Cray Wanderers FA Trophy run came to an end as National South Weston-super-Mare came from an early goal down to advance to the 3rd Round with a clinical second half display.
The Wands got off to a flyer with Gary Lockyer scoring with a stunning strike after just 55 seconds and defended well for the first half hour before Jordan Bastin levelled from close range. The home side took the game by the scruff of the neck after the break and goals from Lloyd Humphries, Alex Fletcher and Marlon Jackson sent the Seagulls through.
The sides had never previously met and after concerns the match may not take place due to the wet weather in the South-West, the pitch was passed playable during the morning and was the correct decision.
Cray were looking to build on three straight wins in league and cup and from the side which beat Carshalton Athletic last Saturday into the side came Antonio Dembele and Cameron Black for Nyren Clunis and Alfie Evans as Cray looked to reach the 3rd round for the second time in three seasons against a higher echelons side.
On a grey afternoon Cray got off to a great start as Frankie Raymond’s ball forward was helped on by Ellis Brown and Gary Lockyer from close to 30 yards with a first time shot which gave Harrison Lee no chance to save after 55 seconds.
Scoring so early gave Cray confidence but Weston-super-Mare played some good football and forced the Wands onto the defensive. The home side did come close to scoring when Robbie Willmott’s cross from the left was headed wide by Sam Avery from close range.
For Cray, Antonio Dembele down the right put over a cross which Lee had to claim at the second attempt.
Weston-super-Mare almost levelled in the 23rd minute when Marlon Jackson did well to work his way into the area and found space to fire in a shot which Shaun Rowley did superbly to push the ball round the right post.
Cray looked to go back on the offensive and a Yahaya Bamba cross from the left was headed wide of the right post by the impressive Lockyer.
A minute later though Weston-super-Mare were level when Alex Fletcher’s effort was blocked but following up Jordan Bastin scored with a composed finish.
Shortly after Rex Manning saw a well struck shot held by Rowley and in the last minute of a high quality first half, Jason Pope down the right curled in a shot which hit the crossbar and across goal but at the break the scores were level.
HT: 1-1
The second half started in the same vein and substitute Anthony Cook saw a shot deflected through to Lee while for the home side Alex Fletcher’s cross was claimed under pressure by Rowley.
Weston-super-Mare were beginning to dominate the proceedings and Rowley did well to push away a long range strike from James Morton. Then Robbie Willmott saw an effort blocked and then a shot deflected behind for a corner.
From the corner in the 59th minute, Jackson set up Jacob Cane for a shot which was turned in by Seagulls captain Lloyd Humphries to make it 2-1.
Four minutes later, Weston scored a third when Jackson and Willmott combined down the left to find Mannings and his cross to the far post was turned in by Fletcher.
Cray looked to get back into it and Emmanuel Kwartchey saw a shot go wide and then from a corner the ball to the far post was headed wide by Lockyer.
However, in the 73rd minute the game was in all intents and purposes over when Mannings’ cross from the left was turned in by Jackson for a goal his performance deserved.
For the remainder of the game, Cray gave it their all and substitute Alex MacAllister teed up Lockyer for a shot that was saved by the legs of Lee. Then Cook tried his luck from outside the area which went wide.
Towards the end, Kwartchey broke into the area down the right and his shot was held by Lee but despite plenty of endeavour couldn’t grab a consolation goal and in the end bowed out of the competition.
Weston deserved the win and played well especially in the second half but Cray gave it everything and throughout the previous two rounds and next go into a double header of home league games starting with Dulwich Hamlet on Saturday looking to move up from 17th place in the table.
Weston-super-Mare: Harrison Lee, Jason Pope, Jordan Bastin, Jacob Cane, Lloyd Humphries,
Samuel Avery, Robbie Willmott, James Morton, Marlon Jackson (Reuben Reid, 75), Alex Fletcher (Opanin Edwards, 69), Rex Mannings (Oscar Collins, 84): Subs: James Dodd, Jake Purnell
Scorers: Bastin 31, Humphries 59, Fletcher 63, Jackson 73
Cray Wanderers: Shaun Rowley, Emmanuel Kwartchey, Cameron Black, Jack Holland, Jamie Mascoll, David Ijaha, Ellis Brown (Alex MacAllister, 60), Frankie Raymond (Sam Wood, 81), Antonio Dembele (Anthony Cook, 37), Yahya Bamba, Gary Lockyer: Subs: Joshua Tobin, Reggie Rye
Scorer: Lockyer 1 min
Booked: Raymond 79
Referee: Dale Wootton
Assistants: David Lilly, Paul Collier
Att: 425