Cray Wanderers midweek trip to Merstham ended in a second straight league defeat as a goal in each half gave the Moatsiders a merited victory which could have been even more convincing but for some fine saves from Jack Turner in the second half.
After a lively beginning from both sides it was Merstham who edged in front when John Ufuah went through and his goalbound effort was diverted into the net by Dean Beckwith attempting to clear the ball. Merstham were an attacking threat throughout the game and went two up with a penalty after Korrey Henry was brought down and converted the spot kick to set up the victory and leave Cray in 18th place in the Isthmian Premier table.
There was a luxury for Wands manager Danny Kedwell who named an unchanged starting lineup for the first time this season following the 4-1 win vs Kings Langley last time out. Merstham who were beaten 0-1 at Hornchurch on Saturday made one change to their starting lineup with Ayman Gharbaoui coming in for Charlie Greenwood.
On a fairly mild night in Surrey the game opened at a great pace particularly Merstham who looked threatening in the opening minutes especially through Korrey Henry down the right. However, it was Cray who created the first real opening in the sixth minute. Cameron Brodie found Andy Drury who played a neat flick through to Chris Dickson down the left of the area and was unlucky to see his lofted shot drop just over the bar. At the other end though there was a let off when a ball across from Troy Williams was skewed wide of the left post by Chace Jacquart.
Merstham perhaps were edging the game and Henry was unlucky not to score but was denied by an exceptional block by Beckwith and then a free kick out on the right from Dylan Adjei-Hersey was headed wide by Rueben Collins.
Cray weren’t without their moments in attack and following a throw in down the left Anthony Cook’s ball across found Kai Reason who shot wide.
A minute later for all Merstham’s swift attacking play the opening goal was a somewhat scrappy affair as a ball over the top was latched on to by John Ufuah who went past Jack Turner and his goalbound effort was knocked into the net by Beckwith who was looking to clear the ball.
Cray looked to get back into it and Brodie made a charge forward and his shot was deflected behind for a corner. At the other end Jacquart tested Turner from distance.
The Wands came close after a free kick from Anthony Cook looked to have been charged down possibly inside the area but another free kick was given right on the edge and from the free kick Cook’s shot hit the outside of the right post.
The rest of the half was a little bit scrappy although Ufuah was denied down the left by a block from Marvin McCoy although a foul was given while for Cray , Kasim Aidoo found Richard Afrane-Kesey down the left and his ball across was excellent but no-one could apply a touch in the box.
Close to the break, Henry headed in from a free kick but the linesman’s flag cut short the goal celebrations but at half time Merstham led 1-0.
HT: 1-0
Cray looked to begin the second half brightly but Merstham continued to look a threat going forward and on 55 minutes the quick Henry down the right was tripped inside the box by Aidoo for the award of a penalty. Turner had been successful with saving recent penalties but not on this occasion as Henry confidently stroked home the spot kick.
Aside from a shot from Reason which went over, Merstham were rampant at this stage and almost scored a third when Ufuah’s ball to the far post found Henry but his close range shot was saved well by the legs of Turner. Then it became chance after chance for the Moatsiders as from a corner the ball came to Jacquart whose shot came back off the left post.
Then came another chance as Henry went through and was denied by a magnificent diving save from Turner pushing the ball round the post. Then Turner did well again to parry a stinging drive from Dylan Adjei-Hersey.
It looked like Cray were in danger of getting submerged at this time but did have a chance when from a free kick down the right, Drury’s cross was met by the head of Reason but was well claimed by keeper Toby Bull.
Still chances for Merstham came and it should really have been three nil when great play down the left by Ufuah saw the ball squared to the far post where Henry spooned the ball over the bar. Then, a fine slalom like run from Adjei-Hersey saw the ball played to Ufuah who was again denied by the legs of Turner.
The last real chance of the game fell to Cray in the 81st minute when a fine cross from Freddy Barton into the area fell to Chris Dickson whose first time shot was very well saved by Bull and did well to follow up before a Cray player could turn in a rebound.
Merstham comfortably from there saw out the remaining minutes and moved up to 11th in the league table. Merstham have struggled the last two seasons but are a very quick side and strong at the back and Reuben Collins in particular had an impressive game as did Ufuah and Henry up front.
For Cray it was a disappointing outcome after the optimism of the previous game and although perhaps one or two decisions in the first half went against them there could be no realistic complaint that Merstham were the better side on the night and but for Jack Turner could have gone down to a heavier loss. Cray now have to prepare for what looks a tricky FA Trophy tie at home to Bedfont Sports on Saturday and try to swiftly move on and look to get back to winning ways with a tricky run of fixtures in the league upcoming.
Merstham: Toby Bull, Troy Williams, Jude Mason, Ayman Gharbaoui, James Richmond, Rueben Collins, Dylan Adjei-Hersey, Chace Jacquart, Korrey Henry (Serge Makofo, 84), John Ufuah (Omar Folkes, 88), Imaad Sankoh.
Subs not used: Bertie Lloyd, Ethan Nelson-Roberts, Charlie Greenwood
Booked: Ufuah, Mason
Scorers: Beckwith o. g. 18, Henry 55 pen
Cray Wanderers:
Jack Turner, Kasim Aidoo, Marvin McCoy (Freddy Barton, 56), Dean Beckwith (Capt.), Richie Danquah, Cameron Brodie, Andy Drury, Anthony Cook, Jai Reason (Adam Coombes, 72), Richard Afrane-Kesey (Jamie Yila, 67), Chris Dickson.
Subs not used: Daniel Uchechi, Jack Hanson
Booked: Aidoo, Reason, McCoy, Brodie
Referee: Steven Scott
Assistants: Tolga Inanc, Robert Trueman
Att: 190