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KENT SENIOR CUP FIRST ROUND—TUESDAY 18 SEPTEMBER 2007
MATCH REPORTER: JERRY DOWLEN
Taking on Ryman Premier opposition for the second time in 48 hours, Cray won a game that was no less exciting and incident-packed than the FA Cup tie versus AFC Wimbledon on Sunday.
After 77 minutes of fast and furious end-to-end football, with both sides favouring a very open style of play, the Wands suddenly took the lead with a well-worked goal.
Persistence by Junior Baker on the right touchline led to Lewis Wood darting away to send in a low cross that was crisply volleyed into the net by Tyrone Sterling.
Sterling had looked to be one of Cray’s outstanding players in a starting line-up that had four changes from Sunday’s team, although one noticeably constant factor in both games was the unflagging effort of Cray’s midfield dynamo Jamie Kempster.
A dramatic final thirteen minutes saw two Stones’ players sent off for over-robust tackles, with Colin Luckett red-carded in-between for handling a goalbound shot from the visitors during a ferocious goalmouth scramble in the 89th minute.
Alex Tiesse calmly tucked away the penalty-kick and sent the game into extra-time.
Cray’s advantage of ten men versus nine was offset by fatigue after they had played on Sunday, and it was the visitors who began to dominate and look the more likely scorers.
Tiesse made several dangerous solo runs at goal but the Wands managed to block, tackle and scramble their way out of trouble, and from two late breakaways they went close themselves with Baker skimming a fierce shot inches wide and Lewis Wood missing the target when offered a golden chance at close range.
With penalty-kicks looming, and 120 minutes on the clock, the Wands mustered one last attack and the heroic Baker neatly slotted the ball past Mullins for a very welcome winning goal for Cray.
Cray Wanderers: Knight, Day (Stuart 97), Luckett, Fenwick (J Wood 62), Willy (Royston 46), Curnow, Morris, Kempster, Baker, L Wood, Sterling.
Supporters’ MOM: Junior Baker.
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