Cray Wanderers 0-3 Crystal Palace - It's great to see their next generation, says Joe Francis

CRAY WANDERERS  0-3  CRYSTAL PALACE
Pre-Season Friendly
Wednesday 31^st July 2013
Stephen McCartney reports from Hayes Lane

CRAY WANDERERS’ assistant manager Joe Francis says there were plenty of positives to take from losing 3-0 to the youngsters from their Premier League neighbours Crystal Palace.

With their Ryman Premier League campaign starting at Leiston on Saturday week, The Wands have two more warm-up games left to play, away to Kent Invicta League side Lydd Town on Saturday, before contesting the Burt Durling Trophy against landlords Bromley at Hayes Lane next Tuesday.

A welcomed crowd of 576 will boost the coffers of the cash-strapped Kent club, but The Eagles soared towards victory courtesy of goals from Elliot List, Jake Grey (who had earlier had a penalty saved) and Reise Allassani.

“Well, first and foremost it’s a privilege to have a newly-promoted Premier League side to come down and play us,” said Francis, 45, afterwards.

“It’s the only game we get other than playing Bromley here and that’s important for us to play a pre-season game at home on this surface, so I just want to thank Crystal Palace for sending down their young side.

“They were very competitive and an exciting team.  I work at Charlton so I’m very familiar with their philosophy of play, they’re good, young, quick, technically fit players and that provides another different test for us.”

Francis added: “I thought in the first half we were very good. Lots of positives. Players’ all playing to potential of form and our back four, especially was a scratch back four.

“Young Joe Obersteller (at right-back) came in from Welling only today, just so we can have a look at him.  We’ve been speaking to (Welling United manager) Jamie Day about a possible dual-registration. We’ll discuss that further with Jamie. He’s done really well.

“Young Nick Wybrow is not a left-back. He’s a young, creative player, he’s not left-footed either and he slotted in really well.

“I thought Ben Frempah and Aaron Day were excellent at the back.

“Across midfield we shifted really well. We passed it well, closed down well and that’s why these games are a good test, so loads of positives from the first half.

“We gave away a silly goal, I thought second half and then inevitably the last 20 minutes when you make all the changes the game sort of drifts but it’s just about match fitness and sharpness and lots of positives there.”

Cray Wanderers created the game’s opening chance after only 81 seconds when impressive right-winger James Fray spooned over a right-footed drive from 22-yards after the ball came out to him following Ben Davisson’s in-swinging corner from the right.

Crystal Palace were denied an eighteenth minute lead when Andy Walker saved a penalty.

Referee Ian Bentley pointed to the spot after Cray Wanderers’ midfielder Alex Stavrinou brought down List just inside the penalty area, but Walker dived to his right to hold Grey’s right-footed penalty, which he attempted to steer towards the bottom left-hand corner, before holding his head in his hands in disgust.

When asked his thoughts on the penalty decision, Francis turned into Arsenal’s trophy-less manager.

“It was difficult to see from where I was,” he said.   “Playing Arsene Wenger, I didn’t see it. I don’t think it was a penalty but Walks saved it.

“I thought it was a poor penalty, but he guessed the right way and any save from a penalty is a good save.”

Cray Wanderers’ best chance of the first half, however, arrived halfway through the opening period.

Davisson played a free-kick into Fray’s feet down the right and the impressive winger whipped in a lovely cross towards the near post for striker Leigh Bremner to power his header agonisingly against the crossbar from six-yards.

Francis said: “Another good bit of wing play from James and a good early cross. Bremns will thrive on those, if we can get balls into the box.

“I thought we created other openings and we passed the ball quite well in the first half.”

The Wands were punished for that slice of misfortune when Crystal Palace grabbed the lead in the 38^th minute.

Crystal Palace’s central defender Oliver O’Dwyer was allowed to run with the ball out of defence towards the middle of the park before he stroked a lovely pass to release List through on goal, who rode Day’s sliding challenge inside the box before slotting his shot into the bottom near corner from a tight angle.

