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RYMAN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE SOUTH—MONDAY 27 AUGUST 2007
MATCH REPORTER: JERRY DOWLEN
Cray raised their game in the second half and fought back strongly to win this Bank Holiday local derby.
Cray started brightly and Ross Lover’s free-kick swirled across the goalmouth, just missing the far post with Cray players straining to get a touch to it.
Mazin Ahmad’s free-kick was cleared at the other end, and the Dulwich winger then over-hit his cross after breaking clear from the left.
Cray nearly caught Dulwich napping when George Fenwick rose to head over the bar from a long throw-in by Alan Matthews, but separate injuries were to force both these Cray newcomers off the field within the first 21 minutes.
Cray immediately looked disrupted by the changes, and Glen Knight had to come way out of his goal to scramble the ball away from two Dulwich forwards.
But Knight was helpless after 22 minutes when the Cray defence was breached and Shaun Beveney stroked the ball past him.
Mark Willy made a lifesaving clearance when Mazin Ahmad cut in from the left and his low cross eluded Knight.
The first half ended with Cray a goal down and looking flat.
It was a different story after the interval, with Cray taking the game to Dulwich and creating chances at once.
From the second of two corner-kicks sent in by Lover, the Wands levelled on 57 minutes. The inswinging ball reached Jamie Wood in centre goalmouth and went off his head into the net.
From a short corner-kick moments later Lover crossed invitingly to the far post where two Cray players collided as they tried to get in a header.
But Cray were in the lead on 63 minutes with a glorious goal. Lover seized a pass from the left and surged through to shoot past Chuck Martini.
Dulwich substitute Daniel Jones trickled a shot past the far post but it was Cray who had the more likely chances, with Power demanding a good save from Martini at his near post.
David Hall was making a good job of covering the dangerous Ahmad, and after dispossessing him he fed Lewis Wood who ended a good run along the right with a cross that Cray worked into the box for another near miss.
Frequently wasting possession, Dulwich rarely threatened an equaliser until a free-kick in injury time saw Martini run to the halfway line, motioning all ten outfield players into the box. His deep kick was punched out by Knight and dropped into the crowded goalmouth where Cray eventually scrimmaged the ball to safety.
On a day when Cray’s two goals were scored by their players who have come through from the club’s Kent League days this was a chance for the supporters to further assess the new summer signings too.
Glen Knight looked commanding in goal and there were towering performances in front of him by Ryan Royston and the returning Mark Willy. As the game wore on, Danny Chapman took an iron grip in midfield.
Cray Wanderers: Knight, Matthews (Hall 21), Luckett, Chapman, Willy, Royston, Lover, Kempster, Fenwick (L Wood 14), Power, J Wood, Subs not used: Morris, Sterling, Day.
Attendance: 185
Supporters’ MOM: Ryan Royston
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