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RYMAN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE SOUTH—SATURDAY 8 SEPTEMBER 2007
MATCH REPORTER: JERRY DOWLEN
Michael Power stole the show, scoring two smart goals and creating another with a skilful run past three opposing defenders.
But this was an afternoon when you could single out several Cray players for special praise, so, better perhaps to congratulate the whole team and to sum it up in the words of Joe Francis, the Wands’ assistant manager, after the game.
“We played some good football today,” enthused Joe, “confidence is coming, and we are doing a lot of the right things.”
In truth, the starting play from both teams was scrappy, but Cray gradually started to make passing moves that took them within shooting-range of the visitors’ goal.
Julian Curnow’s header looked to be heading for the net on 41 minutes, but Smith got down low to his right to push the ball to safety.
Four minutes later, the Wands expected a penalty-kick when Ross Lover pushed the ball into the box and David Hall was tipped over by a clumsy tackle from Hinds.
Referee Mr Smith saw it instead as a foul on the edge of the box, and to their disgust Cray only got a free-kick.
It made no difference as Jamie Wood lashed an unstoppable shot past the wall and into the net past Smith’s left hand.
One-up to Cray became two-up just two minutes into the second half when Power made his defence-splitting run and released Lewis Wood for a rolling shot into the net.
Lover immediately afterwards hit the bar with an instinctive long-distance shot that caught Smith off his line, and Jamie Wood pummelled the rebound over the bar.
Walton were not lying down and a strong finish by Badu brought them back into the game on 56 minutes after the Wands got into a rare tangle at the back.
The visitors threatened again, and Aaron Day had to make a blocking tackle as Gale forced his way through to the byeline. An even better chance went begging when Badu made weak contact with a clear header in front of goal.
Relief then for Cray on 67 minutes when Jamie Wood made a determined run at goal from the right wing, and when the ball reached Power at the far post he trapped it, made room to shoot although crowded by defenders, and fired his cross-shot into the far corner of the net.
Ryan Royston headed over the bar after Jamie Wood’s shot was blocked by Gale and bounced invitingly into his path, and Power’s delicate lob over Smith dropped the wrong side of the post. At the other end, Ocquaye’s shot was well saved by Glen Knight, and Gale blazed a free-kick into the car-park as the visitors chased the game.
A breakaway by Cray on 86 minutes saw the outstanding Jamie Wood tuck the ball through to Power, who twisted and turned past two defenders before placing an exquisite shot low to Smith’s left.
Cray Wanderers: Knight, Day, Luckett (Morris 31), Chapman, Curnow, Royston, Lover, J Wood (Stuart 82), Power (Baker 86), L Wood, Hall. Subs not used: Matthews, Fenwick.
Attendance 113
Supporters’ MOM: Michael Power
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