Corinthian v Cray Wanderers – Pre-Season Friendly – 18/8/20
Corinthian 4 (Tobin 11, Billings 28, Tanner 68, Oluyede 77)
Cray Wanderers 2 (Taylor 14 (p), Allen 51)
Pics: Jon Hilliger
Cray Wanderers played their second pre-season game on Tuesday with a trip to Gay Dawn Farm to face FA Vase Semi-Finalists Corinthian.
In an entertaining game on a superb playing surface, the home side just looked that bit sharper being their fourth pre-season game in attack and scored twice in each half to win the game after Cray had twice drawn level.
Cray began the game positively with some good possession and passing but Corinthian looked menacing when they attacked and went in front on 11 minutes when a ball was played down the right to the no 9 who was just onside and he sent over a fine cross to the far post where Andres Tobin was on hand to score.
The Wands though typically fought back within three minutes after a good exchange of passing between Freddie Parker and Bradley Pritchard saw the ball put through to Joe Taylor was tripped in the box by the no 6 and JT coolly slotted home from the spot.
Corinthian still looked good going forward and the no 4 volleyed over the following a clearance from a free kick into the area. At the other end from a free kick on the right edge of the area, trialist 1 curled the ball into the arms of the keeper.
Another Corinthian attack saw the no 8 put a fine ball into the area which was met by a diving header from the no 6 which Lewis Carey clawed away for a corner.
In the 28th minute, Corinthian restored their lead when from a second corner from the right the ball was swung to the far post where Jamie Billings popped up to score from close range.
A shot from Trialist 1 and then from trialist 2 were well held by the keeper but Corinthian ended the first half well. Firstly Billings’ cross-shot was pushed away be Carey and then Emmanuel Oluyede dragged a shot wide. Then Oluyede fired over from 5 yards from Tobin’s cross.
Before the break, Cray had a let off when the no 4 thudded a shot from the left of the area against the right post and then the no 9 fired into the side net.
The second half saw the game going from end to end at the restart. Firstly for Cray, Tom Carlse’ superb cross into the area just skimmed off the head off Charlie Allen in the six yard box. At the other end, the no 8 fired just wide from outside the area and then Freddie Parker set up trialist 1 who shot wide of the right post.
Cray drew level once again on 51 minutes when good play by trialist 3 who came on at half time who made a strong run from midfield to 25 yards from goal and slipped a great ball through to Charlie Allen down the left of the area who fired home under the keepers legs to make it 2-2.
The Wands looked to have taken control and trialist 4 found space outside the box and shot wide and then Tom Carlse found Freddie Parker inside the area but was denied by a fine defensive block.
Corinthian had a second wind and went back in front on 68 minutes when from a free kick out on the left the ball was whipped into the area, Carey got a block to the ball but the loose ball fell to Luke Tanner who scored from 5 yards.
On 77 minutes Corinthian made it 4-2 when the no 8 & 20 combined and helped set up Emmanuel Oluyede and the rangy midfielder fired home from the right of the penalty area.
Before the end Parker shot over from a free kick while at the other end in a crowded goal mouth, the no 9 planted a header against the crossbar.
In the end it was a rare defeat in 2020 for Cray but can certainly point to being early in pre-season and plenty of time to get in shape for the new season.
Cray’s next match is at Whitstable Town on Saturday, 22nd August, 3pm ko.
Team: Lewis Carey, Ben Mundele, Martin Onoabaghbe, Mitchell Nelson, Tom Carlse. Tom Phipp, Trialist 1, Trialist 2, Bradley Pritchard, Freddie Parker, Joe Taylor – 2nd Half – Replacements, Roman Hall, Charlie Allen, Lee Lewis, Trialist 3, Trialist 4, Trialist 5
