CRAY WANDERERS 2 MOLESEY 0

Ryman League Division One South—Saturday 9 February 2008

Report by Jerry Dowlen.

 

Cray took a long time to bury the Moles in a scrappy game at Hayes Lane.

Lewis Wood and Michael Power couldn't put away good chances for the Wands during the first 15 minutes.

Molesey's new 'keeper Chico Ramos earned top marks for his afternoon’s work, especially his reflex save when Ross Lover whipped in a free-kick.

Sure handling by Ramos helped to steady his defence, but the visiting forwards were far too hesitant with the few openings that came their way.

 

One good move by Molesey saw Laurent Hamici turn powerfully on the left edge of the box to drive a low cross into the Cray goalmouth, but Eric Kwakye couldn’t make contact at the far post.

 

Adrian Allen then shot weakly at Glen Knight after exchanging passes with Kwakye.

 

Cray were creating very little up front, and it was Moles who were first to threaten after the interval when a free-kick was smartly gathered by Knight after a flick-on inside the penalty area.


Cray seized the lead on 47 minutes when Power's deep cross from the left was nodded down by Tommy Whitnell at the far post for Lewis Wood to force the ball home at the second attempt.

Jamie Wood was the first of three Cray substitutes who all injected some new life into the home side while Molesey seemed to tire the longer the game went on.

 

Jamie Wood smashed a shot against the bar after taking a measured pass from Power in the 64th minute, and Jamie Kempster volleyed wide when Wood picked him out with a cross from the left shortly afterwards.

 

Molesey were not to be subdued and Lover had to clear off the line when a lob by Allen went past Knight.

 

The woodwork was rattled again by Cray, this time when Power tried to score from a narrow angle, although a pass to George Fenwick might have been the better option.

 

Cray then had another heart-stopping moment when Colin Luckett raced back and cleared away a shot that was trickling towards their goal.

 

Good moves by the Wands brought near misses from Lover and Tyrone Sterling after they broke through to shoot at goal from the left.


It was relief for the Wands when Fenwick calmly slotted into the empty net on 84 minutes after the ball ran loose from a scramble between Ramos and Jamie Wood.
There was still time for Molesey to have another shot cleared off the line – this time by Mark Willy.

 

Lover went close to scoring a third for Cray, but he slashed his shot inches over the bar.

 

Molesey’s final corner-kick of the game saw Eric Kwakye punch the ball into the Cray net, for which his only reward was a yellow card from the referee.

 

Cray Wanderers: Knight, Hall, Luckett, Chapman, Willy, Aris, Lover, Kempster, Whitnell (Fenwick 70), Power (Sterling 79), L Wood (J Wood 62). Subs not used: Morris, Royston.

 

Supporters’ MOM – Danny Chapman.

 

 

 

 

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