Cray Wanderers 0-2 Leyton Orient - We're hoping to extend our budget to sign players, says Francis

Wednesday 14th July 2010

CRAY WANDERERS 0-2 LEYTON ORIENT
Pre-Season Friendly
Wednesday 14th July 2010
Stephen McCartney reports from Hayes Lane

CRAY WANDERERS will make decisions on their current crop of trialists in time for their trip to Sheffield at the end of the month, assistant manager Joe Francis confirmed tonight.

Boss Ian Jenkins fielded a 22-man squad against Npower League One outfit Leyton Orient and they didn’t look out of place against their full-time opponents.

In fact, two mistakes from the Ryman Premier League hosts, helped the disappointing east Londoners seal an uninspiring victory in their opening pre-season game.

In a game where chances were at a premium at both ends, Cray Wanderers competed for 90 minutes, despite Jenkins making change after change during the second half, which erupted the flow of the game.

Jenkins lost defender John Guest to a foot injury just past the half-an-hour mark and prior to that Russell Slade’s strong side had created just one worthwhile chance.

Forcing two successive corners inside the opening ten minutes, Craig Dobson swung in the ball from the left and this was met at the far post by Ben Chorley, who sent a towering header onto the roof of the net.

The only other action before the opening goal was a three minute delay as assistant referee Mr Paul Kelly collapsed to the ground and was then treated by concerned Cray physiotherapist Michael Reeves before he was replaced by fourth official Graeme Ions. Reeves confirmed afterwards that Mr Kelly “had fallen down a hole!”

A hospital visit afterwards confirmed the official had injured his ankle ligaments and will be out for 8 weeks.

Impressive Cray created their first chance after 31 minutes when Chris Saunders’ throw into the box found Leigh Bremner and the striker turned and swept a shot wide.

But the spirited home side gifted Leyton Orient the lead, just four minutes before the break.

Dean Cox delivered a free-kick from the inside left channel and referee Mr Ian Cooper pointed to the spot, for an alleged push on former Cray striker George Porter by central midfielder Allan McLeod.

Trialist goalkeeper, John Whitehouse, who endured an injury ravaged campaign with Dover Athletic last season, dived the wrong way, as Chorley clinically despatched the penalty with his right-boot.

Chorley almost returned the gift when he was penalised for raising a high boot inside his penalty area and the referee awarded the home side an indirect free-kick.

Saunders touched the ball for Laurent Hamici, who smashed his shot into the defensive wall and out for a corner, which was taken by Danny Phillips and after goalkeeper Jamie Jones punched the ball away, Laurent Hamici blasted his shot over.

Leyton Orient brought on a completely different side at the break, and Jenkins gave his players valuable game time, but his players still matched Leyton Orient throughout the second half.

The visitors failed to trouble either Whitehouse or substitute keeper Jack Smelt, who re-emerged at Hayes Lane despite the pre-season news that the promising keeper had returned to his former club Merstham.

The second half was non-descript, other than the changes that Jenkins was making.

But the Wands gifted the professionals a flattering second goal with seven minutes left - something that was harsh on the Kent side.

Blonde haired, Alex Bentley, playing on the left hand side of midfield, passed to fellow substitute Tyrone Sterling (who was playing at the back) and he was guilty of giving possession too cheaply to striker Alex Revell, who ran through and his poor shot trickled into the bottom far corner, past the despairing diving Smelt.

Cray Wanderers, who are celebrating their 150th anniversary, deserved a goal for their efforts and the closest they came was through Bremner earlier in the half (but he dragged his shot wide on the angle), and at the death when Steve Lazano released Ryan Hall, who was denied by a well-timed, last ditched tackle by Josh Millwood inside the box.

Jenkins was seen speaking to Whitehouse down the players tunnel after the game, so Francis told www.kentishfootball.co.uk that he was pleased with the work-out.

“It’s always good to play a professional team because their movement, their fitness, conditioning and their sharpness is always a good test,” he said.

“The penalty was a mystery for all the players on the park and the management in the dug-out - and (it was) a mistake for the second goal.”

