Cray Wanderers made it through to the last 8 of the Kent Senior Cup for the first time since 2010-11 with an excellent victory against Dartford at Hayes Lane.
A Wands side featuring a number of younger players and those looking for more game time took the game to the National South league leaders and the star of the show undoubtedly was Ralique Lawrence who got perhaps a surprise callup to the starting lineup. He built on the brief cameo at Thamesmead in the previous round where he earned and scored a penalty with a classy hat-trick with a header, a near post flick and a composed finish to claim the match ball.
In a first half which flew by there was so much happening, Cray took the lead in the sixth minute with Lawrence stealing in to head home from Aaron Rhule’s cross.
Dartford levelled with a thunderous strike from almost 30 yards from Toby Ajala in the 36th minute before Cray restored the lead when Michael Power scored from the penalty spot after Lawrence was brought down in the area four minutes before the break.
That lead lasted barely a minute as Warren Mfula burst through to make it 2-2 at the interval.
Cray though came out of the traps second half very quickly and scored twice by the 54th minute both scored by Lawrence, first guiding the ball home from Karl Dent’s cross from a free kick and then finishing well from another Rhule assist.
There were always going to be a few changes from the team which started at Lewes on Saturday. In goal came Jordan Carey for his second appearance for the club, Timi Osidobu started for Barney Williams, Marcus Evans for Jay Leader, Dean Carpenter for Lea Dawson, Lawrence for Bradley Stevenson and Aaron Rhule for Brandon Scott.
Dartford came to Hayes Lane with a fairly young side but one with bags of pace and plenty of first team experience this season as the Darts soared to the top of the Vanarama South.
The two teams met in the Kent Senior Cup last season in the 1st Round stage and Cray were a bit unfortunate to lose 2-1. That was a case of perhaps not taking chances when on top but Cray sought to remedy this by making a cracking start and took the lead in the 6th minute. The ball was worked down the left following a throw in and the ball came to Rhule who put over a fine cross into the box where Lawerence did well to get between the central defenders to plant a header wide of keeper Tony Coxall and into the net.
Dartford almost got back into it straight away when down the right hand side the ball came to Tom Murphy who from a tight angle smacked a shot against the right post.
Cray then had a let off in the 9th minute when Evans gave the ball away to Warren Mfula who burst through and seemed certain to score before the young defender redeemed his mistake with an excellent clearance off the line.
The Wands carried on the attack and Lawrence combined with Rhule to set up Dent who saw a shot deflected behind for a corner.
The game continued at a tremendous pace with Michael Habte blazing well over the bar for Dartford before another excellent Rhule cross into the area was turned behind by a defender for a corner before Lawrence could get there.
The crosses from Rhule in the first half caused Dartford a lot of problems and another cross into the area led to a fine piece of goalkeeping by Coxall who had to dive to grab the cross before a forward could get there.
Thirty seconds later though, Dartford were levelled with a goal which came out of nothing as a ball out from the left found Toby Ajala in space who rifled home an unstoppable shot from nearly thirty yards which gave Carey no chance.
The Wands though kept going and had the opportunity to retake the lead when Lawrence was played through down the right of the penalty area and his effort was blocked by Coxall. Following up, Lawrence was bundled over by Ronnie Vint for a penalty kick, despite Dartford protestations. Michael Power stepped up to convert the penalty in the 41st minute.
However, Cray were caught again barely a minute later as a ball forward was flicked into the path of Mfula who did well to find himself some space and tuck a shot into the net to make it 2-2 which is how it stayed at the end of an excellent half.
If Cray started the first half well then they began the second even better. In the 49th minute Cray were awarded a free kick out on the left some 18 yards from goal. Dent floated a delicate ball towards the near post where Lawrence showed a predatory instinct to get to the ball before a couple of defenders to guide the ball into the net.
Cray almost scored again soon after when from a free kick twenty five yards from goal, Dent fizzed in a shot which narrowly past the left post.
What Cray needed was the comfort of a two goal lead and they duly did so with another well worked goal in the 54th minute. Ben Mundele found the tireless Lawrence out on the right of the area and the ball came off a Dartford defender to Rhule who unselfishly held the ball up before finding Lawrence who turned past a defender before showing great composure rolled the ball into the net from ten yards.
This gave Cray the platform they wanted to see off Dartford but the visitors fought back doggedly and Murphy fired just over. Then from a free kick, Ajala right wing cross was headed onto the top of the crossbar by Keaton Wood.
This was followed by Mfula shooting wide for Dartford, then from a Murphy corner, Wood headed over the bar, whilst for Cray, the excellent Dean Carpenter fired well over the top.
Cray were unlucky not to score one of the goals of the season when Dent’s sublime flick released Osidobu down the left of the area and his cross shot went agonisingly wide of the right post.
Dartford were never out of the game and came close when a ball was played towards Andy Pugh who hit a half volley which went just past the right post. Then Habte hit a shot which Carey got down well to save.
The Wands had played some excellent football second half and did well to take any sting out of the game and carefully saw out the remaining minutes with Frieter hitting a free kick over the bar.
The last chance of a terrific night’s entertainment came for Dartford when Vint’s cross found Pugh whose shot was pushed brilliantly over the bar one handed by Carey.
As it was Cray were able to see out the game and a superb victory which was just reward as Tony Russell’s side haven’t had much luck in the last three games. The game was very well refereed and both sides showed a great sporting nature and the game was a credit to this long standing and distinguished competition and certainly one that Lawrence will remember for a long time.
The Wands can now wait until the winter for the Quarter Final and can prepare for Saturday and what will be a tough encounter with in form Herne Bay at Hayes Lane.
Cray Wanderers: Jordan Carey, Ben Mundele, Timi Osidobu, Marcus Evans, Mitchell Nelson, Zak Henry, Dean Carpenter, Karl Dent (Capt.) (Michael Frieter, 73), Michael Power (Freddie Parker, 59), Ralique Lawrence, Aaron Rhule (Bradley Stevenson, 63).
Subs: Lea Dawson, Joe Vines
Dartford: Tony Coxall, Temi Eweka, Henri Fulton, Ronnie Vint, Richard Sho-Silva, Keaton Wood (Capt.), Toby Ajala (Andy Pugh, 68), Michael Habte, Warren Mfula (Liam Gillies), Alfie Cue, Tom Murphy (John Ufuah, 75).
Subs: Tom Bonner, Deren Ibrahim
Booked: Wood
Referee: Graeme Ions
Assistant Referees: Chris Myatt, Joseoh Dann-Pye
4th Official: Liam Vitoria
Att: 123
Cray Wanderers 4
Lawrence 6, 49, 54, Power 41 pen
Dartford 2
Ajala 36, Mfula 42