Cray Wanderers 1-3 Tonbridge Angels - We were outclassed, admits Francis

Tuesday 18th August 2009

CRAY WANDERERS 1-3 TONBRIDGE ANGELS
Ryman Premier League
Tuesday 18th August 2009
Stephen McCartney reports from Hayes Lane

TONBRIDGE ANGELS gave their newly promoted neighbours Cray Wanderers a footballing lesson during a one-sided first half - which left the home side stunned.

The Angels ripped the Wands apart during a scintillating first half display that not even the best Barclaycard Premier League side could live with.

They opened the scoring after just 48 seconds through a Tommy Osborne own goal - and striker Paul Booth netted a brace inside the opening 25 minutes.

But Cray Wanderers, who clinched promotion via the Ryman League Division One South play-off’s last season, played their own part in their downfall with some shocking defending.

However, Ian Jenkins’ side rallied after the interval and showed more pride during the second half, with striker Michael Power getting on the score sheet on the hour-mark - but the damage had already been done.

Cray Wanderers, who came away from fellow promoted side Aveley with a 1-1 draw at the weekend, were still without long-serving midfielder Jamie Kempster (who is still nursing a knee injury), although hard-working striker, Leigh Bremner (ankle) is expected to line up against Billericay Town at Dartford’s Princes Park Stadium this coming Friday.

Tonbridge Angels, meanwhile, were defeated 2-1 by bogey side AFC Hornchurch at Longmead Stadium at the weekend - but both sides kept faith with their opening day squads.

Former Dartford defender Osborne, meanwhile, set the tone for Cray’s poor defending, putting through his own net inside the opening minute.

Steve Ferguson’s throw by the corner flag was hooked across goal by Jamie Cade and Osborne diverted the ball into his own net from close range.

And things got even better for the Angels, as they raced into a 2-0 lead, with just four minutes and 35 seconds on the clock.

Striker Carl Rook slipped a through ball to his partner Booth, who rounded the advancing Glen Knight and slotted the ball into an empty net.

Stunned Cray, meanwhile, created a couple off half chances when both Ross Lover and Jamie Wood struck shots from outside the box, which were comfortably gathered by visiting goalkeeper David Hogan.

Tonbridge should have put the game out of reach as early as the fourteenth minute.

Cade slipped past a challenge from former team-mate Tommy Tyne and Lee Minshull released Ferguson down the right. And after cutting inside Mark Willy, his cross was met by Rook’s header, which dropped agonisingly past the post.

Another right-wing cross from Ferguson was met by Booth at the far post, but the striker powered his header over.

Cray’s defence was in disarray when Tonbridge romped into a 3-0 lead after just 25 minutes.

Winger Kirk Watts picked up the ball, burst down the left flank and reached the by-line before whipping in a cross with his deadly left-foot and this was met by a powerful header from Booth from underneath the crossbar and the appreciative travelling supporters were celebrating again.

“Tonbridge teaching us a lesson? I think that’s fair to say yes,” admitted a shell-shocked Joe Francis, Cray Wanderers’ assistant manager, when speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards.

“I thought that we contributed to it by playing, what I described at half-time as suicide football really.

“They were far sharper and in all honesty, you get what you deserve when you come in 3-0 down.”

Cray did manage a shot on goal in the 39th minute when Lover’s angled drive brought a comfortable save from Dagenham & Redbridge’s second-choice goalkeeper.

After yet another defensive cock-up by an outclassed home side, Cray had skipper Mark Willy to thank for preventing Tonbridge racing into a four goal lead on the stroke of half-time.

Willy got back on the line to prevent Rook opening his account for the new season, after the striker seemed destined to score after rounding goalkeeper Knight, who couldn’t believe what was going on in front of him.

Cray Wanderers, who were defending very poorly and looking like a team of strangers, were taught a lesson by their Kent rivals.

