Cray Valley 2-0 AFC Croydon Athletic - We're a million miles away from Wembley, says Steve Chapman

CRAY VALLEY (PAPER MILLS)  2-0  AFC CROYDON ATHLETIC
The FA Carlsberg Vase First Round
Friday 18^th October 2013
Stephen McCartney reports from Middle Park Avenue

CRAY VALLEY (PAPER MILLS) manager Steve Chapman says Wembley Stadium seems a million miles away after his side booked their place in The FA Carlsberg Vase Second Round for the first time in the club’s history.

The Millers knocked out lower league AFC Croydon Athletic thanks to an early Lewis Wood penalty, before the diminutive striker set up strike partner Joe Nwoko to score late on as the Eltham-based club extended their winning run to six and are now unbeaten in seven.

Both sides were reduced to ten-men on the stroke of half-time when AFC Croydon Athletic’s set-piece specialist Tony Martin and Cray Valley striker Laurent Hamici were both red-carded following an off-the-ball-incident.

And there were disgraceful scenes in front of the dressing room building in the darkness after the final game when AFC Croydon Athletic midfielder Sam Marks offered to fight Hamici out in the car park and had to be pulled away be an alert member of the visiting club’s management team.

The disgraceful incident occurred after the 12-minute press conference with Chapman - so no comment was made - but the manager said he was pleased to get past a side that thrashed Fisher 6-0 in the last round.

“Really pleased to get through to the next round,” said Chapman.

“We didn’t play particularly well tonight but at the end of the day the next round of the Vase, another £900 in the kitty, everyone’s happy.”

Cray Valley’s first ever home Friday night fixture attracted their largest crowd of the season and Chapman would like to experiment with more Friday night football at Badgers Sports Ground again this season.

“Magnificent turnout tonight,” said Chapman.  “We were hoping for just over 100 so 143 is a bonus.

“I saw lots of faces down that I haven’t seen for quite a while and hopefully the committee see that and we play one or two more Friday night games this season.”

Reflecting on the game itself, Chapman said: “I think we were a little bit flat tonight and I think Croydon (Athletic) were a difficult team to play against. They didn’t let us settle and we didn’t play our free-flowing football, which we’ve been doing over the last few weeks.

“But I felt we dealt with them quite comfortably defensively and that was my worry because I know their strikers were quite good, but I think Joe Matthews and Gary Cook were outstanding tonight at the heart of our defence and (so was) Matt Bailey in goal.”

Cray Valley created the first chance of the game when Hamici released winger Michael McKenna through on goal and his first time right-footed shot was blocked by the body of advancing goalkeeper Danny Coote after 185 seconds.

A long throw into the Rams’ penalty area from Allan Matthews was flicked on and Lewis Wood couldn’t steer his header on target at the far post from inside the six-yard box.

But Cray Valley deservedly opened the scoring when Lewis Wood scored his ninth goal of the season from the penalty spot inside seven minutes.

McKenna whipped in a corner from the right and Essex based referee Stephen Tate spotted a push on Joe Matthews by Tony Martin just inside the AFC Croydon Athletic penalty area and pointed to the spot.

Lewis Wood stepped up and confidently dispatched his right-footed penalty into the left-hand corner of the net – sending a diving Coote the wrong way.

Chapman explained: “Joe (Matthews) was a penalty taker earlier in the season but he missed one so we switched to Lew Wood, experienced player, no problem and that’s his first penalty.

“He’s deserved his goal because he’s been working really hard in the last few weeks without getting on the score sheet, so I’m really pleased for him.”

Chapman added: “Good start. It settled us down a little bit and once you go 1-0 up we was always comfortable. I thought at the back they created a few chances but we just thought at half-time if we maintained their display at the back we would go through and win the game.”

Chapman admitted his side should have doubled their lead within two minutes of their opener.

Hamici was released down the right and played the ball back across goal with his right-foot to an unmarked Nwoko who sent his downward header narrowly wide of the left-hand post from eight-yards.

Chapman said: “Great move! Having said we didn’t play that well tonight there were a couple of occasions when we really did put some good moves together and that was one and Joe should have scored. He knows he should have scored. It was a really poor header!”

Cray Valley were dominating proceedings whilst they were kicking down the slope during the first half and McKenna swung in a free-kick towards the far post where Lewis Wood ghosted in and poked his shot wide of the near post whilst stretching for the ball just six yards from goal.

