CRAY WANDERERS 1-0 METROPOLITAN POLICE - OSBORN SHOWS HIS CLASS AS CRAY MAKE HISTORY

Saturday 02nd May 2009

CRAY WANDERERS 1-0 METROPOLITAN POLICE

Ryman League Division One South Play-Off Final

Saturday 2nd May 2009

Stephen McCartney reports from Hayes Lane

IAN JENKINS was full of praise for his heroic players as his beloved Cray Wanderers sealed a deserved, yet historic promotion into the Ryman Premier League today.

The Magic Wands will celebrate their 150th anniversary at their highest level of football, after the second oldest football club in the world won two nerve-jangling play-off games this week to join champions Kingstonian in the Ryman Premier League.

A fine strike from the long-serving Jamie Wood, 30, had ended physical Worthing’s promotion dream in midweek - but an even better strike from Simon Osborn ensured the Wands booked their dream ticket to play the Ryman League elite after five seasons at this level.

The 37-year-old Croydon born midfielder showed exactly why clubs like Reading, Queen’s Park Rangers and Wolverhampton Wanderers had splashed out a total of £2.19m on him - as his 79th minute promotion winning free-kick sent us all screaming and punching the air in jubilation.

Jenkins, now in his 18th season at the club (his tenth as manager), was forced into bringing Michael Power into the firing line, as Lewis Wood was over in Las Vagas on a stag weekend, something that he booked whilst on Thamesmead Town’s books.

And winger Tyrone Sterling slotted in at left-back, as he did after 28 minutes of the Worthing game in midweek, due to the vastly experienced Colin Luckett hobbling off with an ankle ligament injury against those untalented bully boys from Woodside Road.

And it was Cray Wanderers who almost got off to a dream start when striker Leigh Bremner robbed the ball of Steve Sutherland - who excelled during the rest of the first half - but the left-footed angled shot cleared the Police crossbar.

Despite playing Metropolitan Police, visiting officials confirmed that today’s side only had FOUR players that are in the force.

Jim Cooper’s side certainly did their homework on the Kent side and they played the ball down their right at every opportunity.

Sterling was penalised for pulling Gary Drewett and the Blues were awarded a free-kick right on the line of the penalty box.

Thankfully, Stuart Harte headed Jamie Byatt’s chipped in free-kick across goal and out for a goal-kick.

Cray Wanderers’ first half efforts on goal were only half chances, although striker Michael Power should have tested visiting goalkeeper Will Packham.

Steve Aris’ throw was flicked on by Wood and as the ball spun beyond the visitors’ defence, Power, turned and blasted over from the edge of the six-yard box.

Metropolitan Police, who finished their league campaign in fourth place, just two points behind the runners-up, completing a league double over Jenkins’ men, actually had the better of a disappointing, nervous first half.

It took the Surrey outfit ten minutes to call Cray goalkeeper Glen Knight into action; tipping a 25-yard drive from the impressive Jamie Byatt around his near post.

Then, after 25 minutes, Scott Forrester’s flick released Byatt and his angled left-footed shot was well held by the goalkeeper inside his six-yard box.

Cray Wanderers defender Mark Willy, who went on to scoop three player-of-the-year awards, lost an aerial challenge with Gary Drewett, but the Blues’ striker looped Lee Gledhill’s floated cross wide.

And just before the break, Knight’s left knee prevented Stuart Harte from scoring with a bouncing right-footed drive from 30-yards.

With so much at stake, it was not surprising that the score was blank at the interval.

The Wands started the second half brighter and created a couple of decent openings within the opening eight minutes.

Golden Boot winner (with 15 goals) Scott Kinch released the hard-working Bremner down the inside right-channel and as Packham rushed off his line, the striker unleashed a first time hooked right-footed shot, which sailed agonisingly over the crossbar.

Then, holding midfielder Danny Chapman met Osborn’s far post cross with a glancing header, which went just past the near post.

However, the introduction of sixteen-year-old talent Juma Ibrahim sparked the Kent side into life and it wasn’t too long before Cray Wanderers’ first shot on target arrived.

Aris chipped the ball towards the edge of the box for Bremner, who turned and unleashed a left-footed drive from the edge of the box, but Packham made a comfortable 71st minute save.

The first error of the game was made by Humphrey but the much-travelled Kent footballer was relieved to see Packham rush off his line to block the striker’s low driven effort.

