Cray Wanderers 0-1 Lewes - We'll get into the play-offs if we win all three, says Ian Jenkins

CRAY WANDERERS  0-1  LEWES
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 14^th April 2012
Stephen McCartney reports from Hayes Lane

CRAY WANDERERS manager Ian Jenkins says his side must not throw away their chances of grabbing a play-off place in their last three games.

The Wands sacrificed their place in the London Senior Cup Final by losing 5-2 away to Kingstonian with a much-changed side on Thursday night, but they slipped down from fifth to eighth in the Ryman League Division One South table after Lewes leapfrogged over them into fifth place after Ian Draycott’s first half header settled the game.

Cray Wanderers must win away to fourth-placed Bury Town next weekend, at home to third-placed Lowestoft Town on 24 April and at home to basement side Horsham on the final day of the season and hope results go their way to grab a play-off place.

Jenkins, 44, said: “It was always going to be one of those games, wasn’t it?  Six-pointer as you said the other day.  They’re a good side.   We’ve had enough chances though to get something out of it.

“I’m disappointed with the result.  The performance was alright.   I’ve got to be gutted, obviously!”

While some supporters may feel their side have blown their chances, Jenkins remains positive that they can squeeze into the top five.

“I said the other night, we could quite easily drop down to eighth-place if we don’t win our games,” said Jenkins.

“If we win next week, we can go up those three places again can’t we, if results go our way.

“It’s not in our hands any more, which is disappointing, but I’ve just said to the boys in there, let’s not give up on this.  Let’s not throw our season away. Let’s go again next week, get a result at Bury and then hopefully get two more results against Lowestoft and Horsham at home.”

One Bromley source said today’s game was the 133^rd game on the dusty Hayes Lane surface this season, which clearly didn’t help Jenkins’ side’s passing game.

He said: “We played a bit today. The pitch was a little bit better than it was last week, with a little bit of give in it.  I’m not going to make excuses because both teams have got to play on it, but it will be nice if it was a carpet like Kingstonian’s or Met Police’s, but it’s never going to be like it.  You have to take what you play on.”

Former Bromley midfielder, Harry Harding, almost gave Lewes a seventh minute lead when he sent his right-footed free-kick over the wall from 26-yards, but Cray Wanderers keeper Andy Walker tipped the ball over with a strong right hand.

Cray Wanderers were forced to reshuffle the pack due to injuries.  Skipper Mark Willy moved across to left-back after Alex Bentley turned his ankle at Kingsmeadow on Thursday night.  Tyrone Sterling slotted in the heart of defence alongside Joe Vines, while Danny Young made his second successive appearance in the middle of the park.  Leading goalscorer, Tommy Whitnell, meanwhile, was partnered by Danny Phillips up front.

Jenkins explained: “Chris Saunders got injured early on – we missed him!  We put Youngie in there for a little height for set-plays against and Phillips in just up front. He’s that sort of player that finds nice little pockets and gets on the ball and gets us playing.  I think it worked to a certain extent. We moved Tyrone out wide late on and he created loads of chances for us. We could’ve come in with something else.”

Cray Wanderers took nineteen minutes to prise open their first goalscoring opportunity.

Sam Long floated a free-kick from the edge of the centre circle and Vines’ dummy saw the ball bounce to Willy, who floated over a cross with his right foot and Whitnell rose high above his marker to glance his header wide of the left-hand post from eight-yards.

Workmanlike Lewes scored what turned out to be the winning goal in the 22^nd minute.

Long and Vines allowed the impressive Nathan Crabb to get in behind them down the left channel and the number nine (who played in behind lone striker Paul Booth) delivered a precise cross with his right foot and an unmarked Draycott sent his cushioned header past a flat-footed Walker and the ball found the bottom left hand corner.

Jenkins blamed a communication breakdown between left-winger Jack Clark and Willy for what turned out to be a costly mistake.

“Shocking defending, again!” bemoaned Jenkins.  “We say that every time we concede a goal.  It’s always down to us really.

“He should’ve followed him in Clarkey. He didn’t realise he was there and all that but he was looking at him. Wills (Willy) was drawn towards the ball and the fella got a free header.

“I’m gutted really because it’s a soft goal to concede. It’s cost us a goal at the end of the day.”

When asked which of the two were to blame for the goal, Jenkins replied, “A bit of both! I think it’s a bit of a communication breakdown there.  If Clarky says something then Wills might come out and defend it but he reckons he has said something. I didn’t hear nothing!  It’s disappointing to concede a soft goal.  There’s a reason for it.  There’s always reasons behind goals, but it’s always our mistakes, which we get punished massively.”

The pair almost made amends, however, as Cray should have equalised in the 28^th minute.

Clark swung in a corner from the right and Willy powered his header from six-yards across keeper Matt Ingram and the ball bounced agonisingly wide of the far post.

Another chance came the Kent side’s way within four minutes when Phillips cut in from the right and teed the ball up for Clark, who cracked a driven left-footed volley from 25-yards, which was straight at Ingram.

Lewes hit Cray on the break and they almost doubled their lead in the 35^th minute.

