Cray Wanderers FA Trophy hopes for 2017-18 continue on but only after a dramatic finale with Ralique Lawrence levelling with the last kick of the game bringing Cray back from 0-2 down to earn a replay at Grays Athletic on Wednesday night.

The tie between two in form sides didn’t really take off until the second half and Grays looked to be heading for a comfortable victory after Kieran Bishop had given them a 17^th minute lead and the Essex side built on that with Jamie Slabber scoring a second nine minutes after half time.

However, this Cray side showed great determination to get back into the game and substitute Lawrence got Cray back into the game in the 67^th minute when he was brought down just inside the area by Richard Halle and Michael Power stroked home the penalty kick.

Despite Cray dominating possession it seemed that time had run out on them when in the fourth minute of stoppage time, a ball forward was flicked by Freddie Parker to Kyron Lightfoot who put a ball over from the left edge of the area to the far post where Lawrence controlled the ball and as keeper Lamar Johnson advanced, slipped the ball into the net meaning the two sides meet again on Wednesday night.

Tony Russell’s side were unbeaten in nine league and cup games going into the game and Jamie Stuart’s Grays unbeaten in four so two sides playing well were hoping to keep that going in the FA Trophy in a match between sides from Bostik South and North.

There were a couple of changes for Cray from Tuesday nights 0-0 draw at Sittingbourne with Michael Frieter coming in for Aaron Rhule and Timi Osidobu for Jerome Federico.

The game was very even for the first quarter of an hour with one opportunity for each side.  In the sixth minute, good work by Ben Mundele who played in a forward role down the right set up Barney Williams who teed up Dean Carpenter who fired just over the crossbar from 25 yards.

For Grays, they had a decent chance when Stanley Muguo was played in down the left, took the ball round Nick Blue but the angle was awkward and played the ball across the box and Cray had to clear the ball.

The game sprung to life in the 16^th minute when Cray almost took the lead when from a throw in down the right, Freiter and Williams combined to play in Zak Henry whose ball forward was deflected into the path of Mundele who burst into the box but was denied when his shot was met by a fine one handed save by Lamar Johnson.

This was a vital stop as seconds later Grays took the lead when his long kick upfield was latched onto by lively striker Kieran Bishop down the right who strode on and as Blue drilled a well struck shot into the net.

The Wands then went through a difficult few minutes as Grays took control of the game and the visitors should really have scored a second when from a corner down the right, Samuel Cross ball in was flicked on to a diving Jamie Slabber who turned the ball over the bar from close range.

Cray got more into it around the half hour mark and from a corner the ball came to Power who broke into the area but his ball across was blocked by Ryan Mahal.

Then from a Frieter corner, the ball came to Carpenter whose pass forward was nodded out by Cross as far as Henry who hit a volley wide of goal.

Grays still looked to be in control of the game and Slabber turned right on the edge of the area and was brought down by Mitchell Nelson for a free kick and not a penalty as first appeared.

Cray created their best opening of the half five minutes before half time when Carpenter played a ball out to the right wing to Williams who put over an exquisite cross which was met by Power who got between the two central defenders but steered a header past the left post.

Before the break both sides could have scored first, Grays came close when Bishop set up Barry Cogan who fired just over from just outside the area.

Then right on half time another cross from Williams found Power again but this time off balance couldn’t direct his header on goal.

Half Time:  0-1

There was a change at half time with Ralique Lawrence replacing Mundele and the young substitute was a real threat in the opening minutes of the half with his pace and quick feet.  He made a good run into the area from Jay Leader’s pass but no one could get on to his ball across.

The Wands had a couple of openings firstly from a Frieter free kick out on the left was lofted into the area and Nelson rose highest to plant a header over the bar.

Then from a corner down the right, the ball came to Leader who against his former club saw a header in a crowded goal mouth headed almost off the line by Halle.

It looked like those missed chances may prove costly when against the run of play in the 54^th minute Grays scored a second when a ball was played down the left and Blue came out to clear the ball but could only hit the ball as far as Joao Carlos who laid the ball across to Slabber who stabbed the ball into the net in off the post.

This to all intents and purposes looked to be the end of the tie but Cray slowly worked their way back into the game and were given a lifeline in the 67^th minute when they were awarded a penalty when Dawson played the ball out to Frieter down the left who played a pass through to Lawrence who was brought down just inside the penalty area by Halle.  Up stepped Power to score his 12^th goal of the season and his third goal of the competition.

This left Cray with a quarter of the game to save the game and Grays perhaps tried to see the game out and weren’t seen much as an attacking force.

Cray for their part had a lot of the ball but couldn’t break the visitors down although Frieter was unlucky when from a ball into the area his header went across goal and no one could get a touch.  Then Timi Osidobu’s cross from the left was held at the second attempt by Johnson.

It looked like Cray’s last chance had gone when another lively substitute, Kyron Lightfoot played the ball out to Williams down the right who made a strong run forward and found Carpenter who shot over with two minutes to go.

Going into stoppage time it looked like Grays had done enough to take the tie and won a corner which appeared to be the end of the game.

Cray though had one more opportunity and the ball was launched forward to Nelson who was flicked a header to Freddie Parker who played a short pass to Lightfoot who from the left edge of the box floated the ball to the far post where Lawrence got the ball under control and as Johnson advanced planted the ball into the net for his fifth goal in just three appearances to send Cray fans ecstatic and relieved that the Wands live to fight another day.

Although Cray were by no means at their best they stuck at the game well and never let their heads drop and after a difficult first half deserved at least to take the game to a second tie.

The draw means that next Wednesday’s league game with VCD Athletic will now be rearranged.

Cray Wanderers: Nick Blue, Barney Williams, Timi Osidobu, Jay Leader, Mitchell Nelson, Lea Dawson (Capt,), Dean Carpenter, Zak Henry (Kyron Lightfoot, 83), Michael Power (Freddie Parker, 69), Michael Frieter, Ben Mundele (Ralique Lawrence, H/T):  Subs: Marcus Evans, Anthony Adesite

 

Grays Athletic:  Lamar Johnson (Capt.), Ryan Mahal, Samuel Cross, Barry Cogan, Richard Halle, Stanley Muguo, James Folkes, Adeyinka Cole (Kai Brown, 90+3), Kieran Bishop (Timothy Monsheju, 63) , Jamie Slabber, Joao Carlos (Glenn Poole, 86)

 

Booked:  Muguo

 

Referee: Jamaal Horne  

Assistant Referees:   Elliott Mayer, Andrew Thomson

 

Att:      133