But the nightmare of losing last season’s play-off final 1-0 at Tooting & Mitcham United last May was forgotten about with eleven minutes remaining.

Highly-rated Ibrahim worked his magic down the left and his progress was halted. Up stepped hero Osborn and after taking just one step, he curled a stunning right-footed free-kick past the despairing Packham and into the top left-hand corner, to the delight of the Kent club’s largest crowd of the season.

However, when the number four board went up, this gave Metropolitan Police the incentive to throw everything but the kitchen sink at the home side.

Home fans, me included, were kicking every ball, as the Wands were within minutes of making history.

An amber brick wall protected Knight’s goal and it was the home side that almost snatched a second at the death, when Bremner escaped from Sutherland and his shot was blocked by the advancing Packham.

Finally, the final whistle sounded and we were all able to celebrate Cray Wanderers’ promotion into the Ryman Premier League.

Fans climbed over the perimeter fence to join their heroes on the bumpy pitch to celebrate their success and Jenkins and assistant Joe Francis led the team towards their medals and Mark Willy, Jamie Kempster and Jamie Wood proudly lifted the tiny little trophy - but more importantly the club will be locking horns with Dartford, Maidstone United and Tonbridge Angels next season.

What an amazing day for a club that prides itself on team spirit.

“Simon’s been at the club for four or five weeks and he’s done well for us, but it’s a team effort,” a jubilant Jenkins told www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards.

“It’s all the players that have been with me this year, the ones that have left the club and the ones that have come in from the reserves and done well for me.

“You get into the play-off final by doing well in the league coming second so at the end of the day it’s a team effort.”

Everybody’s emotional celebrations after the goal and at the final whistle was more down to relief, according to Cray Wanderers’ legend Jenkins.

“It was just relief at the end of the day,” he admitted. “To score a goal and from then on it was to hold on.”

Jenkins knows exactly how Jim Cooper, the Metropolitan Police manager, is feeling tonight, as Tooting & Mitcham United piled play-off final heartbreak on Jenkins and his side twelve months ago.

“My thoughts went over to Jim and Gavin, the Met Police boys, because I was in that position last year and I know how hard it is,” said Jenkins.

“I went over to apologise and shake their hands and said good luck for next year. When they’re standing there looking at us picking up the trophy it’s not nice.

“I experienced it last year so my thoughts go out to them. They’re good enough to bounce back and do the same that we’ve done this year.”

Jenkins admitted today was one of his better days at the club.

“At this moment in time it’s got to be the best, reflecting on my whole career,” he said.

“I’ve had highs and lows, I’ve had loads of highs and luckily enough not many lows as a manager.”

He then paid tribute to his management team of Joe Francis and Paul Blade.

“Joe’s been brilliant for me, I couldn’t have done it without him,” said Jenkins. “Blado’s come in for the last couple of years and he gives us a little bit more so I can bounce of Blado as well.

“It’s a great little team we’ve got here the three of us and long may it last.”

Speaking about his players, Jenkins added, “I’m really proud of the players, it’s brilliant. They’re great lads they’re my mates as well.

“People say you can’t have mates in football - but you can. You want to get people to play for you and run through brick walls and that’s exactly what this team does.”

Well done Cray Wanderers - see you in the Ryman Premier League next season!

Cray Wanderers: Glen Knight, Arron Day, Tyrone Sterling, Danny Chapman, Mark Willy, Steve Aris, Scott Kinch, Simon Osborn, Michael Power, Leigh Bremner (Dean Morris 90), Jamie Wood (Juma Ibrahim 69).

Subs: Jamie Kempster, Richmond Kissi, Jack Bradshaw.

Goal: Simon Osborn 79

Booked: Arron Day 62, Leigh Bremner 65

Metropolitan Police: Will Packham, Lee Gledhill, Michael Cobden (Ron Edwards 34), Steve Sutherland, Nicky Humphrey, Stuart Harte, Steve Sargent, James Greenaway (Liam Baitup 86), Gary Drewett, Scott Forrester (Jon Henry-Hayden 73), Jamie Byatt.

Subs: Vernon Francis, Mo Mann.

Booked: Scott Forrester 62, Jamie Byatt 81

Attendance: 659

Referee: Mr Carl Berry (Cheam, Surrey)

Assistants: Mr Robin Cox (Banbury, Oxfordshire) & Mr Robert Hodges (Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire)

Fourth Official: Mr John Busby (Wallingford, Oxfordshire)