Cray Wanderers vs St Albans City – Isthmian Premier – Tuesday 15th September – Match Report
Cray Wanderers 3
Lowe 46, Kader 51, Sanogo 90+5
St Albans City 3
Brown 2 mins, Sowden-Fletcher 56, Furlong 84
Photos: Natalie Stribbling, Ben Keyes
Cray Wanderers maintained an unbeaten home record this season after a dramatic match at Flamingo Park which saw six goals had an incredible finale as substitute Seidou Sanogo made it 3-3 in the fifth minute of added time. This was a match where twice Cray trailed and then briefly led in the second half and overall deserved at least a point for their efforts.
The Wands were looking to bounce back from the narrow defeat at league leaders Enfield Town on Saturday while St Albans City were in decent form and unbeaten in five in league and cup.
For Cray there were two changes to Saturday with a temporary loan signing, 18 year old striker Jakob Lowe from Leyton Orient starting in place of Ade Yusuff while Lateef Adaja came in for Tobi Tinibu. St Albans City made two changes to the 4-0 win vs Three Bridges with Kai Brown and Lewis Page coming in for Sam Ayoli and Zak Sowden-Fletcher.
On a pleasant Tuesday evening under the lights the touchpaper was lit early as St Albans City took the lead after just two minutes. Wands keeper Henry Molyneux’s hesitant clearance was pounced upon by Kai Brown who took full advantage slotting the ball into the net down the left of the area.
The visitors certainly were the better side in the opening minutes and lively striker Inih Effiong fired over the top from Brown’s right wing cross. Then Zane Banton’s right wing cross to the near post came to ex-Wand Remi Sutton who went down in the area but any claims were waived away.
Cray had their first real period of pressure around the 17th minute when Ola Ogunwamide who had a tremendous game down the right played a fine ball into towards Alex Hernandez who hit a snap volley which was well held by Sam Donkin. A minute later Donkin did well again to deny Ogunwamide from Lateef Adaja’s cross to save with his feet on the line. In the 20th minute Ogunwamide’s right wing cross just missed the onrushing Adaja.
St Albans though were looking dangerous with their attacks and Effiong hit a shot from 20 yards into the arms of Molyneux. Then Brown down the right put over a fine cross to the far post for Effiong but a fine piece of defending from Rob Strachan who blocked the shot and behind for a corner.
From the corner the ball fell to Effiong but his header was headed off the line by Crossley Lema and then Zane Banton’s shot was well blocked by Alex Hernandez.
The last chance of the half fell to Cray when Hernandez played a great ball through to Ogunwamide who showed quick feet to work an opening down the left of the area but fired his shot just past the left post.
HT: 0-1
The first half was entertaining but that was merely the starter with the second half being the main course and the Wands were level within 30 seconds mirroring the corresponding game last season when Cray scored early in the second half.
Once again Ogunwamide showed his quality by playing a fine ball through to Jakob Lowe down the right of the area who showed great composure to place a shot wide of Sam Donkin and into the net.
Cray now had their tails up and Hernandez made a run forward but his shot was deflected through to Donkin.
The Wands though were not to be denied and in the 51st minute quickly turned the game around when down the right Crossley Lema’s cross tight to the byline went into the six yard box where the predatory Soul Kader was on hand to score his third goal in four games.
St Albans City though showed their qualities and in the 56th minute and just three minutes after coming on as a substitute Zak Sowden-Fletcher was on hand to score after Mikey Faulkner’s pass and tucked home the rebound after his first shot was blocked.
The game continued to go from end to end. Firstly for St Albans, Alex Dyer shot wide while for Cray another substitute Tobi Tinibu did well to send over a cross from the right to the far post for Sammie McLeod but the ball was cleared.
For Cray, a Frankie Raymond corner was glanced wide by Rob Strachan and then Hernandez and Ogunwamide combined to set up Kader who shot over the top. Then Frankie Morgan’s cross was just missed by Kader. Cray looked to wrest the initiative by bringing on Seidou Sanogo and William Unadike for their home debuts and the ex-St Albans midfielder Alfie Payne.
There looked like being a late twist in the game and for St Albans Remi Sutton’s cross-shot was finger tipped round the right post by Henry Molyneux.
St Albans went back in front with six minutes to go when from a free kick out on the left, Dyer’s ball into the area was met by an emphatic header from Darion Furlong and into the left corner of the net.
Cray looked to bounce back and Alfie Payne shot over the top from just inside the area and Ogunwamide who just kept on going saw his ball across deflected behind for a corner.
There was still time in the second minute of added time for Sanogo and Ogunwamide to set up Kader for a rasping shot which Donkin did superbly to save with his legs and off the line. Then Sanogo set up Kader again down the left of the area and his shot was deflected onto the left post and behind for a corner.
From the corner in the fifth and final minute of added time, Raymond’s ball into a crowded six yard box was turned in by Sanogo and again was a mirror opposite of last season’s match when St Albans levelled deep into stoppage time.
This set the
seal on a breathless game which finished in a point apiece which was the least Cray deserved for their efforts and sets the Wands up nicely for the FA Cup tie with Maidstone United where they will go in as underdogs but have shown already against some big hitters in the Isthmian Premier this season can go toe to toe and although a free hit against Maidstone can go into it with confidence. The point keeps Cray in 15th place with nine points while St Albans remain 6th on fourteen points four behind three teams at the top Enfield Town, Welling United and Dartford.
A word for referee Oliver Kaya who had a superb game and kept it moving freely with few if any real flashpoints and allowed to flow.
Cray Wanderers: Henry Molyneux, Crossley Lema, Rob Strachan, Frankie Morgan, Frankie Raymond (Capt.), Sammie McLeod (Seidou Sanogo, 67), Lateef Adaja (William Unadike, 67), Ola Ogunwamide, Alex Hernandez (Alfie Payne, 80), Jakob Lowe (Tobi Tinibu, 58), Soul Kader: Sub: Oscar Johnson
Booked: Strachan 57, Unadike 80
St Albans City: Sam Donkin, Jack James (Frankie Musonda, 79), Lewis Page (Zak Sowden-Fletcher, 53), Alex Dyer, Remi Sutton, Jake Gray (Darcey Turner, 75), Inih Effiong (Sam Ayoli, 79), Zane Banton (Capt.), Kai Brown, Mikey Faulkner (Ollie Knight, 75), Darion Furlong
Booked: Dyer 58
Referee: Oliver Kaya
Assistants: Albert Warr, Sam Craker
Att: 419
