Cray Wanderers FA Trophy adventure came to an end on Sunday but only after a titanic struggle against Ryman Premier Worthing at Hayes Lane.
Both teams went head to toe in an enthralling encounter from the start with little time to draw breath. Worthing went in front after twelve minutes when Lloyd Dawes flick on was turned in to his own net by Lee Prescott. The visitors then went ahead forty seconds after the restart through Zack Newton before Danny Haynes pulled a goal back setting up an exciting last half hour where chances came thick and fast.
The Wands were able to call upon the services of the returning Danny Haynes and Jey Siva from suspension to the starting lineup. From the side which drew with Whyteleafe on Wednesday, Paul Lorraine returned for Jai McKinlay and Sean Roberts for Ade Osifuwa. Sherwin Stanley was cup tied for this match.
On a fine November Autumnal afternoon the scene was set up for a cracking contest and it didn’t disappoint. Cray got off to a quick start with once again the threat down the right provided by Ben Mundele and Brandon Scott an early feature of the game. In the fourth minute, a Mundele cross found Haynes whose initial effort was blocked. Karl Dent kept the ball alive and laid the ball back to Lea Dawson whose goalbound header was blocked by Brannon O’Neill.
Worthing showed their ability to going forward and Harvey Sparks down the left sent a curling cross into the area which just missed an onrushing forward. Unfortunately for Cray, Paul Lorraine went down injured and a couple of minutes later was replaced by Jai McKinlay.
Worthing came close to scoring after ten minutes when from a left wing corner, O’Neill’s cross was met by Reis Stanislaus whose header was cleared off the line by Jey Siva.
That was a temporary reprieve though for Cray as two minutes later Worthing took the lead with rather a soft goal. Another corner this time down the right was played into the box by O’Neill and Lloyd Dawes flicked the ball towards goal and was deflected into the net by Lee Prescott on the goal line.
Cray went back on the attack and Haynes was played in by Dent down the right byline and his near post cross-shot was parried by keeper Jack Fagan, Seconds later, Scott was found by Haynes but pulled his shot wide of the left post.
Worthing looked for a second goal and Stanislaus’s flick on set up Kane Wills for a shot that was blocked by McKinlay. Then Sparks hit a shot from outside the area that was parried away by Nick Blue and Stanislaus then fired a shot across goal and wide after Cray gave the ball away.
Before the half hour, Worthing pressed again when Wills shot was deflected for another corner. Again from the right, O’Neill’s cross was headed wide from seven yards by Dawes. This was followed by Matt Boiling’s fine through ball to Stanislaus which was met by a comnbination of sprawling save from Blue and block from Dawson.
Cray then had a very good spell for fifteen minutes when they had a lot of the ball and pressured the Worthing defence but couldn’t often find the killer final ball.
In the 38th minute, Sean Roberts found Leader up from the back who laid the ball off to Dent whose shot from twenty yards was well fielded by Fagan. Then a minute later, Scott down the right showed his electric pace to burst into the box and his near post shot was pushed away by Fagan and Dent following up couldn’t get a clean connection to the ball and was cleared.
Before the break, Dawson found Haynes who hit a low shot which went narrowly wide. The last effort of the half fell to Worthing with Dawes’ shot well claimed by Blue.
Half Time: 0-1
Cray got off to the worst possible start to the second half when with barely a minute gone Worthing went two-nil up. O’Neill and Boiling combined to set up Zack Newton who turned Leader and teed up a shot which went across Blue and into the net from six yards.
Cray who came back from two nil down to draw with Whyteleafe had it all to do to come back on this occasion and Haynes lashed a shot over moments later as Cray looked to get a foothold back in the match.
In the 56th minute though, Cray did pull a goal back when Scott down the right laid the ball across to Haynes who seemed to half hit a shot which sped past Fagan to set up a grandstand last half hour.
Worthing looked dangerous going forward and Dawes hit a shot straight at Blue and tnen Stanislaus turned and shot over from twenty five yards.
Cray came roaring back and Haynes down the left played the ball across to Dent whose strike was blocked by Corey Heath.
The Wands were desperately unlucky in the 62nd minute when Scott was played in by Haynes inside the area and his shot was pushed round the post by Fagan. From the corner, Leader glanced a header over.
Then Cray came close again when Scott down the right cut the ball back to Haynes who fired over from close range.
The game was going from end to end and Worthing almost snatched a third when Omar Bugeil hit a sweet strike from the edge of the area which was tipped over by Blue.
For Cray, Scott’s ball into the box came to Dawson but his header went away from goal whilst Dawes shot wide at the other end for Worthing.
Worthing had a great chance to score when Dawes was played through and showed good control to set up a shooting opportunity which Blue did very well to save.
Then a free kick out wide on the right by Solomon Taiwo was tantalisingly played into the area but neither Dawson or McKinlay could get a touch that would divert the ball into the net.
Cray had their best chance yet to level when Taiwo set up Scott down the right again who played the ball across once again to Haynes who perhaps leaning back got over the ball and his shot went over the bar.
The game then headed for the last ten minutes and after a period of good possession and passing, the ball was worked again to the lively Scott who found Haynes with another cutback who fired over from close range once again.
Then in the 83rd minute, Mundele who had a superb game throughout, picked the ball from Leader and ran down the left hand side, cut in and curled a shot wide the right post.
A minute later, Scott was found by Taiwo and ran into the area but couldn’t quite get a clean connection to his shot and was deflected to the keeper.
There was barely time to draw breath during the final few minutes as the Wands sought a replay they would have deserved on the balance of play but couldn’t find a way through and Worthing on the break saw a shot from Wills go over, then Mike Waller was played in but Blue came out to smother a shot and Newton blazed over.
Cray kept on going till the end led by the pace of Mundele and Scott but couldn’t find a goal and it is Worthing that go through to Monday’s 3rd Qualifying Round draw.
A big word too for the officiating team who let the game flow at every opportunity and were barely noticed.
The Wands showed a lot of character in the second half after conceding so early but now have the league to concentrate on in a bit to perhaps play the likes of Worthing in a higher division next season. .
Cray: Nick Blue, Ben Mundele, Jey Siva, Jay Leader, Paul Lorraine (Jai McKinlay, 9), Lea Dawson (Capt.), Lee Prescott (Ade Osifuwa, 70), Sean Roberts (Solomon Taiwo, 55), Danny Haynes, Karl Dent, Brandon Scott.
Subs: Dane Luchford, Timi Osidobu
Booked: McKinlay
Worthing: Jack Fagan, Matt Boiling, Sam Rents, Kane Wills (Capt.), Jack Cook, Corey Heath, Lloyd Dawes, Brannon McNeill (Ross Edwards, 64), Reis Stanislaus (Omar Bugeil, 64), Zack Newton, Harvey Sparks (Mike Waller, 77).
Subs: Ethan Belward, Gary Elphick
Referee: Stephen Bates
Assistants: Kennedy Kikulwe, Ari Mendonca
Attendance: 164
Cray Wanderers 1
Haynes 56
Worthing 2
Prescott o. g. 12, Newton 46