The re-arranged contest between Three Bridges and Cray Wanderers ended in the Wands favour as an emphatic finish to the game saw Cray come away with a 4-0 win away from home for the second time this season.
The match was played at East Grinstead Town following the Jubilee Fields pitch deemed still unplayable after Saturday’s postponement. The first half was a lively affair with Three Bridges having opportunities to score but it was Cray who scored the only goal of the half when Anthony Adesite struck his third goal of the season in the 34th minute.
The second half carried on in the same vein but Cray looked dangerous each time they attacked and Luke Medley hit the post and was denied by keeper, Martin Grant. Cray had a chance to extend their lead from the penalty spot in the 53rd minute but Medley fired over the bar. However, fifteen from time, Cray scored a second with a superb individual goal from Medley and he made it 3-0 six minutes from the end. The scoring was completed with a tremendous twenty five yard free kick from Danny Haynes in the 87th minute.
Perhaps with an eye on Saturday’s game with Faversham Town less than 48 hours away there were four changes to the starting line up from Monday’s encouraging goalless draw with Greenwich Borough. Jai McKinlay came in for Paul Lorraine, Zak Henry for Sean Roberts and Anthony Adesite for Karl Dent. Up front, Luke Medley started in place of Danny Haynes
On a very pleasant evening for football it was Three Bridges who probably edged the opening exchanges and despite being relegated looked to get a win that could help them move into 22nd place and so possibly face a reprieve.
They created the first half chance when Dan Mobsby played a ball into to top scorer Tony Garrod and his flick towards goal was claimed by Nick Blue.
Cray had a fair amount of possession but it was Three Bridges who had a great chance to take the lead in the tenth minute. The ball was worked out to the right to Tim Cook who played a good ball across to Hakeem Adelakun who on the stretch flashed a shot wide of the right post from twelve yards.
They had another opportunity a couple of minutes later when from a Cray corner, Three Bridges broke away and Alex Rose played a ball up to Garrod who turned and fired in a shot which Blue did very well to get down to push aside.
Cray looked to threaten through the pace of Medley who won the ball out on the right and swept a ball out to the left to Timi Osidobu who in turn teed up Lee Prescott for a shot which was blocked by John Lansdale.
The Wands were unlucky not to score when after a patient build up down the left, Osidobu played a ball into the box to Medley who turned away from goal and fired in a shot which narrowly went just wide of the right post.
Then Three Bridges had a spell with Adelakun testing Blue with a shot from thirty yards. Then they had a very good chance which again fell to Garrod who on the left edge of the penalty area seemed certain to score but his goalbound shot was deflected past the right post by Ben Mundele. A minute later, Garrod should perhaps have done better than fire over the bar from Lee Hall’s pass.
Cray then came close when again fine work by Osidobu who won the ball and set up Prescott for a shot from twenty yards which went just wide of goal. This was followed by Adelakun firing over the bar as the pace of the game continued to be unrelenting.
A goal seemed inevitable and it came for Cray in the 34th minute. The ball was worked down the right and Mundele played the ball across the box to Anthony Adesite who from twelve yards controlled the ball and hit a shot which the keeper couldn’t keep out to score.
Still the game went from end to end and Mobsby curled a shot over from distance. Then for Cray just before half time almost made it 2-0 when Brandon Scott down the right was put through but his near post shot hit the side netting.
Half Time: 0-1
The second half was just as lively and Three Bridges again started the half well and a cross from the left was cleared out by the impressive Antonio Lazzari out to Abu Touray who hit a shot straight at Blue.
In the first half, Three Bridges had played quite a high line and there were a number of tight offside calls against the Wands. Cray managed to get through it when a ball from midfield beat the offside trap and Medley strode on towards goal and as Grant came out clipped a shot against the post. Shortly after, he was denied by the feet of Grant as he attempted a shot at the near post.
A minute later, in the 53rd minute Cray were awarded a rather harsh penalty kick. The ball came to Prescott down the left of the area and his shot was saved by the foot of Grant and as Adesite came in looking to get to the rebound the keeper was adjudged to have caught him on the leg. From the spot kick though, Medley blazed his shot well over the bar.
Three Bridges were not out of the game though and the penalty miss seemed to inspire them for a short spell. First Cook drove a shot wide, then he saw a shot cleared out to Garrod who hit a shap shot from twenty yards which went straight to Blue.
Perhaps Three Bridges last chance came when after a good spell of passing, Cook laid the ball into Rose who curled a shot just wide of the right post from the edge of the area.
A second goal though for Cray ended their resistance and it came fifteen minutes from the end. A ball from midfield was played up to Medley who strode into the area, took on Devon Fender and Mobsby to turn and curl a delicately placed shot over the keeper and into the back of the net for a goal of breathtaking quality.
From here, the home side who had battled well up to that point started to flag and Cray moved up a couple of extra gears in the latter stages.
In the 84th minute, Cray scored a third which again very well taken by Medley. This time down the left, Adesite’s pass played in Medley who with an impudent side foot finish placed the ball wide of Grant and into the net.
To round off the evening’s entertainment, Cray scored a fourth three minutes from time with another excellent goal. The Wands were awarded a free kick, twenty five yards from goal. Up stepped Danny Haynes who curled the ball round the wall and into the bottom right corner of the net for a stunning strike.
The final whistle soon went and the Wands were very professional tonight with a team which included a few youngsters and won the game well. There were very good performances again from Nick Blue who made in two clean sheets in a row, Mundele and Osidobu were class again as were Lazzari and McKinlay in the heart of the defence. In midfield, Zak Henry looked composed and assured throughout whilst up front, Scott showed good moments once again with Medley had a fine game throughout and was a real handful.
Cray now go into their final game of the season at Faversham Town on Saturday with good confidence and can be very pleased on their evenings work.
A special mention to Three Bridges and it can be hoped that they can sort out their problems with vandals at their ground. They did very well to get a game on and thanks to East Grinstead and their staff who were friendly and courteous and for giving this opportunity for the game to be played.
Cray: Nick Blue, Ben Mundele, Timi Osidobu, Jai McKinlay, Antonio Lazzari, Lea Dawson (Capt.), Zak Henry, Lee Prescott (Sean Robets, 61), Luke Medley, Anthony Adesite, Brandon Scott (Danny Haynes, 77).
Subs not used: Karl Dent, Tyrone Guthrie, Sean Law
Booked: Osidobu
Three Bridges: Martin Grant, Devon Fender, Alex Rose, Dan Mobsby, John Lansdale, Lee Hall, Jensen Grant, Abu Touray (Maxime Agnoly, 82), Tony Garrod (Kieran Allen-Djilali, 83), Tim Cook (Dominic Toussaint, 83), Hakeem Adelakun.
Subs not used: Ristel Ben-Solomon, Michael Wilson
Referee: Damith Bandara
Assistants: Anthony Andrews, Nick Blogg
Attendance: 42