Both nets at Flamingo Park were well tested as Cray Wanderers and Erith Town played out a goal-fest in the London Senior Cup.

Neil Smith, the Wands’ manager, delegated duties to Roy Brooke who had a youthful team at his disposal. Although visiting manager Adam Woodward rested some of his starters, his starting eleven were all first team squad players, with two sixteen, and one seventeen year old on the substitutes bench.

In just the first minute, the floodgates opened when Victor Damayanov crossed for Tom Borders to bundle home at the near post to put the hosts ahead. The two combined again, and Borders again netted, but a late offside flag cut short his joy.

On fourteen minutes, Cray scored their second when Damayanov slung in another good cross and it appeared to find its way into the net via the unfortunate George Goodwin.

James Dyer, Erith’s captain, found Tom Ash who slipped it through to Louie Clarke and he was denied by an excellent save from the outstretched boot of Cray goalkeeper Kevin Kardel. Borders then robbed Jerome Jayaguru and returned passes with Damayanov before bursting through but the Dockers goalkeeper Nathan Edwards was out quickly to smother.

If Cray’s second goal had a touch of good luck about it, Erith’s first, on the half hour, was also fortunate. Aaron Jeffery crossed from the left and it went over the head of Kardel before dipping under the bar and inside the far post.

Edwards was almost embarrassed by Adrian Owiredu-Gyamera who tackled him inside the six yard box but the Erith goalkeeper was able to fall on it before it crossed the line. The Dockers then levelled in their next foray into enemy territory. Ash sent a low pass forward and Kardel called for it. However, Luke Leppard got their first, and knocked it psst him before rolling it into the net.

Damyanov continued to look dangerous and had a long range shot saved easily before he sent Simon Offei-Gyimaha through only for Edwards to make a brilliant point blank range save.

Two minutes before half time, Erith completed their turnaround when Louie Clarke was sent clear and he slotted home confidently. 

Both teams made changes for the start of the second period and Offei-Gyimaha fired over from twenty-five yards before coming closer when firing towards the far post where his effort was cleared off the line. George Brooke then sent in a vicious low cross that was just out of the reach of  Offei-Gyimaha.

Incredibly, the first corner of the match didn’t come until the Dockers won one just before the hour mark. Nothing came of that and Cray again went close when Brooke headed over from close range after meeting Cameron McQueen’s cross.

As the midway point of the second half approached, Erith scored their fourth. James Miles shot from long range and it went over the head of Kardel and dipped under the crossbar.

Miles then delivered another Erith corner and picked out Goodwin whose header drew an outstanding save from Kardel. However, he was powerless to stop the Dockers from adding a fifth in their next attack. Dyer sent over a brilliant cross to the far post and Harry Taylor, who had only come on five minutes earlier, rose to head home powerfully.

Two minutes later, the Wands reduced the deficit when Brooke was brought down in the penalty area and got up to fire home from the spot via the inside of the post.

There should probably have been a penalty to Erith but a free kick was awarded inches outside the area. Miles struck it but Kardel made another excellent save before recovering quickly to keep out the rebound.

Another flurry of goals followed when Goodwin headed home from a Miles free kick then, two minutes later the Wands scored through David Boatenge who burst down the inside right challenge and fired home.

Less than one minute after that, Taylor scored his second when Finley Williams sent over an inviting cross and the Erith hit-man made no mistake when heading home.

That was the end of the goalscoring despite there being further opportunities. Cray’s Lincoln Hunter was relieved to see his header fly over his own bar from Tom Hanfrey’s cross before Boatenge drew a good save out of Edwards and Brooke lashed the rebound over.

Owiredu-Gyamera had the final chance for the Wands when he drilled his shot into the side netting.

Shortly after, the referee drew the eleven goal bonanza to a close and Erith will advance to the third round and a home tie against Harrow Borough.

Cray Wanderers: Kardel, Owiredu-Gyamera (Raper 73), Brooke, McQueen (Anderson 74), Taylor, Mare (Redman 74), Offei-Gyimaha (Boatenge 66), Warwick, Borders (Hunter 46), Damyanov, Holden (Boatange 46).

Unused subs: None.

Goalscorers: Borders (1), Goodwin o.g. (14), Brooke pen (73), Boateng (81)

Yellow card: Holden

Erith Town: Edwards, Jayaguru (Avery 46), Ash, Goodwin, Jeffery, Mazzione (Williams 46), Dyer, Craig (Connor 46), Clarke (Taylor 66), Leppard (Miles 55), Hanfrey.

Unused subs: None.

Goal scorers: Jeffery (30), Leppard (34), Clarke (43), Miles (65), Taylor (71), (82), Goodwin (79)

Yellow cards: None

Referee: James Keane

Assistants: Jordan Whitworth and Ericsson Temu

Attendance: 226