Cray Wanderers advanced into the 1st Qualifying Round of the FA Cup and a trip to Met Police on Saturday but only after an almighty struggle against Rusthall at the Jockey Farm Stadium.
On a hugely dramatic evening Cray seemed to be on the way with Michael Power’ early goal up to the hour mark. However an own goal from Junior Dadson and some fine saves from home keeper Callum Christie meant the game went to extra time.
The drama didn’t end there with Cray retaking the lead with a Power penalty two minutes before the end of the first period of extra time but almost straight away Callum Gallie scored to make it 2-2. So it went to penalties and after Pete Shaw hit the first kick for Rusthall over the bar, Cray scored four super spot kicks from Power, Barney Williams, Bradley Pritchard and Mitchell Nelson whilst three Rusthall kicks meant the score was 4-3 to Cray with one last kick for Rusthall from Gallie which was well saved by Nick Blue and Cray had made it through.
There was a couple of changes to the Wands line up from Saturday’s win against East Grinstead Town with Tom Phipp coming in for Archie Johnson and Aaron Rhule for Junior Dadson.
Cray started the game very strongly and almost took the lead in the fourth minute when Mitchell Nelson’s pass was latched onto by Jerome Federico who got away from Robbie Bissett and nudged an effort just wide of the left post.
The Wands continued to threaten and took the lead after 13 minutes from their third corner of the game when Karl Dent’s excellent left wing cross into the heart of the six yard box was headed in by Michael Power from three yards for the perfect start.
Cray almost scored again shortly after when Ben Mundele and Power combined to set up Bradley Pritchard who fired over the top from eight yards. This was followed by another chance when from a right wing corner the ball was cleared out to Aaron Rhule who shot over the top in the 22nd minute.
Just after the half hour Cray came close once again from a left wing Dent corner which went to the far post to Phipp who powered a header against the foot of the right post and into the arms of Christie.
Rusthall were hanging in the game and came close to scoring themselves when Sam Muray hit what seemed a speculative shot from just outside the area which only just went past the right hand post to show that Cray weren’t to have it all their own way.
Before half time Cray could have added to their lead firstly when a Dent free kick was headed wide by Sean Roberts. Then Federico down the right drove a shot across goal and wide which was followed by Rhule being played in down the left and his chipped shot went narrowly over the top.
Finally at the end of the half from a free kick twenty yards out fairly central, Dent curled the ball round the wall and Christie did well to push the ball away.
Cray led 1-0 at the break and looked fairly in control but Rusthall were very much still in the tie.
Half Time: 0-1
Cray made a half time change with Junior Dadson coming in for Ben Mundele who picked up a knock before the break.
The Wands continued to press for the second goal which would surely have ended the tie and from a Dent free kick which was whipped in the ball came to Power who headed over. Then Rhule dragged a shot wide after a run from midfield.
There were just signs that the second goal was definitely needed and for Rusthall Ryan Waterman saw a shot deflected behind for their first corner of the game.
However, they probably didn’t expect to get back on level terms in quite the way they did when there didn’t seem much danger with the ball out on the right of the Cray goal and Dadson’s back pass was over hit and caught out Blue as the ball drifted past him into the bottom right corner of the net.
The game became a bit frantic after that and we now had a cracking cup tie very much in the balance and the last half hour seem to pass by very quickly. Dent put in a cross from the right and a combination of Power and Rhule perhaps got in each other’s way and knocked the ball wide.
Chances opened up in the game going into the later stages and Williams’ ball into the box found Power who was deemed to be fractionally offside before he lashed the ball into the net.
With time ticking away Federico got away down the right and bore down on goal but his shot was well saved by the outstretched right foot of Christie.
For Rusthall, Callum Ridley set up Waterman who shot over the bar and then for Cray Malik Solebo who was very lively when he came on down the left hit a shot from just outside the area which the keeper was lucky when the ball was spilled behind for a corner.
Then into injury time firstly Nelson fired over the top from distance and from a right wing corner the ball came very quickly to Nelson who headed over the bar and we were set for an extra half an hour.
FT: 1-1
In the first period of extra time the game became even more dramatic with for Cray Solebo setting up Dent who fired wide of the left post.
Rusthall though nearly took a shock lead with a fine move with Dan Kommu and Pete Shaw combining to set up Regan Corke who was denied by a fine blocked save from Blue.
Then Power set up Dent whose fierce drive was pushed out by Christie and then from a right wing corner the ball came to Nelson who headed over from six yards. For the home side Shaw shot over the top.
With a couple of minutes of the first period to go Cray looked like they had the opportunity to win the tie when Williams found Power whose shot from just outside the area was pushed out by Christie and out to Pritchard who was brought down by the keeper for a penalty kick. Power stepped up and placed the ball in typically confident into the bottom right corner of the net.
However such has been the fine margins over the two games you couldn’t count Rusthall out and with the last kick of the first period of extra-time brought the game back to 2-2 when a corner played into the area was driven towards goal by Paul Butler and in a crowd scene another substitute Callum Gallie who had only been on the pitch for a few minutes got the last touch to squeeze the ball into the net.
The second period of extra time saw two tired teams with Cray perhaps the closest to winning the tie. Firstly from a free kick out on the left the ball in was flicked wide of the right post by Nelson.
Finally down the right Federico put over a fine cross towards the near post and Power volleyed over the bar. This was followed by Solebo firing in a shot from outside the area which Christie pushed away.
The game then came to an end with a penalty shoot out to decide who would go to Met Police on Saturday.
Final Score – 2-2
Rusthall took the first kick and Pete Shaw fired his kick over the bar. For Cray Power scored to put the Wands ahead. Steve Camacho, Barney Williams, Paul Butler, Bradley Pritchard, Robbie Bissett and Mitchell Nelson all scored to make it 4-3 to Cray with Gallie needing to score to make Cray take the last kick. Gallie’s kick was well saved by Blue diving to the left and the Wands with immense difficulty were through to the 1st Qualifying Round although do not have too long to prepare for the trip to Met Police on Saturday.
This was a tremendous cup tie and showed the magic of the old competition is still going strong. Cray had to work hard and in an attacking sense played better than they did in the first game. Rusthall worked their socks off and showed great resolve and resilience although there was a huge element of fortune about the first goal they were a credit to the SCEFL Premier Division.
Penalty Shoot out – Rusthall first kick
Shaw – Missed 0-0 – Power scored 1-0
Camacho – Scored 1-1 – Williams scored 2-1
Butler – Scored 2-2 – Pritchard scored 3-2
Bissett – Scored 3-3 – Nelson scored 4-3
Gallie – Saved 3-4
Cray Wanderers win 4-3 on penalties
Cray Wanderers: Nick Blue, Ben Mundele (Junior Dadson, H/T), Barney Williams (Capt.), Tom Phipp, Mitchell Nelson, Bradley Pritchard, Sean Roberts (Freddie Parker, 117), Karl Dent (Zak Henry, 104), Michael Power, Aaron Rhule (Malik Solebo, 65), Jerome Federico.
Subs not used: Jay Leader, Joe Vines.
Booked: Rhule
Rusthall: Callum Christie, Dan Kommu, Tom Cameron (Jordan Anderson, 79), Ryan Waterman (Paul Butler, 85), Robbie Bissett, Luke Stratford (Capt), Callum Ridley, Alex Carey (Stephen Camacho, 64), Sam Murray, Regan Corke, Pete Shaw.
Subs not used: William Jagger, Jordan Anderson, Jake Cornish (Callum Gallie, 99)
Booked: Waterman, Stratford, Ridley
Referee: Alex Bradley
Assistants: Harry Wager, Liam Vittoria
Att: 274