Cray Wanderers progressed through to the second round of the London Senior Cup with a single goal victory over a strong Leyton Orient side at Hayes Lane on Wednesday night.
With the heavy rain swirling round the game got off to an open start with play flowing from end to end. Orient had more of the possession and forced a number of corners, but they couldn’t find a way through The Wands defence, Gillingham loanee Freddie Carter having a great debut at centre back.
As the half went on Cray started to come into things with Michael Ademiluyi having a near post shot saved by Sam Sargeant.
Jayden Wareham and Stephen Duke-McKenna went close for The Os, while late on Ben Krauhaus surged into the box, but his shot was saved by Sargeant.
The second half saw Cray start well, Sam Skeffington firing over, but from there Orient had a strong spell. Charlie Kelman, Duke-McKenna and Daniel Nkrumah all had shot s saved by Shaun Rowley in the home goal, but from there Cray made the vital breakthrough.
A long ball up field from Rowley found Ademiliuyi out on the right and he cut into the box before lobbing the ball over Sargeant and into the roof of the net despite the best efforts of Connor Wood on the line.
Ademiluyi had a shot tipped over by Sargeant soon after as Neil Smith’s side pressed for a second, while at the other end Nkrumah had a shot saved by Rowley after a powerful run into the area.
Late on Cray pressed again, new signing Yahaya Bamba had a shot saved by Sargeant and he was also on hand to deny Mitchel Chapman from range, before Nyren Clunis fired over in injury time.
Cray will now travel to Dulwich Hamlet in the second round, but for now they will focus on their home game with Aveley in the league this Saturday afternoon.
Cray: Rowley, Fisher, Sodje, Carter (Jones 45), Christie, Chapman, Skeffington, Krauhaus (Cook 75), Ademiluyi, Bassett (Bamba 70), Derry (Clunis 70).
Subs Not Used: Ando.
Orient: Sargeant, Wood, Ogie, Sweeney, Duke-McKenna, Wareham, Nkrumah, Brown, Kelman, Clements, Ogbebor.
Subs: Degrum, Avgoustids, Welch, Davies, Saponara.
Goal: Ademiluyi 69minutes.
HT 0-0 FT 1-0
Att: 114
Ref: Tommy Breen