Cray Wanderers 4 Kings Langley 1 – FA Trophy 3QR – Sun 31st October, Match Report

Cray Wanderers vs Kings Langley  – FA Trophy – Sunday 31st October, 2021 – Match Report

Cray Wanderers                                4

Cook 9 mins (p), Beckwith 47,

Dickson 90, Uchechi 90+3

Kings Langley                                   1

Williams 33

Pics:  www.hilligerpix.com 

Cray Wanderers progressed through to the 1st Round of the FA Trophy after victory against Kings Langley in an enjoyable tie at Hayes Lane in what was the first ever game between the sides.

 With both sides making difficult starts to their respective league seasons, the game was played at a decent pace and Cray started well with Anthony Cook scoring from the spot in the 9th minute after he was upended in the box to score the Wands 10,000th goal in the club’s history.  Kings Langley though proved durable opponents and Harry Crawford tested Jack Turner with a shot which drew a fine one handed save before the Hertfordshire side levelled in the 33rd minute when Alfie Williams floated in a free kick out on the right which went all the way through into the net.

 Cray though came out of the traps quickly in the second half and went back in front on 47 minutes when Andy Drury’s right wing corner into the box fell to Dean Beckwith who steered the ball into the net through a crowd of players.  Cray couldn’t quite put the game to bed and Turner had to make two fine saves to deny Williams and Roddy Collins.  However, on the stroke of full time, Chris Dickson scored a sublime strike curling in from the left from close to 25 yards to make it 3-1.  The game was finally settled three minutes into added on time when substitute Daniel Uchechi scored with a clever lob from outside the area three minutes after coming on to put Cray through to the 1st Round draw.

 After a very wet and soggy start to the final Sunday in October, the day brightened up and a good game was in prospect in what was Cray’s first home game since September 29th.  From the side which lost at Cheshunt last Saturday there were a few changes with Marvin McCoy, Kasim Aidoo and Cameron Brodie starting while there were debuts for Richie Danquah and Jai Reason in place of Freddie Barton, Tom Hanfrey, Zakary Guerfi, Daniel Uchechi and Jamie Yila. 

 There was a bright opening from the visitors but Cray were the first to show their teeth and in the 9th minute won a penalty when good work by Richard Afrane-Kesey down the left saw the ball come to Chris Dickson who broke into the area and laid the ball across to Anthony Cook who was brought down by Will Hall and a penalty kick was awarded.  Cook stepped up to score and in doing so set a landmark for the 10,000th in the club’s history.

The game then settled for ten minutes before Cray continued to press with the impressive Afrane-Kesey making another strong run down the left and jinked into the area but his goalbound shot was deflected behind possibly by the foot of goalkeeper Alfie Marriott for a corner.

 Then after a slick passing move Andy Drury found Cook down the right and he played a terrific ball into the area and Afrane-Kesey on the stretch just couldn’t get a strong enough connection to divert the ball into the net.

 Kings Langley though were very much in the tie and came close when Roddy Collins set up Harry Crawford just outside the area and his well struck shot brought out a fine one handed save from Jack Turner.

 Cray then had a good spell and Afrane-Kesey volleyed wide and Cameron Brodie shot just past the post. Then from a left wing corner, Drury’s cross was met by the head of Dean Beckwith but Marriott made a save on the line.

 In the 33rd minute, Kings Langley drew level when from a free kick down the right, Alfie Williams who had a great game floated a cross into the area which went all the way through and into the net. 

 From there the visitors had a good spell and another Williams cross landed on the roof of the net and Florian Kastrati down the left dinked in an effort which was pushed over. 

 The last chance of a busy half fell to Cray with Dickson setting up Afrane-Kesey who volleyed wide.

 

Half Time: 1-1

 

The second half began perfectly for Cray and two minutes in were back in front when a corner from the right by Drury into the heart of the area fell to Dean Beckwith who through a crowd drove a shot into the net for his second goal of the season.

Cray looked to have an element of control and man of the match Chris Dickson made a strong run forward and hit a shot which was well held by Marriott.

 Despite Cray having the ascendancy and lead the game was never comfortable and Kings Langley came close to drawing level for a second time following the award of a free kick 20 yards out down the right.  From the free kick, Williams curled a shot over the wall and Turner did brilliantly to push the ball over for a corner.

 Then Kings Langley again were denied by Turner who after a fine passing move by Kings Langley saw the ball come to Roddy Collins down the right who seemed certain to score but Turner made a great block and the ball came to Jamie Jellis whose cross-shot went across goal.

Cray looked to score a third and Brodie volleyed wide from distance and then Jai Reason down the left cut inside and shot which was held by Marriott.

 The game was still delicately poised going into the final minutes and in the last minute, Cray finally had a degree of comfort when after good set up play by Drury and Jamie Yila the ball came to Dickson who from close to 25 yards let fly with a crashing shot which was unstoppable and flew into the top right hand corner.

Dickson was then replaced by Daniel Uchechi who barely three minutes after coming on and with one of his first touches picked up a loose ball outside the area and seeing the keeper off his line proceeded to lob the ball over Marriott and into the net to set the seal on the win and move Cray into the 1st Round of the FA Trophy for the second straight season.

There were a few positives to take from the game and with Cray playing so few games recently it was good to get a win and take confidence into the November fixtures and there were signs of solidity at the back and with the pace of Dickson and Afrane-Kesey up front and a solid midfield with Brodie and Drury in good form the prospects are high that Danny Kedwell may be close to the settled side he is looking for.

 In the end Cray won the game but credit to Kings Langley who are bottom of the Southern League Premier South but didn’t look like a struggling side and could yet get out of trouble but for the Wands onwards to the 1st Round draw.

 Cray Wanderers:       Jack Turner, Kasim Aidoo, Marvin McCoy, Dean Beckwith (Capt.), RIchie Danquah, Cameron Brodie, Andy Drury, Anthony Cook,                                     Jai Reason (Adam Coombes, 81), Richard Afrane-Kesey (Jamie Yila, 62), Chris Dickson (Daniel Uchechi, 90+1):  Subs: Jack Hanson, Freddy Barton

 Booked:                     Danquah

Kings Langley:          Alfie Marriott, Gary Connolly, Alex Lafleur, Roddy Collins (Capt.), Will Hall (Kabir Kareem, 72), Jorell Johnson, Jamie Jellis, Alfie Williams, Erin Amu, Harry Crawford, Florian Kastrati: Subs: Jack Wood, Lee Axworthy, Sam Wood, Eli Hearn  

Booked:                     Connolly

 Referee:                     Tom Holden 

Assistants:                Marcos Valko, Declan Wyatt

Att:      185

MOM:   Chris Dickson