Cray Wanderers 1-2 Sutton United - We've proved to our knockers we deserve to stay up - Jenkins

Tuesday 20th April 2010

CRAY WANDERERS 1-2 SUTTON UNITED
Ryman Premier League
Tuesday 20th April 2010
Stephen McCartney reports from Hayes Lane

CRAY WANDERERS maintained their Ryman Premier League status tonight - much to the delight of the long-serving management team of Ian Jenkins and Joe Francis.

The Bromley-based club needed a point from their last three games to ensure safety, but results elsewhere meant that 49 points was enough.

Sutton United’s 2-1 win has secured second place for Paul Doswell’s men, who will have home advantage in both play-off matches if they beat the side that finishes fifth on Saturday, in the play-off semi-final in seven days time.

With Waltham Abbey winning the bottom-of-the-table clash against Bognor Regis Town by four-goals-to-one, Cray Wanderers were able to celebrate their survival when news that Ashford Town (Middlesex) were held to a 1-1 draw by Canvey Island filtered through to Hayes Lane.

It was also a good night for Maidstone United (who suffered an embarrassing 3-0 win at Hendon last night) as if they clinch a win over Bognor Regis Town at Homelands Stadium tomorrow night, then they too will stay up, although Margate’s chances look bleak.

“We’ve thoroughly deserved it, to be honest with you,” Jenkins told www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards.

“I’ve said all along we’re good enough to stay in this league and now it’s just come good.

“We’ve had a lot of knockers all the way through the season, a lot of knockers from within as well, which I think is really, really poor when you get your own supporters saying “Jenko Out! Joe Out! Blado Out!.

“We’ve been here so long, I’m a passionate geezer. I love this club to death! I’m just happy to be in the league! We weren’t far away from middle-of-the-table or even play-off’s. We deserve to be in this league because we’re good enough!”

With striker Lewis Perkins unavailable, as he played for Charlton Athletic’s reserve side earlier in the day, Jenkins was forced to shuffle his pack to a 4-5-1 formation with the hard-working Leigh Bremner up front on his own.

But Jenkins paired Bremner alongside George Porter during the second half and the pair of them caused Sutton’s defence problems on a bone hard pitch and Colin Luckett pulled a goal back from the penalty spot after 61 minutes to score his eleventh goal of the season after Sutton went in at the break two goals up courtesy of Francis Quarm and Sonny Cobbs.

Starting on the right flank, Porter drilled in an early cross for Bremner to beat his marker before hooking a shot over Wayne Shaw’s crossbar, before Sutton broke the deadlock after eleven minutes.

A corner from the right from Bradley Woods-Garness was headed away poorly by Cray midfielder Des Boateng and Quarm’s left-footed volley from 20-yards went across Jack Smelt and a crowd of players to drop into the bottom far corner of the net.

Smelt made a comfortable low save to deny Woods-Garness from scoring with a right-footed free-kick from 25-yards, which went over the three-man wall.

Cray Wanderers’ best chance arrived after 26 minutes when Jack Clark floated in a corner from the left towards the far post and Porter lashed a shot across the goalmouth and Rob Quinn diverted his header over from inside the six-yard box.

Smelt was almost caught out when Woods-Garness’ cross-cum-shot from the right flank left him stranded but the youngster was relieved to see the ball bounce off the top of the crossbar and out for a goal-kick.

Sutton brought the very best out of Smelt after Danny Phillips’ pass released Steve McKimm down the left and his cut-back was fired towards goal by Charlie Taylor, but the striker was denied by a good save.

But Sutton United doubled their lead six minutes before half-time.

Cobbs picked the ball up on the left and cut in past Mark Willy, who was struggling to make the tackle, and the former Welling United midfielder drilled an angled shot past Smelt to find the bottom far corner.

With a change in formation and urgency, Cray Wanderers took the game to Sutton during the second half, with Bremner and Porter lively together.

Porter drilled a right-footed shot from 25-yards straight at Shaw and at the other end, McKimm squared the ball to substitute Billy Hawes, who burst through the heart of Cray’s defence before shooting straight at Smelt.

Cray Wanderers were rewarded when they pulled a goal back after 61 minutes, courtesy of the trusted left foot of Luckett.

Porter (who had his shirt pulled back by Steve Perkins) still managed to get his shot away, which was saved by the burly Shaw, but referee Mr Harry Lennard pointed to the spot, and Luckett stepped up and slotted his spot-kick past the despairing dive of the Sutton keeper.

The front two almost combined for a swift equaliser when Porter played in Bremner, but the advancing Shaw rushed off his line to make a fine block.

