|
CRAY WANDERERS 1 METROPOLITAN POLICE 0 Ryman Division One South, Saturday 23 February 2008 Report by Jerry Dowlen.
Cray’s unbeaten run in the Ryman League stands at 19 games after completing a home and away double over play-off rivals Met Police, six very important points for Jenko’s amber & black army.
Visiting ‘keeper Will Packham was caught by the radar trap as early as the 5th minute when he carried the ball outside his area, and from the resultant free-kick Jamie Wood lashed the ball narrowly wide.
The decisive goal came on 9 minutes when a superb 40-yard pass by Colin Luckett found Michael Power in space on the right. His low cross wasn’t cleared out of the goalmouth, and Tom Whitnell reacted quickly to turn and scoop the loose ball into the net.
The Police almost nabbed an instant equaliser, but Glen Knight came out smartly to block a low shot from Craig Carley.
Cray dictated the first half play with some assured passing from the back, and with Ross Lover driving through from midfield, but chances were hard to come by.
Mark Willy – outstanding in defence for Cray throughout – joined the attack in the 26th minute but his cross to Whitnell from the byline was nodded straight at the goalkeeper.
Lover pumped in a shot that was blocked just inside the penalty-area, and although the ball came back to him he couldn’t get the same strength into his follow-up shot.
In-between some busy work for himself and his fellow-defenders as the contest became fiercer, Packham found plenty of complaints to voice to the referee, but in the 42nd minute he brought off a superb save when he twisted in mid-air to push Lover’s long-range shot round the post.
Carley put a first-time shot over the terrace roof in the 58th minute and then saw his 66th minute lob drop into Knight’s hands.
The wind, now in Cray’s faces, seemed to have strengthened since the interval and the Wands were largely pinned inside their own half.
A rare chance fell to Willy in front of the visitors’ goal but he had to take a touch and his shot was weak.
More importantly Willy and the rest of the Cray back line held firm and denied the
Sargent shot over the bar after Cray were stretched to clear a cross from the right, and then the arrival of substitute Lewis Wood brought a sudden flurry of Cray attacks, to give their over-worked defence a breather.
With 89 minutes on the clock, substitute John Daly connected with a Police free-kick but his header sailed over the bar, and then during added-on time Sargent crept in unmarked at the near post but sent his diving header wide.
Cray Wanderers: Knight, Hall, Luckett, J Wood Willy, Royston, Lover, Kempster, Whitnell (L Wood 84), Power (Fenwick 89), Aris. Subs not used: Sterling, Morris, Hall.
Supporters’ MOM – Ross Lover.
|