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DEAL TOWN 2 CRAY WANDERERS 0
Pre-Season Friendly Fixture, Saturday 25 July 2009
Match report by Trevor Mulligan

This match was one of two first team games being played in tandem against former Kent League opposition. This Wanderers team, whilst considered by many to be the weaker of the two Cray sides being fielded on the day, put up a spirited display against their full-strength Kent League Premier Division hosts.

As early as the first minute, Mo Conteh saw his effort just go over the crossbar, and this was followed by two excellent runs down the left flank by Tyrone Sterling after which his probing left-foot crosses bemused the home defence.

However, it was Deal who broke the deadlock after only 4 minutes, when a harmless-looking attack by them ended in a penalty kick being conceded by Cray after Jamie Range tangled with a Town forward.

The Wands looked like they might equalise in the 10th minute. A good run down the right by Conteh resulted in his cross eluding everyone. Sterling, wide on the left, lined the ball up for the incoming Callum O'Shea to hit a right-footed effort from distance. Unfortunately, the ball smacked against the angle of crossbar and post before bouncing away.

Cray were playing some entertaining football but were having none of the luck in front of goal that their interplay deserved. Efforts from Conteh, Richmond Kissi and Sterling all warranted better results. At the back, central defenders Michael Munday and Michael Costa did exceptionally well to keep the experienced and prolific goalscoring machine Mo Takaloo at bay.

Deal had a free-kick from 30 yards out that flew over the Cray crossbar in the 18th minute, and then a minute later Wands goalkeeper Shaun Smith saved well with his feet from point-blank range.

Both sides had a number of half-chances throughout the game, but the most glaring miss of the afternoon came in the 44th minute. The Cray defence could only stare in puzzlement as a Deal player managed to kick the ball against the underside of the crossbar whilst staring at an open goal!

Deal caught the Wands cold directly after half-time when, with barely 30 seconds lapsed on the stopwatch, the home side sewed the game up with their second goal. But Cray did not lie down and play possum. In fact, the opposite happened. Continuing to play flowing football, the visitors created a number of chances and were rather unfortunate not to grab at least a consolation goal.

An O'Shea shot after 55 minutes shaved the wrong side of the crossbar. Then a deep cross to the far post by right-back Davinder Singh was caught on the volley by Sterling, but his spectacular attempt went only inches outside of the post. Sustained pressure by Cray led to the ball being cleared off the Deal goal-line by a defender in the 65th minute, and a Kissi shot from long range dipped over the bar three minutes later.

Such was the young Cray side's intent to have something to show for their efforts, they continued to rain shots on the Deal goal. A 70th minute run by substitute Des Treasure culminated in his cross being headed just wide by Kissi. A couple of minutes later an O'Shea cross had the Deal 'keeper at full stretch to punch the ball away from danger. Kissi then had the ball in the back of the net in the 76th minute, but the linesman's flag indicated that he'd seen a handball offence by the Cray striker.

Midfielder Zak Goldsmith was unlucky not to capitalise when he ventured into the crowded Deal goalmouth in the 84th minute, but his close-range effort went over the bar instead of under it. And, the same player caused potential mayhem with a shot two minutes later, which the Deal 'keeper spilled but there wasn't a Cray player following up to pop the rebound home.

Right at the death, in injury time, Smith made another point-blank save, this time diving to his left and pushing the ball around the post with his left hand, to deny Deal their third goal of the game.

All in all, this Wanderers team deserved to get something out of this game. Their football was the more polished of the two sides, and certainly on chances created they were streets ahead of their opposition.

It would be unfair to single any players out, as everyone played their part amicably today, and it may be a bit premature to talk about Cray Wanderers having strength in depth within their entire squad. But, on this afternoon's showing at Deal, we can take heart from the fact that, there are several players waiting on the periphery, who could successfully make the transition to the first team when the time comes for them to grab that opportunity.

CRAY WANDERERS : Shaun Smith; Davinder Singh (James Golding, 73), Michael Munday, Michael Costa (Paul Bladen, 77), Jamie Range (Fred Kalyango, half-time), Callum O'Shea, Zak Goldsmith (Grant Wilkes, 88), Richard Morgan (Sibu Muwanga, 54), Tyrone Sterling, Richmond Kissi, Mo Conteh (Des Treasure, half-time). Team managed by Darren Anslow.

MAN OF THE MATCH - I'll stick my neck out here and say Callum O'Shea.