Cray Wanderers vs Welling United
Cray Wanderers 2 (Lewis 14, Rogers 38)
Welling United 2
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Cray Wanderers final home pre-season ended honours even as the Wands and Welling fought out a lively 2-2 at Hayes Lane .
In an end to end match on Danny Kedwell’s birthday, Welling took an early lead but Cray fought back to go in front before half time with goals from Lee Lewis and Fjord Rogers. Welling though levelled three minutes after the break with a stylish free kick strike and in the end although both sides had chances there were no further goals.
Cray started the game positively and Sadik Balarabe who had a terrific game broke down the left and his ball across found Fjord Rogers whose effort was well blocked by the Welling keeper but the flag had been raised for an offside.
For Welling, the no 7 was looking lively and had already fired a shot over from distance when he gave Steve Lovell’s side the lead with a crisp, well struck shot from 18 yards which nestled in the bottom left corner.
Cray though didn’t take long to draw level and did so on 14 minutes when after a tidy buildup involving Charlie Allen, Anis Nuur and newcomer Freddie Cray who slipped a ball across to Lee Lewis down the right of the area who cut into the box and fired past the keeper into the bottom right corner from 12 yards.
The game flowed incredibly quickly first half and the impressive Cameron Brodie shot wide from Nuur’s pass while from a corner down the left, Lewis’s cross was flicked off target by Rogers.
Welling pushed forward for a spell and three efforts were blocked within seconds of each other. Cray though continued to look the more threatening side and Lewis, Brodie and Rogers combined to set up Balarabe down the left whose rising shot was tipped over the bar well by the keeper. For Welling, the no 9 hit a shot from 25 yards that was well gathered by Jack Turner.
In the 38th minute, Cray went in front after the Welling no 3 lost possession down the right and Fjord Rogers nipped the ball away from him down the right, and into the box showed clinical accuracy to fire under the keeper and into the net and Cray by half time were good value for the lead.
Half Time: 2-1
The second half looked set to repeat the excitement of the first and three minutes into the half when Welling were presented with a free kick following a foul on the no 8 just outside the area. From the free kick, the no 11 fired an excellent shot round the wall and into the top left corner of the net.
Two minutes later, Welling almost went ahead when the no 8 took advantage of a loose pass and down the left of the area had a good chance but blazed his shot over the bar.
Cray though sought another goal and Balarabe pressurised the centre-half and won the ball and inside the box unselfishly set up Nuur who held the ball up well for Rogers whose well hit shot was deflected behind for a corner past the left post.
From here the game did start to get a bit scrappier but there were still opening and Nuur fired over and Balarabe hit a snap shot from 20 yards that was well held by the keeper while at the other end the no 7 hit a shot that was deflected behind for a corner as did the no 4 a few moments later and the no 17 in a good position down the left shot over the top.
Then the Welling no 7 cut inside from the right and his shot lacked power to trouble Turner while at the other end Lee Lewis hit a shot which only just went over the bar from 20 yards.
Cray were awarded a free kick down the left of the area and Nuur’s skimming shot was pushed out by the keeper and behind for a corner and from another free kick down the right, Lewis’s shot came back off the wall and the last effort of note came when Balarabe set up Brodie whose shot was blocked.
In the end despite plenty of endeavour the game finished in a draw which was probably just about the right outcome on the evening.
There were plenty of positives for the Wands especially the performances of Lewis, Balarabe, Cray, Brodie, Abdul Saccoh, Nuur and Rogers especially in the first half and was certainly a decent last home friendly for Cray who travel to Ashford United on Sunday in their final pre-season fixture ahead of the league kick off on 14th August.
Cray: Jack Turner, Abdul Saccoh, Freddie Cray, Ejiro Okosieme,Martin Onoabagbe, Lee Lewis, Charlie Allen, Cameron Brodie, Anis Nuur, Sadik Balarabe, Fjord Rogers: Second Half Subs: Harvey Brand, Joey Taylor, Jamie Yila, Trialist 1, Trialist 2.
Referee: Ian Bentley
Att: 168
