Cray Wanderers made it two FA Trophy wins in three days as the challenge of Marlow was overcome with a strong half second half performance and a Lee Prescott hat-trick.   

This was the first ever meeting between the two sides and an early Prescott goal for Cray got them off to a flyer but the game got a bit bogged down for a bit after that.  The second half though saw Cray up the gears and had a number of chances to score before scoring three times in the last twenty minutes with Bradley Woods-Garness hooked volley and two more Prescott goals..

There were a few changes to the side which beat Carshalton on Wednesday evening due mainly suspensions to Jey Siva, Lea Dawson and Danny Haynes.  Into the side came Timi Osidobu at left back, Sol Taiwo in central midfield and Woods-Garness up front.  Jay Leader took over the captaincy and there were three U21 players on the bench, Edgar Morais, Joel Massamba and for the first time, Charlie Foster who has represented Cray at all youth levels since the age of 7.

Marlow came into the game seventh in the Southern League Central Divisin and won at Brentwood in the last round to advance but started the game quite slowly and Cray set about the visitors with Brandon Scott’s pace making an impact.

The Wands forced a couple of early corners and from the second of these in the sixth minute, Cray broke the deadlock.  After a very patient build up the ball came to Woods-Garness who combined with Karl Dent to set up Prescott who from 25 yards drove in a shot which the Marlow keeper, Simon Grant got his hands to but couldn’t stop the ball from going in the net.  This was his second goal of the week after his opener against Carshalton

The Cray passing in the first ten minutes was excellent and came close again to scoring when the impressive Ben Mundele swept a ball across which found Prescott but drove wide from eight yards.

Marlow were quite slow to get going and a Nathan Poulton free kick from forty yards was floated into the box and Jay Leader had to deflect an attempt wide for a corner.

Cray continued to push on for a second goal and after another good phase of passing the ball came to Scott down the right who played the ball across to Dent whose shot at the near post went wide.

Marlow’s best bet appeared to be through the rangy Marcus Mealing and he attempted a shot from forty-five yards which drifted narrowly wide of goal.

Two minutes later a Taiwo cross was headed off goal by Prescott.  Then, in the 24^th minute, Scott showed his pace once again and he drove in a cross shot from the right which Grant fumbled behind for a corner.  From the corner, Dent’s ball across was headed by Paul Lorraine but his effort was blocked by Grant.

Marlow were restricted to long range shooting and Jay Welch fired in a shot which Blue got down to save.

Although Cray had been the better side for the first half hour, it was still only 1-0 and Marlow had a great opportunity to go level when Mealing was played through, ran on into the box and took the ball around Blue.  However, his goal bound effort was cleared brilliantly off the line by the majestic Leader and the ball went over the bar for a corner.

Then Charlie Barton out on the right floated in a ball into the box and Isaac Osei-Tuto just couldn’t connect with the ball much to the Wands relief.

Cray started to impose themselves more before half time and Taiwo’s right wing corner was met by Leader whose header went straight to Grant.

Then Scott made a surging run from just inside his own half and he cut in to the right by line but his cross went through to Grant.

Half Time:  1—0

Cray had played extremely well at times first half but were in almost complete control of the second.

They did have a let off early on when a corner from Allen Bossman was flicked on by Barton and Blues Captain Chris Ovenden nodded over the crossbar.

Cray then started to take control and Scott was unlucky when Sean Roberts pass played him in and his near post shot was saved by the legs of Grant.

This was followed shortly after with Roberts again involved setting up Dent for a shot from twenty yards which went narrowly wide.

Cray were really knocking on the door for a second goal at this stage and Grant did well again to deny the Wands a goal after Osidobu and Woods-Garness down the left found Scott who laid the ball on to Dent whose close range shot was driven into the chest of the keeper and the ball was cleared.

By this stage some of Cray’s play was a joy to watch and with twenty five minutes to go Roberts and Prescott combined to set up Woods-Garness who took the ball round the keeper but drove his shot wide of goal.

Then, Woods-Garness teed up Dent for a stinging shot which the keeper did very well to push round the post for another corner.  From the corner, Taiwo’s cross was nooded wide by Leader. Then Roberts hit a rather scuffed shot which went straight to Grant.

A second Wands goal had been on the cards for a while and it duly came in the 70^th minute and it was well worth waiting for.  Mundele who has been a revelation at right back won the ball and found Scott who returned the pass and his cross trom the by line found Woods-Garness who swivelled in the area and hooked in a shot which may have come off his heel and looped into the net for his third goal of the season.

This really broke any resistance Marlow had and from here, Cray were able to dictate the play.  In the 74^th minute the tie was really decided when Scott’s strong run won a corner. From the right wing kick, Taiwo’s cross was dropped under no real pressure by Grant and Prescott following took a touch and scooped the ball into the net for his second of the game.

Tony Russell was then able to throw youngsters into the game and Morais and Foster were introduced to the fray.

Marlow threatened to get a goal back but the conviction in their game had long gone and it was Cray who had the final say with two minutes to go.  Foster who made quite an impression in his seven minute appearance played a great pass through to Prescott who cut in and rifled in a superb shot which flew high into the net to complete his hat-trick.  He has looked the part since playing more forward in the last few games and showed what a good finisher he is.

In the end, Massamba came on to complete they U21 connection and Cray were able to coast through to the 2^nd Qualifying Round draw which takes place on Monday.  The win today means the league fixture with Walton Casuals on 12^th November will need to be re-arranged.

Cray have shown a great deal of professionalism in the last two games at home and have bounced back well from the defeat at Lewes and there was a good buzz about the place this afternoon.   The back four were excellent today and together with Blue in goal have completed eight shut outs this season and were very solid.  Mundele and Osidobu have done extremely well in their roles and Scott continues to impress with his pace and Taiwo had a fine game in midfield today.

There is still plenty of reasons for optimism for Cray this season and the future on the pitch looks bright.

Cray:   Nick Blue, Ben Mundele, Timi Osidobu, Jay Leader (Capt, Paul Lorraine, Solomon Taiwo, Lee Prescott (Joel Massamba, 89), Sean Roberts, Bradley Woods-Garness, Karl Dent (Charlie Foster, 83), Brandon Scott (Edgar Morais, 78): Subs:  Ade Osifuwa, Jai McKinlay

Booked:          Mundele, Lorraine

Marlow:  Simon Grant, Sam Bangura, Aaron Jewell (Isaac Osei-Tuto, 27), Nathan Poulton, Calum Gallagher, Adam Richards, Allen Bossman (Kunle Otudeko, 76), Chris Ovenden (Capt.), Marcus Mealing, Charlie Barton, Jay Welch (Calum Ferguson, 77)

 

Referee:          Edward Turner

Assistants:     Luke Donaldson, Marlon Williams

 

Attendance:   75