With news that Waltham Abbey were now beating Bognor Regis Town, whatever happened here at Hayes Lane didn’t really matter - it was events at Short Lane that did as Ashford Town (Middlesex) were the only side that (at the time) could catch the Wands.

Jenkins had to wait a few agonising minutes before Ashford’s draw was confirmed and the Wands can look forward to the club’s second campaign at this level.

Reflecting on the game, Jenkins said: “I think first half was pretty even. Sutton going 2-0 up, I think, was a bit unfair.

“But, second half we matched them and we were knocking on the door all the time. Fair play to them and their goalkeeper, who has come in at short notice. He’s done well for them, but I’m happy we’re in this league.”

The long-serving Jenkins praised the front two pairing of Bremner and Porter.

He said: “They’ve got pace, they work hard, are good in the air, the pair of them. The pitch like this is not nice for defenders with the ball bouncing around so they put pressure on defenders but first half we went with Leigh up front. I thought he done well on his own. We’re missing Lewis Perkins so I decided to go five across the middle, maybe thinking about the draw, but that backfired and we came out second half and could of got something out of it.”

Jenkins explained why he was asked the leave the technical area by the match referee towards the end of the game.

“It’s just a little bit of handbags over by the dug-out,” said Jenkins. “I had a few words with their manager (as he was) saying a few words about our team, taking the Mickey a little bit, which I don’t like.

“A few things have gone on, which I’m not happy with. These big sides play against us and they think we’re going to roll over. There’s ways of losing. We beat them down there fair and square 4-1.”

The pressure is now off Jenkins and his side as they travel to Harrow Borough on Thursday night - before welcoming Horsham to Hayes Lane on Saturday.

“There’s a few youngsters there who were sitting on the bench for the last few weeks so I’ll be throwing them in there,” revealed Jenkins.

“I’ve got a few old boys. To play three games in a week is going to be tough. There will be a few changes at Harrow but Saturday I want to go strong. The side that have been with me all season, I want them all playing If I can and just try and enjoy it.”

It’s very rare that both Jenkins and Francis both want to take part in the post-match press conference to www.kentishfootball.co.uk following the same match.

Francis was “absolutely delighted” that the side have maintained their Ryman Premier League status with two games spare.

He said: “At the turn of the year a lot of people didn’t have enough confidence in the squad that we had and we’ve proved a lot of people wrong since the turn of the year.

“We’re proud because not a lot of people gave us a lot of hope, quite fairly as well because we weren’t doing it but we dug deep at a crucial time of the season. We went on some nice runs and that’s key in this league and that is not to lose when you’re not playing so well and we’re delighted.”

Reflecting on tonight’s defeat, Francis added: “Tonight, I felt we played really well second half, unfortunate to go a goal behind. Sutton are a good side, they’ve got a lot of good players but I thought we competed really well again tonight.”

A unique club with Jenkins, Francis and Paul Blade at the helm on the pitch, special mention must go to chairman Gary Hillman and vice-chairman John Woolf for giving the management team the funds to compete at this level.

And Francis praised the pair for keeping faith with the management team when things weren’t going quite right earlier on in the season.

“There’s never, ever, ever been any pressure from Gary or John, they’re absolutely different class as chairman and vice-chairman,” said Francis.

“They’ve given us no-end of support, they are supporters themselves you know that about Gary and John. They love the game and they love the club.

“Fortunately they’ve shown faith in us as well. We can’t have it any better and we appreciate that. All the support staff know that Gary and John are the ideal chairmen and also it’s a relief for both of them as well.”

Cray Wanderers: Jack Smelt, Aaron Day, Colin Luckett, Rob Quinn, Mark Willy, John Guest, George Porter, Des Boateng, Steve Aris, Leigh Bremner, Jack Clark.
Subs: Richard Morgan, Fraser Cronin, Gio Fullone, Simon Osborn, Ian Jenkins.

Goals: Colin Luckett 61 (pen)

Booked: Des Boateng 9, Rob Quinn 32

Sent Off: Ian Jenkins (player-manager) 90

Sutton United: Wayne Shaw, Karim El-Salahi, James Hawes, Jason Goodwife (Billy Hawes 23), Steve Perkins, Sonny Cobbs, Bradley Woods-Garness (Anthony Joseph 63), Francis Quarm (Jazz Gold 53), Charlie Taylor, Danny Phillips, Steve McKimm.
Subs: Steve Watts, Craig Dobson.

Goals: Francis Quarm 11, Sonny Cobbs 39

Booked: Francis Quarm 44, James Hawes 82, Anthony Joseph 89

Attendance: 253
Referee: Mr Harry Lennard (Peacehaven, East Sussex)
Assistants: Mr James Slaney (Brighton, East Sussex) & Mr John Pike (Hurstpierpoint, East Sussex)