Cray Wanderers winning start to the season came to an end as Worthing edged a lively and keenly contested encounter at Hayes Lane.
In a match pitting 3rd vs 7th both teams came into the game buoyed by big wins last Saturday and Worthing took the points courtesy of Dashonne Golding’s composed finish in the 73rd minute.
Worthing went in front in the 15th minute when Tom Chalaye down the left cut into the area and drilled a shot into the bottom corner. Cray though hung in the game and drew level ten minutes before the break when Ejiro Okosieme scored his second of the season turning the ball home after Fjord Rogers’s effort was blocked. Worthing perhaps shaded the game overall and restored the lead seventeen minutes from time when Ollie Pearce’s pass found Dashonne Golding who calmly fired into the net and despite some late pressure Worthing held on for the win.
Cray Wanderers manager Danny Kedwell made three changes to the starting lineup from Saturday’s win at Hornchurch with Dean Beckwith, Charlie Allen and Fjord Rogers coming in for Freddie Cray, Sadik Balarabe and Adam Coombes. Worthing had won one and lost one of their first two games and Adam Hinshelwood brought in Cameron Tutt, Alfie Young and Thomas Chalaye in for Joel Colbran, Alex Parsons and Dean Cox from the side which beat Bowers & Pitsea last time out.
On at times an overcast but muggy afternoon with the occasional glimpse of sunshine he visitors perhaps just shaded the first few minutes and won two or three free kicks and a corner but it was Cray who had the first shooting opportunity when Charlie Allen was fouled just outside the area and Anthony Cook curled a free kick over the top. Then after a corner was won down the right, the ball played into the area reached the far post where Cook volleyed over the top. Then from another corner, Fjord Rogers just glanced a header off target.
Worthing though made the first breakthrough in the 15th minute when Luca Coccorrachio down the left played a good ball down the flank to Chalaye who showed good pace to cut into the box and drill the ball across Jack Turner and into the bottom right corner.
The visitors then had a decent fifteen minute spell after the goal and after Chalaye was brought down by Dean Beckwith from the free kick, the ball played towards the far post was put behind by Ejiro Okosieme. Then it was almost two nil but would have been fortuitous as Jasper Pattenden’s ball into the area was deflected off Beckwith and came back off his own crossbar and away from danger. Then shortly after Chalaye tested Turner with a shot from 20 yards.
Cray though were never out of the game and had a good five minutes and drew level on 35 minutes when Andy Drury played a free kick out on the right into the box towards the far post where Rogers initial effort was blocked with appeals for a handball but following up Okosieme was on hand to stab the ball past Harrison Male to make it 1-1.
Although there weren’t many chances in the first half it was still a very decent watch and with half time approaching Cray perhaps were just finding their flow before the break.
There was a change at half time for Cray with Freddie Cray on for Charlie Allen and Cray started the half well and came close to scoring when Harvey Brand’s right wing cross was headed just wide of the left post by Rogers.
The game was much more even in the early stages of the second half although Danny Barker let fly for Worthing from distance which went just over the bar.
The game became a bit more intense in the second half and Okosieme and Cameron Brodie were booked along with Jesper Pattenden for Worthing but it was an intriguing battle between two good sides.
Worthing though came close to going back in front when down the left Ollie Pearce’s cross to the far post was helped on by Golding and on the volley Pattenden’s shot was pushed over brilliantly by Turner.
The next goal in the game looked to be key in context of the game and Worthing restored their lead when Pearce played a fine ball through to Golding down the left of the area and clipped a fine finish wide of Turner and into the net for a quality piece of composed finishing.
Cray though showed good character in the last quarter of an hour and Cook down the left worked the ball across to Brodie who hit a sweet strike from almost 25 yards out which only just skimmed the angle of crossbar and right post. Then the as ever influential Drury set up Anis Nuur for a shot from the edge of the area which was blocked by the Worthing defence.
Pearce who was a constant threat up front hit a shot which just went over the top while for Cray, Brodie again tried his luck from distance but his shot was charged down while at the other end Mo Diallo had an effort blocked by Freddie Cray.
Once again, Pearce shot wide for Worthing but Cray looking to level in the 88th minute Sadik Balarabe set up Brand down the right and his first time shot was well held by Male.
Towards the end, Worthing almost grabbed a third but Shaquille Gwengue down the right fired wide with a near post effort while Cray had the last chance in stoppage time as Cook found Nuur who cut inside from the right and his shot was deflected past the left post for a corner but despite a decent effort from Cray couldn’t find the goal needed to grab a draw and a well drilled and clever Worthing side held on for the three points which over the 90 minutes they merited and once again look like a side that will be there or thereabouts in the title picture and moved up to 4th in the table one place above Cray Wanderers.
There is no time to dwell too much on the result and on Bank Holiday Monday Cray head to Margate looking to bounce back straight away.
Cray Wanderers: Jack Turner, Harvey Brand, Dean Beckwith, Ejiro Okosieme, Joey Taylor, Cameron Brodie, Charlie Allen (Freddie Cray, H/T), Andy Drury, Anthony Cook, Jamie Yila (Anis Nuur, 77), Fjord Rogers (Sadik Balarabe, 70).
Subs not used: Lee Lewis, Martin Onoabagbe
Goal: Okosieme 35
Booked: Beckwith, Brodie, Okosieme
Worthing: Harrison Male, Luca Coccorrachio, Cameron Tutt (Jesse Starkey, 62), Aarran Racine, Alfie Young, Danny Barker, Marvin Armstrong, Thomas Chalaye (Shaquille Gwengwe, 89), Jasper Pattenden, Dayshonne Golding (Mo Diallo, 79), Ollie Pearce
Goals: Chalaye 15, Golding 73
Booked: Armstrong, Pattenden, Diallo
Referee: Gerry Heron
Assistants: Ben Al-Sheikh, Nik Garside
Att: 223
Pics: Jon Hilliger/www.hilligerpix.com