Cray Wanderers cup interest for the season came to an end as a youthful Wands side were beaten by Corinthian in the Hoops first ever Kent Senior Cup tie at Gay Dawn Farm. 

The game was notable perhaps from a Cray perspective of 8 players making their debuts either as starters or substitutes as Grant Basey gave a chance to members of the U18s squad and those players who haven’t featured so much for the first team in recent weeks. However, Michael Golding’s Corinthian side were in impressive form and scored five good goals and despite finishing the game with ten men were deserved winners over the 90 minutes.

Two goals just before half time proved decisive as Jack Holland with a classy overhead kick and Josh Stirman turning the ball in the at the near post made it 2-0 at half time. Stirman scored his second just before the hour with another quality strike curled in from the left of the area.  Substitute Ryan Atkinson made it 4-0 on 66 minutes with a powerful finish down the left but Cray kept on going and after Corinthian keeper Aiden Prall was sent off for bringing down Peter Sequeria, Luca Albon scored a stunner from the resulting free kick with 11 minutes to play.  Despite this temporary comeback, Atkinson scored his second with a fine individual goal with three minutes remaining and complete the scoring and a 2nd round tie at home to Ashford United.

There were five players making their debuts for Cray Wanderers this evening with goalkeeper, James Town, Amadou Bah, Elliott West, Eniola Hassan and Hayden Lewin-Thomas all U18s players getting cup tie experience alongside more regular first teamers, Jai Reason, Jacob Munting, Richie Danquah, Luca Albon, Emanual Oduguwa and Tom Hanfrey.  Corinthian have had a very solid Isthmian South-East maiden season and from the side which drew 2-2 at Whitehawk on Saturday made three changes to the starting lineup with Lekan Majoyegbe, Josh Stirman, Luke Tanner coming in for Jack Bath, Josh James, and Jack Mahoney.   

Corinthian just edged the opening exchanges of the game but the defence were holding firm up to till the quarter of an hour mark when Luke Tanner was found inside the area and Town did superbly to make a fine double blocked save and following up James Miller shot over the bar.  This was followed shortly after by Oscar Housego curling in a shot which was well held by Town.  The Hoops also saw a couple of shots inside the area blocked as the pressure built.

The game became a little bit scrappy as the half went on but Cray did managed to get more into it as it progressed and Albon set up Reason for a shot from outside the area that was blocked. Then down the right Eniola Hassan put over a very inviting cross which Hanfrey just couldn’t get on the end of and went across goal.

Four minutes before half time Cray came closest yet to scoring when Reason set up Albon with a fine pass down the left of the area and seemed destined to score but Prall made a terrific save with his feet and the chance went away.

That save proved vital as two minutes later Corinthinan went ahead when the ball was played across from the right into the area for Jack Holland who with an acrobatic overhead kick turned the ball past Town into the net.

Two minutes later in added on time it was 2-0 when good work by Housego down the right saw his cross to the near post turned in well by Josh Stirman and at half time there was a lot for Cray to do.

H/T:  2-0

The second half began with Cray looking to respond but Corinthian still looked dangerous each time they attacked.  The Wands did come close when from a quickly taken free kick the ball came to Reason and he flashed a cross-shot across goal down the left.

The next goal in the game would prove vital and in the 59th minute Corinthian went three nil up after a concerted spell of pressure and Stirman scored his second with a high quality piece of finishing curling home from the left of the area high into the top right corner.

Stirman almost claimed a hat-trick two minutes later and was played through down the right of the area but Town did well to turn his shot past the left post.

In the 66th minute, Corinthian scored a fourth goal when Ryan Atkinson did well to break into the box down the left and Town did well initially to make a smart stop at the near post.  The ball wasn’t sufficiently cleared and came back to Atkinson who smashed home a shot into the net into the bottom right.

Cray looked to end the game strongly and Albon came close and hit a shot from just inside the area which was well held by Prall.

There was late drama in the 77th minute when Prall sent substitute Peter Sequeria crashing outside the area and was deemed a sending off offence and Corinthian finished the game with ten men.  From the free kick just outside the area, Albon hit a cracking strike which gave James Billings no chance to save in the Corinthian goal.

This gave Cray a bit of late hope but Corinthian finished the game strongly despite having a man short and Housego saw a shot pushed out well by Town.

Then in the 87th minute it was 5-1 when Atkinson scored his second with a classy individual goal when he burst from midfield and into the area and placed a shot wide of Town into the net.

There was still time for Reason to smash a shot against the crossbar and with the last kick of the game Housego saw a shot saved by Town.  However Corinthian advanced and can look forward to an all Isthmian South-East clash with Ashford United in Round 2. 

Corinthian had been worthy winners there was no doubt about that and certainly scored some fine goals.  Cray though had kept on going and gave everything and the young players will have that more experience under their belts.  

The Wands can now concentrate on the league and a visit to Wingate & Finchley on Saturday with Cray in 20th place in the league table but only three points behind their hosts and look to force their way up the league.  Corinthian are at home to Lancing in the Isthmian South-East on Saturday.

Corinthian: Aiden Prall, Jack Holland, Frankie Morgan, Lakan Majoyegbe, James Billings, Ryan Sawyer, Emmanuel Oloyede (Ryan Atkinson, 38), Joshua Stirman, Luke Tanner (Harvey Smith, 63), Oscar Housego, James Miller (Jack Bath, H/T).

Subs not used: Charles Edmundsson, Josh James.

Scorers: Holland 43, Stirman 45+1, 59, Atkinson 66, 87

Sent Off: Prall 77

Cray Wanderers:  James Town, Kayden Lewin-Thomas, Ahmadu Bah (Daniel Mountain, 54), Richie Danquah, Elliott West (Silas Donkor, 76), Jai Reason, Jacob Munting, Eniola Hassan, Tom Hanfrey, Luca Albon, Emanuel Oduguwa (Peter Sequeria, 67).

Subs not used: Freddy Barton, Bailey Vose.

Scorer: Albon 79

Booked: Hanfrey

Referee: Dan Blades

Assistants: Nicholas Monkman, Teddie Osbourn

Att: 85