Francis added: “I thought we passed the ball really well and moved the ball really well and at times we were a threat ourselves.”

Cray Wanderers opened their pre-season campaign with a convincing 3-0 win over Kent County League minnows Crockenhill on 3 July, and Francis added: “We’re still five weeks away from our first league game so it’s just nice to kick a ball in anger. It’s a first competitive rung that’s been climbed so all you’re looking for is for players to get game conditioning, game speed, so that was the objective there.”

Francis praised Leyton Orient for coming to Hayes Lane tonight, something that the two club’s agreed would happen following George Porter signing for the London outfit in May.

He said: “It’s only pre-season for them as well isn’t it? I thought they had a lot of quality, a bit of strength and we’re just really pleased that they honoured their agreement to come down and play us. It’s a privilege to have them here to play against Cray Wanderers.”

Porter partnered Scott McGleish during the first half, although he was given a welcome back to Hayes Lane by Aaron Day’s strong 28th minute challenge.

“It was lovely to see George,” said Francis. “He looked a threat and he didn’t look out of place at all in their side so that’s a real lift for us.

“To have a player like George, who has gone from our Academy into our first team - he’s only been with us a year - to become a pro is just fantastic and we wish him all the success.”

Francis offered this piece of advice to watching Slade: “I think if he can prove that he can be reliable and score goals, you’ve got to play him, haven’t you?”

Francis added: “He’s not just got pace though, (he’s got) strength, (he’s) good in the air. By his own admission, he’s learning the other side of the game and he’s playing with good players.”

Jenkins and Francis will sit down with the trialists within the next ten days and are hoping that chairman Gary Hillman “extends” their budget for the season ahead.

With trialist Scott Chalmers-Stevens opting for a move to Hastings United, it was expected that Tony Kessell would be first choice goalkeeper. But the club confirmed this evening that Kessell cannot commit to midweek football so the former Dartford and Thamesmead Town keeper will not be signing for the club.

“John (Whitehouse) contacted us so we’re having a look,” said Francis. “He’s an experienced keeper, a local boy, so we’re having on-going discussions with John.

“I think we’ve got more of an exciting side and the potential to score a few more goals.

“Retaining our more experienced players like John Guest, Mark Willy, Ross Lover, Aaron Day, Leigh Bremner that have been integral to us and then to make the additions that we have, we hope that’s going to be the right mix.

“We’re sorted trialists out in the next ten days,” Francis revealed. “We’ll have a look at a few more, see what our budget extends to, see those who want to be apart of this great club, because that’s really important and we’ll have it sorted within ten days.”

Cray Wanderers: John Whitehouse (Jack Smelt 58), Allan McLeod (Kieron McCann 46), Rhys Coleman (Gio Fulloni 72), Chris Saunders (Tyrone Sterling 46), Mark Willy (Steve Lazano 65), John Guest (Adam Cotterill 34), Aaron Day (Ebeneza Mazade 56), Danny Phillips (Mark Hammond 58), Laurent Hamici (Alex Bentley 46), Leigh Bremner (Ryan Hall 69), Frankie Sawyer (Richard White 71).

Leyton Orient: Jamie Jones (Lee Butcher 46), Elliot Omosuzi (Harry Beautyman 46), Mike Cestor (Kenny Gillett 46), Ben Chorley (Josh Millwood 46), Aaron Brown (Terrel Forbes 46), Matt Spring (Jimmy Smith 46), Dean Cox (Danny Charge 46, Adrian Patulea 75), Adam Chambers (Steve Dawson 46), Scott McLeish (Alex Revell 46), Craig Dobson (Rob Eagle 46), George Porter (Ryan Jarvis 46).
Sub: Jake Argent.

Goals: Ben Chorley 41 (pen), Alex Revell 83

Attendance: 325
Referee: Mr Ian Cooper (Strood)
Assistants: Mr Paul Kelly (Walderslade) & Mr Ollie Jackson (Gillingham)
Fourth Official: Mr Graeme Ions (Maidstone)