It was Cray Wanderers’ big night with the official opening of Flamengo Park, but it was the noisy neighbours who took the spoils on opening night as Cray Valley PM continued their long unbeaten away record with a 2-0 win.
Whilst the result was not what the Wands wished for, the night was a huge and at times very emotional success for Chairman Gary Hillman, CEO Sam Wright, and the countless volunteers, many of whom never thought that they would see an end to nearly thirty years of the County’s oldest club wandering without a home of their own.
A crowd of just under 900 flocked to the newest ground in the county and were treated to an enthralling contest that Valley always seemed to edge before finally taking the lead and the points with two goals in a little over ninety seconds just before the hour from the outstanding Denzel Gayle and the incredibly industrious Freddie Parker.
In an even opening the home side had the first clear chance as David Smith was denied by Max Ovenden’s big right boot, whilst at the other end Gayle’s deflected effort flew inches too high.
The home side were rocked when skipper Tom Bonner was forced off with injury and whilst the Wands were trying to adjust to the skipper’s absence, Valley came so close to taking the lead, when Danny Waldren looped a header over keeper Shaun Rowley only for Lateef Adaja to save the home side with a terrific header off the line.
Gayle then went even closer for the visitors. A great run down the right saw Gayle hammer the ball into the box and he watched on as it cannoned off the left post and away to safety. Now whether there was a deflection is unclear, but the home goal remained intact – all be it just!
The half ended with saviour Adaja coming close at the right end as a fine run and shot went a yard wide.
The second period began with Valley on top and only a desperate clearance from David Ijaha cleared Tom Chambers’ teasing centre.
Gayle fired over before gloriously opening the scoring with the first goal scored in the Isthmian League at Flamengo Park. A great burst of pace took the winger clear and cutting in, he brilliantly rolled the ball past a wrong-footed Rowley.
Gayle, who had a great night, then turned provider. Another scorching run down the right saw a fine ball rolled across for Parker to slide home at the back post.
The stuffing was well and truly knocked out of the home side and despite a lot of possession the closest they came was with substitute Arezki Hamouchene’s battling effort that bobbled wide.
Gayle hobbled off towards the end with what appeared to be a possibly serious groin injury whilst Archie Johnson – Bonner’s first half replacement – left the ground with blood pouring from an accidental elbow that needed emergency treatment.
Steve McKimm’s remarkable run with Valley continues then – never beaten away from home now in forty League games in charge and just two defeats overall in that time as the Paper Mills boss, whilst for Neil Smith, the Wands boss is just relived to finally have a home ground that the club can be proud of and build upon for the future.
Cray Wanderers: Shaun Rowley, Darion Dowrich, David Ijaha, Quade Taylor, Tom Bonner (Archie Johnson 26, Alex Teniola 82), Lateef Adaja, Charlie Edwards (Anthony Cook, 74), Frankie Raymond (Arezki Hamouchene, 55), Nyren Clunis, Kenny Coker (Dontai Stewart, 55), David Smith.
Booked: Taylor 50, Edwards 54, Ijaha 88, Cook 90+7)
Cray Valley PM: Max Ovenden, Barney Williams, Tom Chambers, Kiki Oshilaja, Cem Tumkaya, Matt Vigor, Danny Waldren (Sonny Blck, 63), Hassan Ibrahym (Lyle Della-Verde, 69), Andre Coker (Michael Ademiluyi, 68), Denzel Gayle (Clement Asiedu, 86), Freddie Parker (Adam Coombes, 89)
Booked: Oshilaja 30, Vigor 79, Black 90+7
Referee: Richard Wharton
Assistants: Toby Carlisle, Andres Anastasiou
Attendance: 840
Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.