Cray Wanderers advanced to the 2nd Round of the Kent Senior Cup and a home tie with Phoenix Sports after a hard fought and gutsy victory at Chatham Town.

After a goalless first half, Cray took the lead in the 52nd minute after a superb crashing volley from David Smith but was cancelled out by a Jordan Mongoy close range finish for Chatham Town.  However, in the 62nd minute Cray went ahead again when Lateef Adaja was brought down by Joe Wright and Anthony Cook scored from the spot. Cray defended with great determination after some late Chatham pressure to hold on to the lead and a fine away win.

Both sides have FA Cup 3QR ties on Saturday but both were fairly strong lineups with Cray fielding some new faces to the side for the first of three successive cup ties in three competitions.

Making their debuts were former Chatham Town, Gillingham and Chelmsford City defender Ike Orji as right back, midfielder Toby King who came through the youth systems at West Ham and played at West Bromwich Albion, goalkeeper Max Huxter who has played for Cray on two separate occasions.  Also, U23s players, Bobby Parkes and Ed Mare played at the back and the team were supplemented by experienced players like Anthony Cook, Quade Taylor and David Smith.

 On a dry and mild night, Chatham began the game on the front foot and came close in the 5th minute when down the right Miquel Scarlett saw a cross-shot well blocked by Huxter.  At the other end with the game starting at a brisk pace, Imran Kayani saw a shot blocked outside the area.

For Chatham, a corner down the left from Jack Evans to the far post was headed goalwards but was cleared by Mare.  Then Sam Sene-Richardson fired a shot over the bar.

Then, Kian Garlinge set up Kofi Anokye-Boadi whose shot was deflected behind for a corner.

For Cray, who were passing the ball around well came close when the excellent Lateef Adaja found Arezki Hamouchene down the left and his cross came to Toby King who stabbed the ball towards goal but was claimed by Joe Wright.

At the other end, Anokye-Boadi set up Jack Evans for a shot deflected wide and then Evans cross glanced off the head of Mongoy inside the area but the flag was raised for offside.

Then after a couple more corners, Evans’ right wing kick to the near post was headed wide by Charlie Naylor.

Before half time the game began to even out and for Cray, Anthony Cook fired over the top from Quade Taylor’s pass.

HT: 0-0

The first half was lively enough but just lacked a goal.  The second half began as an end to end affair with an Evans corner aimed for Reece Butler was blocked by Quade Taylor.

For Cray, David Smith and Imran Kayani set up Arezki Hamouchene down the left whose shot was blocked and the offisde flag was raised.

In the 52nd minute the deadlock was broken when Kayani cut inside from the right and set up David Smith who hit a first time shot from 25 yards which crashed into the net for his second goal of the season.

This was followed by Adaja firing into the side netting down the left but in the 56th minute Chatham levelled when down the right of the area Mongoy on his debut was on hand to steer the ball into the net.

A dramatic ten minutes was completed when Taylor’s ball forward ca,e to Adaja who broke into the box and was felled by the arms of Wright for the award of a penalty and from the spot Anthony Cook made it 2-1.

Shortly after Kayani down the right of the area just couldn’t get his shot away and was blocked before Dontai Stewart and Kayden Diedrick-Roberts came on.

Chatham almost levelled for a second time in the 71st minute when Mongoy was found by Sene-Richardson’s pass down the right of the area but Huxter did well to make a blocked save.

The home side created a fair amount of pressure in the last ten minutes with crosses, corners and free kicks but the Wands defence with Taylor and Parkes outstanding and Huxter commanding. 

Chatham did come close when Evans’ cross from the right to the far post was shanked across goal by Sene-Richardson.  Then Parkes did well to block a Mongoy cross and after a couple of corners, down the right the ball to the far post was turned wide by Bailey Akehurst.

With five minutes plus of injury time, Jacob Katonia saw a shot blocked and Akehurst’s cross was put over by Simon Cooper.  Prolific U23s scorer Tom Borders came on for the last knockings of the game and the last opportunity for Chatham came from a free kick down the right of the area but the wall blocked Cooper’s shot.

In the end Cray held out for a fine away win and the team, many of whom hadn’t played together before showed a lot of resilience, desire and craft to win against perhaps a more settled side and was a good, all-round team performance.

Cray now head to Saturday and the 3QR of the FA Cup and the visit of Hastings United and many of the players today did their chances of being involved in some capacity no harm at all.

Chatham Town: Joe Wright, Miquel Scarlett (Simon Cooper, 82), Jordy Robins, Reece Butler, Jack Evans, Kian Garlinge, Sam Sene-Richardson, Charlie Naylor, Valckx Fernandes, Kofi Anoake-Boadi (Bailey Akehurst, 77), Jordy Mongoy (Jacob Katonia, 73).

Subs not used: Kasim Aidoo, Ben Bridle-Card.

Scorer: Mongoy 56

Cray Wanderers: Max Huxter, Ike Orji, Edouard Mare, Quade Taylor, Bobby Parkes, Lateef Adaja, Anthony Cook, Arezki Hamouchene (Tom Borders, 90+5), Toby King, David Smith (Dontai Stewart, 67), Imran Kayani (Kayne Diedrick-Roberts, 67).

Subs not used: Andy Dzontoh, Cameron McQueen.

Scorers: Smith 52, Cook 62 pen

Booked: Cook 30

Referee: Steven Goldup

Assistants: Will Rough, Henry Saxton

Att: 328