A fine save from Coote denied Cray Valley racing into a 2-0 lead at the halfway point of the first half when the keeper dived to his left to push away Hamici’s right-footed swerving drive from 25-yards.

Tunde Aderonmu was released down the right and he cut the ball back to Hamici, whose first time shot with the side of his right boot sailed narrowly over from eighteen-yards.

Another chance went begging for the seventh-placed Southern Counties East Football League hosts in the 28^th minute.

Right-back Allan Matthews pumped the ball forward which was chested down by Hamici and the ball dropped to Lewis Wood, who hooked his left-footed shot over the bar.

Chapman added: “I thought we created well, we played very well. We created the chances but we’ve been putting them away recently and I thought today – I don’t know what it was - we just snatched at our chances today rather than finish them like we’ve been in the last few games.”

The fifth-placed Combined Counties League Division One visitors created their first chance in the 33^rd minute.

Tony Martin played an excellent cross-field pass from the middle to release Edmund Walker down the right and the winger cut the ball onto his left foot to drill his shot narrowly over the crossbar.

Walker then played the ball into Joe Loyza and the seven-goal striker drilled a right-footed shot past the near post.

Cray Valley then started to regain their dominance and a sweeping move resulted in Aderonmu playing the ball inside to Nwoko, who swept a first time shot from 25-yards into Coote’s gloves for a comfortable low save.

Tony Martin swung in his second corner of the game for AFC Croydon Athletic and found striker Kai Bichard whose right-footed shot on the turn looped up towards goal and Matt Bailey plucked the ball out of the air.

Hamici showed his good points in the 38^th minute when he turned AFC Croydon Athletic defender Chris Head before drilling a right-footed shot from 12-yards, which Coote did well to advance off his line to narrow the angle before making a low save to his right.

But there was a flash-point on the stroke of half-time.

McKenna was ready to sweep forward a long free-kick but attention turned to the right flank where there was a coming together of players.

Assistant referee Wally James brought the referee’s attention and once the dust had settled Tony Martin and Hamici were both red-carded.

Chapman was asked his thoughts on the flashpoint.

He claimed: “Laurent’s disappointed with the red card. He doesn’t feel that it was justified.  He’s the one that’s got the fat lip!

“Speaking to the lineman, he’s the one that made the decision and he said apparently they both went at each other head to head. That’s all I can say. I didn’t see it but as I say I’ve lost Laurent now for probably another three games. Very disappointing.”

Chapman explained why he felt the need to not switch his formation like his opposite number.

“I thought the game would open up more in the second half being ten-a-side and it did towards the end, especially after we scored the second goal,” said Chapman.

“We just needed to be solid at the back. We didn’t really change our formation. Instead of playing the three up top we left the two up top and let them really think about us, rather than us thinking about them.”

AFC Croydon Athletic manager Anthony Williams made a tactical switch at the interval and ditched his 4-4-2 formation to go with three at the back and brought on central midfielder Sayce Holmes-Lewis and sacrificed left-back Jamie Williams as a result.

This move had a positive impact on the Rams as they came out with much more determination and peppered the Cray Valley goal during the second half.

Holmes-Lewis whipped in a cross from the left and Walker got in around the back at the far post and his right-footed shot forced Bailey to make his first fine save, diving low to his left to push the shot around his near post after only 74 seconds into the second half.

Cray Valley squandered an excellent chance to put the game out of reach when McKenna released Nwoko down the right and he cut inside before playing the ball to Aderonmu, who played in Lewis Wood, who tried to dribble the ball around the keeper, who smothered the ball but the ball came out to Springett, who drove his left-footed shot past the near post.

Bailey pulled off a fine save in the Cray Valley goal in the 56^th minute, flying to his right to push away Marks’ left-footed in-swinging free-kick from the right channel.

The 20-year-old stopper made his best save when he changed direction before diving to his left to push around Walker’s drilled centre, which took a wicked deflection off Rogers just before the hour mark.

“Matt Bailey is a great goalkeeper,” said Chapman.  “I’ve known him for many years and he’s still only young. He’s still 20 I think and he will hopefully, if he carries on, be a goalkeeper at this level at a high standard. He was outstanding this evening.”

AFC Croydon Athletic continued to dominate - kicking down the slope - and Loyza cracked a right-footed half-volley from 35-yards, which stung Bailey’s hands, forcing the keeper to push the ball up before catching it.