Francis revealed afterwards that his side currently have defensive issues, culminating with the loss of influential club skipper Mark Willy, who damaged knee ligaments in a pre-season friendly at Erith & Belvedere last Saturday.

He said: “Horrendous for Mark. He’s going for a scan next Tuesday. He’s here tonight which shows the mark of commitment to the club. He’s been with us for over 10 years. He’s our club skipper and he’ll be sorely, sorely missed. It will be a big blow for us.”

Francis does have high-hopes for Ben Frempah, 19, who trained with Charlton Athletic last season and stood out at the heart of Fisher’s defence in the Kent League.

He added: “He was with Charlton Academy all the way through last year so that’s the link I had with him. I’ve encouraged Ben to come here and he’s been absolutely outstanding. We need an experienced head next to him to help him develop as well.

“We was always going to start with Ben. I had great faith in him. I watched him train all last year at Charlton Academy and I know my governor Paul Hart thinks very highly of him.

“I was very keen, if he did make the move into non-league, he’d move to a club where he’d be given the opportunity to develop as a player.

“He’s a great kid, very humble, he wants to learn and listen and any young player that comes to you with that sort of attitude has a chance of developing as a player.”

Cray Wanderers created a half-chance towards the end of the first half when Davisson’s free-kick was headed away and retrieved by Frempah out on the right, who cut the ball back to Day who drove a low cross towards the edge of the box, which Bremner struck on the turn, but the ball rolled wide of the post.

The Eagles made three changes at the break, with Cray Wanderers boss Ian Jenkins keeping faith with the same starting eleven.

There was a change in referee for the second half as Mr Bentley swapped places with senior assistant Valentine Anekwe.

Cray Wanderers created their first chance of the second half after thirteen minutes.

Bremner picked up the ball inside his own half before clipping a lovely diagonal cross to pick out Davisson out on the left flank, who cut the ball back to Fray, whose right-footed drive from 25-yards brought a comfortable save from visiting keeper David Gregory.

Fray, who wore the number 14 shirt, wanted to impress those watching.

“James was excellent. James is a real threat,” said Francis.

“James has been very, very patient with us here at this club all last season. He’s had a good pre-season where he looks fit and sharp. James will cause teams real problems because he’s an old fashioned style winger and he can beat players and he’s got a good cross, final ball in him. He needs to keep working on it but he’s such an honest lad and a really good character and he’s well thought off for the rest of the players.”

But Crystal Palace were by far the stronger side after the hour-mark and The Wands were constantly on the back-foot.

The Eagles doubled their lead in the 61^st minute when substitute Ambrose (he wasn’t given a second name on the team sheet handed to the press) danced his way through the Cray Wanderers defence before being denied by a fine block from Walker, but Grey stroked the loose ball into the middle of the empty goal.

Francis added: “It was a soft goal from our perspective, giving the ball away in the last third for the second and third goals is disappointing for us but you don’t make too much of that. You just hope that happens now and not when the league campaign starts.”

Crystal Palace wrapped up the scoring five minutes later when Allassani and  substitute Jacob Berkeley linked up well in and around the penalty area before Berkeley cut the ball back for Ambrose to be denied from close range when Walker dived to his right to block, but the keeper could do nothing to stop Allassani applying the finish from close range.

Francis said: “That was from Stavs (Stavrinou’s) initial error passing it across the back. He knows, so we won’t labour that point.  Both were soft goals.

“They’ve brought on some more established Academy players and that was evident.  I thought down the right hand side the two boys that came on, right-back (Mandela Egbo) and right-wing (Ambrose) were good. Players that can run with the ball when there’s space.

“We spent most of the second half huffing and puffing.”

Crystal Palace continued to dominate for the rest of the game and Walker’s goal lead a charmed life as the visitors’ hit their hosts with power and pace in attack.

