Cray Wanderers interest in the FA Trophy continues as a stunning strike from Michael Power earned the Wands a replay against Monefields in a tough 2^nd Qualifying Round tie.

The replay will be at Hayes Lane on Wednesday 22^nd November, 7.45pm.  This means the scheduled league game with VCD Athletic that night will be rearranged.

In a match which showcased contrasting styles of play, the Wands had edged the first half but fell behind to a deflected free kick two minutes before half time from Sam Pearce

However, the least Cray deserved for an evening of high endeavour was another crack at the tie and in the 65^th minute Power down the left and floated over an exquisite lofted ball to the far post which sailed past keeper Steven Mowthorpe.

The home side were reduced to ten men in the 83^rd minute when Steven Hutchings was dismissed for a holding offence against Zak Henry before a Moneyfields corner kick but despite the red card, the game ended in a draw.

From the side which drew at Hastings a week ago there were three changes.  Into the side came Dean Carpenter at no 3 in place of Barney Williams, Aaron Rhule returned in place of Brandon Scott and the welcome sight for Wands fans, Karl Dent started in place of Michael Frieter.

On a pretty mild evening and with a healthy contingent of Wands supporters making the long trip to Portsmouth Cray shaded the first half of an at times raw cup tie between two sides in excellent form.  Moneyfields are top of the Evo-Stik Southern League East, unbeaten after 13 games and had won every league game at home.  Cray were undefeated in 13 games in league and cup and from the outset it looked like a game which would be decided by the odd goal.

Cray began well and on the front foot with the pace of Aaron Rhule on the left and Jerome Federico on the right causing problems with their flank play and Rhule won an early corner.

Real chances were hard to come by and Moneyfields formed a tough barrier to break down and were a very committed and powerful side but the Cray defence was rock solid in the first half and Jay Leader and Mitchell Nelson made some vital blocks and tackles to keep the home side out of shooting distance.

For Cray, Dent was a factor in the game early on and the Wands were awarded a free kick in a central position just outside the area but his shot came back off the wall and from the rebound saw an effort blocked by a defender.

Then Cray had a half chance of sorts when Dean Carpenter whipped over a fine cross from the left to the head of Lea Dawson inside the area but his header was into the ground and claimed by Mowthorpe.  Cray were largely carrying the threat and a Jay Leader cross to the far post had to put behind for a corner.

The Wands though suffered a blow in the 24^th minute when Dent had to leave the field with what looked a recurrence of the ankle injury of a few weeks ago and was replaced by Michael Freiter.

By this stage two of the home side were booked, Ryan Pennery and Curtis Da Costa and it looked like a physical trench battle would ensue.

For Moneyfields, Steven Hutchings hit a shot high and over the top whilst for Cray, Freiter was unlucky with a shot from outside the area which went narrowly wide.

Then a Freiter free kick from the right found Nelson whose effort was blocked and then Ben Mundele made a strong run forward but his pass just couldn’t connect with Frieter.

Cray though found themselves going a goal down in the 43^rd minute when Moneyfields were awarded a free kick in a good position centrally twenty yards out.  Set pieces did look to be a major part of their game and Sam Pearce, fired in a free kick which went through the Cray wall and was deflected into the net giving Blue no chance to save.

The Wands though went back up the other end before half time and Federico down the right hit a cross shot to the far post which Mowthorpe  did well to palm out and behind for a corner.   At the break though Cray went in 1-0 down.

Half Time:  1-0

The second half looked to follow the same pattern with Cray edging the possession and the home side prepared to sit and counter.

Cray continued to press and Dawson set up Freiter who shot over from 25 yards then for the home side Hutchings was played into the area but was denied by a good block by Leader for a corner.

The Wand were then denied what looked like a clear penalty when Freiter’s corner to back post found Jay Leader whose shirt was clearly pulled by Hutchings in the area.

However, Cray got the goal there perseverance deserved in the 65^th minute and it was well worth waiting for.  The ball was worked down the left and from close to the touchline Michael Power showing great vision and awareness perhaps saw the keeper fractionally out of position and lofted the ball to the far post and sailed past Mowthorpe and into the net for his 16^th goal of the season.  We seem to be running out of superlatives to describe his goals of late.

The game now opened up more and Hutchings came close for the home side whilst for Cray a good ball into the box from Rhule was pushed away by Mowther.

For Cray, Dawson found Power on the edge of the box but as he was about to shoot a defender got a touch to the ball to turn the ball past the right post for a corner.  Then a ball into the box from Rhule was cleared away.

Then Power put over a cross into the box but Dawson couldn’t get enough purchase on the header and the keeper claimed the ball.

The game was a bit tetchy at times with two more Moneyfields players booked in the second half as well as Dawson for Cray.  The game seemed to drifting to a draw when in the 83^rd minute, Moneyfields won a corner but from the set up to the corner, Hutchings who had tested the referee’s patience a few times during the game held down Zak Henry off the ball and was sent off.

This strangely seemed to up the Moneyfields game and they almost grabbed an unlikely winner when a cross down the left into the box came off Blue into the path of Pennery whose effort was cleared off the line by Nelson.

The last chance of the game fell to Cray in the final minute when a cross field ball found Ben Mundele who made a surging run past a couple of defenders to the edge of the area but just pulled his shot fractionally wide.

In the end it finished in a draw and the two teams must do it all again on Wednesday night at Hayes Lane for the right to meet Braintree Town on the following Saturday.

It would have been something of a travesty if Cray had lost the game as they were the better side for long spells and kept their discipline well.

Zak Henry was excellent for Cray in the midfield breaking up play and setting the team going whilst the defence generally were on their toes and were a threat coming forward for set plays.  The two wingers caused Moneyfields a lot of problems whilst Power continued his scoring run taking him to 86 career goals for Cray.  The only real down side of the evening was the injury to Dent which hopefully won’t keep him out too long.

So we wait to next week to go again with the tough prize of Braintree Town away still to be claimed.

 

 

Cray Wanderers: Nick Blue, Ben Mundele, Dean Carpenter, Jay Leader, Mitchell Nelson, Lea Dawson (Capt,), Zak Henry, Karl Dent (Michael Frieter, 24), Michael Power, Jerome Federico (Brandon Scott, 85), Aaron Rhule.

Subs not used: Freddie Parker, Barney Williams, Marcus Evans.

Booked:  Dawson

 

Moneyfields:  Stephen Mowthorpe, Louie Martin, Jamie Ford, Jake Raine, Curtis Da Costa, Samuel Pearce, Daniel Wooden, Joseph Briggs, Ryan Pennery, Steve Hutchings (Capt.), Conor Bailey.

Subs not used: Tyler Giddings, Gary Austin, Max Smith, Harry Bedford, Declan Seiden

Sent Off:         Hutchings 83

Booked:          Pennery, Da Costa, Ford, Briggs

 

 

Att:  149