It couldn’t get worse for them, and after some stern words during the interval, they at least made a game of it.

“Take the positives out of it,” added Francis. “I think if we could’ve got within one, it could’ve been an interesting last 15-20 minutes.

“We said to the boys in there, I think we’ve been given an indicator in the difference of the quality between the league’s. It’s a learning curve.”

Dean Standen, who looked lost in midfield during the first half, released Lover down the inside right channel and after cutting in his fierce drive was blocked by Hogan’s outstretched right arm.

But Watts wasted an excellent chance to score his first of the season after 55 minutes.

Cade released the Tonbridge winger through a non-existent defence and after rounding Knight he lashed his left-footed shot over the top of the near post.

Cray Wanderers did, however, pull a goal back on the hour when Jamie Wood burst down the left and his angled drive was stabbed home from two-yards by former Tonbridge player Power - one of four former Angels in the home side - the striker opening his goalscoring account for the new season.

A well worked free-kick after 72 minutes resulted in Wood’s left-footed drive from 25-yards going straight down Hogan’s throat as the home side pressed.

And had Tyne, who like Lee Minshull had a goal ruled out for offside, smashed the ball into the roof of the net - following Kinch’s cross from the by-line - instead of high into the night sky at Hayes Lane, then we may have had a grandstand finish.

But Tonbridge claimed the points with a comfortable win - although to their credit, Cray Wanderers performed much better during the second half - but they had to!

Francis added: “It’s not so much defended like that, it’s our distribution from the back. We played some suicide passes and everyone knows that Tonbridge Angels are an established (Ryman) Premier League side.

“They were unfortunate not to go up last year (and) they’ve retained the quality up front.”

Tonbridge Angels boss Tommy Warrilow, meanwhile, was UNHAPPY that his side only scored three goals at Hayes Lane tonight.

“We made hard work of it,” was his feelings on tonight’s convincing victory, when he emerged from the players tunnel to speak to www.kentishfootballl.co.uk.

“Respect to Cray, we should have been out of sight. It should’ve been seven or eight in the first half.

“We’ve got to start talking chances. We took three of them but whoever gets the next goal, if they get one it gives them a little lift and then we start to get a little deeper and we can’t get out.

“Second half we should have had another two or three minimum. We’re creating the chances, we just have to bury teams.

“If we do that, then we give ourselves more time to play and drop off and then relax a little bit.

“But for some reason, we’ve got to get that killer instinct in us.”

Warrilow admitted he was a lot more happier than losing at home to AFC Hornchurch at the weekend, than winning here tonight.

“Saturday we lost and I was happy,” he said. “I thought we played really well.

“I’m happy, but I’m really annoyed that we haven’t sent a message out tonight. We could’ve really done some damage tonight. We haven’t and that’s what I’m unhappy about. We should’ve got more goals tonight!”

Cray Wanderers: Glen Knight, Tommy Osborne, Colin Luckett (Tyrone Sterling 60), Dean Standen (Scott Kinch 67), Mark Willy, Aaron Day, Ross Lover (Lewis Wood 76), Rob Quinn, Tommy Tyne, Michael Power, Jamie Wood.

Subs: Steve Aris, Stanley Muguo.

Goal: Michael Power 60

Booked: Tommy Tyne 69

Tonbridge Angels: David Hogan, Lewis Hamilton, Tom Bryant, Jamie Cade (Paul Butler 79), Lee Minshull, Scott Gooding, Steve Ferguson, Anthony Storey, Paul Booth, Carl Rook (Jean-Michal Sigere 84), Kirk Watts.

Subs: Jon Heath, Liam Baker.

Goals: Tommy Osborne 1 (own goal), Paul Booth 5, 25

Booked: Tom Bryant 67

Attendance: 227

Referee: Mr Robert Smith (New Addington, Surrey)

Assistants: Mr John Ryan (Worcester Park, Surrey) & Roger Wells (Coulsdon, Surrey)