The hardworking Bremner played a one-two with his strike partner Tommy Whitnell, but was denied a goalscoring opportunity when Manuel Egbo slid in to deflect his shot past the post.

Davisson swung in the resulting corner from the right, which was flicked on and substitute defender Tijani Eshilokun’s downward header went straight at Gregory.

Luckless Bremner struck the crossbar for the second time when substitute John Estrada swept forward a quality diagonal ball to pick out the unmarked striker, who crashed his powerfully hit volley against the crossbar.

Francis admitted: “A great cross. Should have scored!  He was unlucky. He needs a goal, not needs a goal. You want your two centre forwards scoring in pre-season.  Tommy will always score goals and so will Leigh.  We’re confident. It’s crucial for the team.

“Behind that we’ve got two young players who we have faith in as well, who have come through our Academy system, who we’re very proud off. 

“Everyone’s familiar with our budget restraints this season and that’s the way we have to go. It’s about developing our players, alongside the established players that we’ve got.”

Crystal Palace substitute Kyle Spence danced his way through into the penalty area and Walker made another fine save, diving to his right to parry Corie Andrews’ shot.

The home side created the final chance of the night following another Davisson free-kick from the left found Adam Cottrell at the far post but all he could do was send his downward header into Gregory’s gloves at the near post from inside the six-yard box.

Francis hopes the Crystal Palace contingent will follow football at Hayes Lane this season when their side are playing away from Selhurst Park this season.

He said: “It’s nice to see people here, Crystal Palace fans coming here. I hope they come and support one of the two clubs that play here when Palace aren’t at home. It’s a good set-up. Bromley play good football and so do we.

“Non-league football is about giving something back to the community and that’s what it’s all about at our level.  Supporters’ get the opportunity to be closer to the team and management and have a drink in the bar and thanks for all coming tonight, it was a real pleasure to see you all here.

“Listen, any side that’s a professional club sends to a non-league club is a privilege these days and they didn’t do us any disservice tonight. It’s great to see their next generation playing against us. We’ve got six or seven ex-Academy players that have been professionals and they’ve been in that situation when they’re in Academies against non-league clubs and it’s a good test for them as well.

“I’ve got nothing but admiration for Crystal Palace sending their young lads here. They were a credit to the club.”

Looking ahead to Saturday’s trip to Lydd Town, who have promoted Liam Smith to assistant manager, Francis said: “It’s just another pre-season game. It’s another competitive fixture where you want players to think what they need to improve on individually tonight and we do the collective stuff. It’s another opportunity for them to further improve through pre-season. 

Ashford-based Francis added: “You have to win the battle first in every game.”

Cray Wanderers: Andy Walker, Joe Obersteller (Louis Sprossen 58), Nick Whybrow (Adam Cottrell 77), Aaron Day, Ben Frempah (Tijani Eshilokun 67), Ben Davisson, Tommy Whitnell (Junior Fatai 77), Chris Saunders, Leigh Bremner (Emmanuel Fasuni 77), Alex Stavrinou (Billy Bennett 67) James Fray (John Estrada 67).
Subs: Dan Parkinson, Riwan Anibaba, Harry Bugden

Crystal Palace: David Gregory, Dougie Wright (Mandela Egbo 46), Matthew George (Jacob Berkeley 46), Kirin Khinda John, Oliver O’Dwyer, Jermaine Smith (Charlie Kennedy 67), Elliot List (Ambrose 46), Jess Starkey (Will Hoare 67), Javen Palmer (Corie Andrews 75), Jake Grey (Hussein Mohammed 75) Reise Allassani (Kyle Spence 67)
Sub: Brad Cummins

Goals: Elliot List 38, Jake Grey 61, Reise Allassani 66

Attendance: 576
Referee: Mr Ian Bentley (West Wickham)
Assistants: Mr Valentine Anekwe (Bromley) & Mr David Lunani (Bromley)