Premier League match between Cray Wanderers and Lewes at Hayes Lane on August 14, 2021 in Bromley, England . (Photo: © Jon Hilliger / HilligerPix)The Cray Wanderers era under Danny Kedwell got off to an excellent start as the new look Cray side beat Lewes in an absorbing contest as the Isthmian Premier resumed for the first time since November.

In a game which had plenty of quality, commitment and passion throughout Cray got off to a flyer and Adam Coombes hit the post in the 3^rd minute and then lofted a chance over the bar before Anthony Cook scored the first of a classy brace in the 16^th minute with Coombes the creator with a right wing cross.  On 25 minutes it was 2-0 as Cook latched onto Jamie Yila’s flick on and coolly placed the ball past Lewis Carey in the Lewes goal. Lewes though pulled a goal back in the 37^th minute with a terrific angled finish from Ollie Tanner and the game was back in the balance once more.

The next goal was going to prove decisive and it was Cray who scored a third goal in the 67^th minute when Coombes laid the ball across from the left to the far post to Yila who tapped in from four yards.

The scene was set on a dramatic afternoon as Danny Kedwell got his managerial career underway against Tony Russell’s Lewes with both sides playing with new squads from their last league games in the autumn. There were a handful of players in the Rooks team who would have played in Cray’s last league game, a 6-0 win against Merstham on 28^th October.   For Danny, he was without the injured Dean Beckwith and Jack Hanson whilst Charlie Allen was away for this game.

On a warm afternoon it was Cray in a smart new home strip who started the game the quicker and almost went ahead as early as the 3^rd minute as Adam Coombes broke into the area and was unlucky to see his shot come back off the right post.  Then in the 9^th minute, Joey Taylor’s ball forward saw Coombes get behind the Lewes back four and lofted a shot just over the crossbar with keeper Lewis Carey beaten.

Lewes though began to show their teeth and the impressive Ollie Tanner found Joe Taylor and from 9 yards saw his effort blocked by Harvey Brand and the ball came to Tanner who shot wide of the left post.  Then down the right Bradley Pritchard sent a ball across which no-one could get on the end of.

In the 16^th minute, Cray went ahead with a well worked goal which ended with Coombes down the right putting over a cross which fell to Anthony Cook inside the area who from 10 yards calmly placed the ball into the net.

The action continued unabated and Coombes fired over on the turn and then for Lewes from a free kick on the right edge of the area, Freddie Parker drove wide of the left post.

Cray went two nil up in the 25^th minute as the ball was played from midfield and Jamie Yila flicked on an excellent header which Cook latched onto expertly and down the left of the area drove a crisp shot wide of Carey into the bottom right corner.

Lewes though were never out of the game and on 37 minutes pulled a goal back when Pritchard played a good ball down the left to Tanner who cut into the area and fired in a cross-shot which went in on the right post and into the net.

Cray though went back on the attack and from a throw in from Brand, Yila who was a constant threat all afternoon cut into the area and saw his shot saved by the legs of Carey.  Then from a free kick out on the right, Andy Drury’s ball into the area was headed wide of the left post by Ejiro Okosieme.  Then Drury made a strong run forward and set up Coombes who shot wide of the left post.  The final action of the first half, saw Yila set up Cook on a hat-trick but his attempted lobbed shot was claimed by Carey.

Half Time – 2-1

The second half would continue with the all action style and Lee Lewis saw a shot deflected through to Carey while at the other end, Tanner down the left sent a ball across goal which just missed the onrushing Taylor.

For Cray, Yila fired over from a free kick and then down the right was found by Coombes and from just close to the byline put the ball across goal again with no-one who could apply a touch.

Lewes sought an equaliser and Ayodeji Olukoga found Killian Colombie and his ball across fell to Taylor whose effort was blocked by Okosieme and out to Olukoga who fired over.  The chances continued to fall for Cray and Yila shot over while for Lewes Colombie fired wide.

Cray though restored their two goal advantage in the 67^th minute with substitute Anis Nuur involved and played the ball through to Coombes down the left and with Carey coming to meet him squared the ball to the far post for a tap in for Yila and a well deserved goal for the winger.

There was still time for more quality play and Lewes almost pulled a goal back when Parker set up Tanner whose shot was parried by Jack Turner and then Michael Klass from 30 yards tried his luck with a shot which was gathered by Turner.

For Cray, Coombes found Yila whose shot was blocked by Carey and following up Cook fired over the bar and then the superb Cameron Brodie found Nuur who took a return pass from Harvey Brand down the right and shot over the top.

The Wands ended the game on top and came close to adding to the score in the final ten minutes. Firstly Drury found Sadik Balarabe who made a powerful run forward and hit a shot which was tipped round the right post by Carey.   Then Carey did well to make a smart save to deny Fjord Rogers who was found by Cook and saw his slightly curling shot pushed over by the former Wands keeper.

The final action saw Razzaq Coleman cut inside and shoot over for Lewes while for Cray, Brand and Nuur combined to set up Rogers whose shot from distance went into the arms of Carey.

In the end the final whistle went and almost a relief after so many months away to finally be back in competitive football with supporters and to see such a game with so many emotions for a Wands fan. There were many positives for Cray on the day, Cook was outstanding throughout, Drury rarely gave the ball away, Yila with his quickness and poise was a constant menace, but special mention to Joey Taylor who was excellent down the left, Cameron Brodie who gave a mature performance in midfield and Freddie Cray looks a major talent at the back alongside Ejiro Okosieme and managed to keep Joe Taylor quiet.

One game of course only played and one game doesn’t make a season but the signs are positive on this showing that Cray under Kedwell are quietly building something special.  The season though starts tough for Cray and next Saturday travel to Hornchurch who won 2-0 at Horsham on the opening day but can go into the game confident on this evidence.

Cray Wanderers:              Jack Turner, Harvey Brand, Ejiro Okosieme, Freddie Cray, Joey Taylor, Cameron Brodie, Andy Drury, Lee Lewis (Anis Nuur, 62), Anthony Cook, Jamie Yila (Sadik Balarabe, 79), Adam Coombes (Fjord Rogers, 80)

Booked:               Brodie

Lewes:                  Lewis Carey, Fintan Walsh (Nicholas D’Arienzo, H/T), Matthew Weaire, Mitchell Nelson, Michael Klass, Bradley Pritchard (Ayodeji Olukoga, 56), Killian Colombie, Freddie Parker, Ollie Tanner, Iffy Allen (Razzaq Coleman De-Graft, 57), Joe Taylor

Booked:               Parker, Nelson

Referee:              Daniel Simpson

Assistants:          Fadi Mansour, Morgan Conn

 

Att: 305