Vines retrieved an over-hit corner and hooked a volley in from the right, which was plucked out of the air by the Lewes keeper, who pumped the ball up field and Draycott’s flick released Crabb, who cracked a right-footed volley screaming towards goal, but a diving Walker dived to his left to push the ball around his post for a corner.

Lewes central defender, Steve Robinson, meanwhile, kept Whitnell in his pocket  and a ball forward from the half-way line was latched on to by Crabb, who beat the advancing Walker to the ball to stab a left-footed shot, which bounced just wide of the left hand post.

A burst forward from Lewes left-back, Lewis Hamilton, set up a chance for Crabb, whose driven angled drive bounced into Walker’s gloves towards the end of the first half, which Lewes edged.

Walker was punished by Jenkins for recent shoddy performances when he was forced to dress up as a clown after the game, pulled off an excellent save early in the second half.

Harding floated in a free-kick from the left channel which was knocked back from the far post by Robinson and the ball fell at Crabb’s feet and his close range right-footed shot was blocked by Walker low to his right and seconds later Booth danced along the left by-line and blasted his shot into the side netting.

Jenkins added: “Walks pulled off a wordly save in the second half.  That was the only real chance they had, but we huffed and puffed and created a few half chances.  Wills had a great header that went wide; we had a couple of shots at the keeper.  Tommy had a one-on-one, put over the bar.

“Disappointing, but we played alright. It’s one of those games. We could’ve quite easily could’ve won it.  We have to go again.”

Cray Wanderers created one of many second half chances in the 55^th minute when Long cut inside from the left and unleashed a right-footed drive from 30-yards, which was tipped over by Ingram.

Jenkins made a tactical change halfway through the second half as he put Young back into defence to partner Vines, Sterling caused problems with his pace down the left flank, but the home side failed to take one of their many chances as Lewes sat back.

Jenkins praised the versatile Sterling, saying, “He can play anywhere the kid.  He’s different class.  He’s as quick as you like.  He created when he was out on the left and he got at them.  He scared the life out of them to be honest with you!

“He’s created a couple of chances for us, which we’re unlucky. There was one where he could’ve done better himself, when he passed it when he could’ve finished it off himself, but he’s always a threat Tyrone, even from centre half he goes on those runs forward and you can’t pick him up.”

When asked what Sterling’s favourite position on the pitch is, Jenkins replied, “I’ve not really asked him about that!  It’s where I want him to play at the end of the day!  It’s not like I play him where he wants to play. I play him where he can do a job for the team.  He’s been doing it all season, centre half and he can come and play left-wing as well. He’s a good player to have.”

Long played an excellent diagonal pass to find Sterling, who utilised his blistering pace to run 30-yards forward before cracking a low, left-footed drive from 30-yards, which was comfortably saved low down by Ingram at his near post.

A pass from substitute James Darvill released Whitnell, who broke free from Robinson’s pocket, but the striker’s left-footed angled drive dropped over the top of the far post.

Jenkins said the 35-year-old put in a skipper’s performance for Lewes.

He said: “It was just not Tommy’s game. The ball was up in the air a lot for him today.  Into his feet he’s tidy but he’s got to compete. He’s a good player the five, I said to him you’re MOM (man-of-the-match) and he said thanks.  He played well.  I thought he won the most headers and put his body on the line. That’s what skippers do.”

Cray should have equalised in the final ten minutes, with countless chances to get the point their attacking play deserved.

Phillips was released down the left and his low centre was hit first time, a low left-footed shot on the turn by Darvill, but Ingram made a smart comfortable low save at his near post.

Young’s cross from the right hung in the air and Willy’s towering header dropped agonisingly wide of the far post from eight-yards, before a downward header from the influential skipper suffered the same fate after he met Long’s corner towards the far post.

It was just not going to be Cray’s day.  Whitnell was denied his 27^th goal of the season when he slid a low right-footed shot on the turn from 30-yards, but Ingram got down low to his right to prevent the ball finding the bottom corner.

Jenkins added: “I’m not too disappointed yet, not too despondent yet because I still think we can still get into the play-offs. I’m not going to give up on that shout.

“We’ll get in the play-offs if we win all three. If we don’t win next week then it’s probably gone, but we just have to concentrate on that one game and get that result and see where it takes us.”

Cray Wanderers: Andy Walker, Sam Long, Mark Willy, Chris Saunders (Steve Lozano 28), Joe Vines, Tyrone Sterling, Tommy Whitnell, Alex Stavronou, Danny Young, Danny Phillips, Jack Clark (James Darvill 64).
Subs: Lewis Perkins, Tony Dolby, Michael Power

Booked:  Tommy Whitnell 52
 
Lewes: Matt Ingram, Charlie Leach, Lewis Hamilton, Matt Somner, Steve Robinson, Max Hustwick, Chris Breach, Harry Harding, Nathan Crabb, Paul Booth (Peter Gregory 73), Ian Draycott (Max Howell 84).
Subs: Arron Hopkinson, Ben Billings, Simon Wormull

Goal: Ian Draycott 22

Booked: Charlie Leach 24

Attendance: 229
Referee: Mr Keith Yeo (Aveley, Essex)
Assistants:  Mr Leigh Crowhurst (Uckfield, East Sussex) & Mr Frank Meilack (Crowborough, East Sussex)