Cray Wanderers advanced to the 4th Qualifying Round of the FA Cup for only the third time in the club’s history after a deserved victory against Hastings United at Flamingo Park with three second half goals and became one of only three Isthmian Premier League clubs in Monday afternoon’s draw.
After a goalless first half where Cray held the edge the Wands took the lead in the 47th minute when Toby King was on hand to score from close range. Seven minutes later it was 2-0 when Lateef Adaja was upended inside the box and Kenny Coker stroked home from the spot. The scoring was completed in added on time when substitute David Smith slotted in to complete a fine and complete Wands performance.
The match pitted two teams who have made indifferent starts to the league season but had advanced past two rounds of the cup and looking to go on further. Cray had defeated Larkfield & New Hythe and Wingate & Finchley whilst Hastings United who meet Cray again in the league on 19th October had beaten Redhill and Harefield United.
Cray had beaten Chatham Town in the Kent Senior Cup in midweek and had rested Shaun Rowley, Tom Bonner, Darion Dowrich, Nyren Clunis, Kenny Coker, David Ijaha and Frankie Raymond and all returned to the starting lineup along with starters on Tuesday, Lateef Adaja, Ike Orji and Toby King. Adrian Owiredu-Gyamera and Charlie Edwards were absent through injury.
On a dry and bright afternoon Cray began the game well and belied their lowly league position and in the 3rd minute Kenny Coker swung at a shot and went wide of the left post.
Three minutes later after a patient buildup Coker down the right found Imran Kayani whose shot was blocked and came to Nyren Clunis whose effort from 15 yards was held by Louis Rogers who had a fine game in the Hastings goal. Then, Kayani down the right fired wide.
Hastings were feeling their way into the game but had a decent opening in the 10th minute when David Rodari went through down the left of the area but was denied by a blocked tackle from Ike Orji.
Ten minutes later from a free kick out on the left, Frankie Raymond’s ball into the box to the far post was met by the head of Tom Bonner and Rogers did well to palm the ball out but the flag was raised for offside.
The game then went through a sparring phase for fifteen minutes but Cray were back on the attack and in the 36th minute, Kayani set up Raymond down the left of the area and his shot to the far post was pushed out by Rogers.
Before half time, Cray came close again when down the right, Toby King who has been playing in Icelandic football hit a shot just past the left post.
The last action of the half saw Hastings win a free kick 25 yards from goal and Adam Lovatt’s shot was well gathered by Shaun Rowley.
HT: 0-0
The second half began with Cray bright once again and after winning a corner down the right, Raymond’s ball into a crowded six yard box found Toby King and the former West Bromwich Albion player turned the ball in from five yards.
Cray now had the bit between their teeth and a header from Adaja hit the top of the bar and into the arms of Rogers.
In the 54th minute Cray were awarded a penalty when Adaja showed great pace to cut into the box down the left and was clipped just inside the area by Dequane Wilson-Braithwaite. From the spot, Coker scored his third FA Cup goal of the season.
Hastings had to hit back quickly to stay in the game and down the right a cross found Tommie Fagg whose header was well gathered by Rowley.
Cray continued to look dangerous in attack and Coker down the left cut inside and shot over the bar. Then the impressive Darion Dowrich found King whose shot was well parried by Rogers and Dowrich turned the ball into the net but was disallowed for offside. This was followed by Dowrich shooting over the bar.
Anthony Cook and Arezki Hamouchene were introduced off the bench and in the 70th minute came close to a third goal when Coker down the left crashed a shot off the underside of the crossbar and Kayani saw his follow up blocked and then Coker shot wide.
Still Cray sought a third goal and Hamouchene from a free kick saw his cross met by the head of Bonner and held by Rogers.
Cray were superbly drilled at the back with Bonner and David Ijaha outstanding alongside the full backs and through the game kept Shaun Rowley very well protected.
King almost scored a second from Hamouchene’s cross and was blocked for a corner. From the corner, Hamouchene’s cross was cleared out to Raymond whose dipping shot was goalbound but turned over the bar with a fine stop by Rogers.
For the final minutes, George Brooke and David Smith came on and two minutes into added on time completed the scoring when Brooke and Dowrich combined down the left to set up Smith who finished impressively for his third goal in four games and seal the win.
Cray who now have scored 14 goals in the FA Cup this season produced their finest performance of the season keeping a clean sheet and look to be clicking into gear nicely. Cray now join Carshalton Athletic and Horsham (who drew at Margate) as the Isthmian Premier representatives in the 4QR draw which takes place on Monday 30th September, 3 pm. Cray on their previous two 4QR ties were drawn away so will be looking perhaps for another Flamingo Park first this season.
Cray Wanderers: Shaun Rowley, Ike Orji, David Ijaha, Tom Bonner, Darion Dowrich, Frankie Raymond, Lateef Adaja (George Brooke, 89), Nyren Clunis (Arezki Hamouchene, 76), Toby King, Kenny Coker (David Smith, 89), Imran Kayani (Anthony Cook, 72): Subs: Quade Taylor, Dontai Stewart, Max Huxter
Scorers: King 47, Coker 54 pen, Smith 90+2
Booked: Adaja 30
Hastings United: Louis Rogers, Tom Howard, George Walker, Leo Young (Joe Clifford, 79), Dequane Wilson-Braithwaite (Ollie Palmer, 90+6), Adam Lovatt, Davide Rodari, Kian Moynes, Billy Vigar (Kane Penn, 40), Tommie Fagg (Tyrese Briscoe 72), Freddie Legg (Finlay Chapman, 55)
Booked: Young 29, Moynes 73
Referee: Matthew Norton
Assistants: Adbul Olol, Nicholas Monkman
Att: 408
Images courtesy of Dave Budden