Chapman added: “They did up the tempo. That is why Matt is there really. We contained their forwards particularly well but then the threats were coming from other parts of the pitch so when they did Matt did well to react.”

AFC Croydon Athletic almost equalised in the 65^th minute when Bailey’s clearance was hooked forward by Rams’ central defender Head, who was positioned inside his own half, five-yards from the half-way-line.

The ball sailed forward and bounced over the keeper’s head but Bailey did well to race back and at the last second tipped the ball over his crossbar to avoid embarrassment.

“It was a poor kick from Matt,” admitted Chapman. “He didn’t do many in the game! He got caught out of position and as a result he struggled to get back in to his six-yard box and did well to tip the ball over the bar because it was actually going to bounce over his head and into the net at one point.”

But Cray Valley rode the storm and Nwoko exchanged a couple of passes with Aderonmu before his right-footed shot deflected off Head for his keeper to make a comfortable save.

Coote kept his side in the game when he advanced to thwart Nwoko scoring when the former Sittingbourne striker only had the keeper to beat.

But Cray Valley sealed their passage into the Second Round with fourteen minutes remaining.

Aderonmu was released down the left before his run was delayed by a fine blocked challenge. Lewis Wood picked up the ball and cut past a defender and once inside the box he unselfishly cut the ball back to Nwoko who steered his right-footed shot into the right corner from fourteen-yards.

“They are my favourite goals and I think Lew has made everyone of Joe’s goals this season,” added Chapman.

Man-of-the-match Lewis Wood should have scored his side’s third goal when he latched onto Rogers’ pass, poached the ball ahead of Coote but swept his right-footed shot wide of an open goal from an acute angle from 12-yards.

AFC Croydon Athletic substitute Kieran Burrell saw his first time right-footed drive from 25-yards saved comfortably by Bailey at the death.

Kent League side Tunbridge Wells reached The FA Carlsberg Vase Final but went down to a 2-1 defeat to Spennymoor Town at Wembley Stadium on 4 May 2013.

And when asked how far away Wembley Stadium is at the moment, Chapman replied: “Million miles away from Wembley Stadium at the moment, but we look at Tunbridge Wells last year and it was a tremendous achievement by Martin (Larkin) to get his team to Wembley so we know it can be done.

“We know it’s going to be hard. It was hard tonight but if the draw is kind to you and we have the players’ fit and they’re playing well, who knows?

“I quite like to play different teams so I hope we draw someone from a different league. It gives a bit of variety. You get to know each other when you play in the same league and sometimes games become harder to win.

“I’m not sure how far the draw goes out, whether it’s still relatively local but we don’t mind really. We’ve sorted out our home form now. We’ve now won three on the spin and we’re unbeaten away from home so we’re quite confident at the moment.”

Meanwhile, The Millers have banked £2,300 for winning three games in The FA Vase this season.

“It helps pays for Laurent’s fines,” quipped Chapman.

“It’s great to be able to give something back to the committee. They give a tremendous amount to the club and this is just a benefit.

“Even though we’ve got a new clubhouse, even after two years there’s already maintenance to be done on it and the money has to come from somewhere. It’s brilliant to carry on bringing some money in.”

Cray Valley (Paper Mills): Matt Bailey, Allan Matthews, Steve Springett, Joe Matthews, Gary Cook, Jimmy Rogers, Tunde Aderonmu, Joe Nwoko (Jamie Wood 77), Laurent Hamici, Lewis Wood, Michael McKenna (Dan Gunner 87).
Subs: Ben Healy, Harrison Carneige, Paul Gross

Goals: Lewis Wood (7 pen), Joe Nwoko 76

Booked: Allan Matthews 61

Sent Off: Laurent Hamici 45

AFC Croydon Athletic: Danny Coote, David Baker, Jamie Williams (Sayce Holmes-Lewis 46), Jordan Martin, Chris Head, Tony Martin, Edmund Walker (Jon Doherty 77), Danny Cumber (Kieran Burrell 67), Joe Loyza, Kai Bichard, Sam Marks.
Subs: Louis Blake, Taylor Maddock

Sent Off:  Tony Martin 45

Attendance: 143
Referee: Mr Stephen Tate (Leigh-on-Sea, Essex)
Assistants: Mr Wally James (Welling) & Mr Damien Buhagiar (Rayleigh, Essex)