Cray Wanderers 2-0 Carshalton Athletic - The referee made the right decision, admits Joe Francis

Wednesday 25th August 2010

CRAY WANDERERS 2-0 CARSHALTON ATHLETIC
(Match Abandoned after 53 minutes)
Ryman Premier League
Wednesday 25th August 2010
Stephen McCartney reports from Hayes Lane

CRAY WANDERERS’ assistant manager Joe Francis was a frustrated figure as his side’s first win of the new season was chalked off due to a waterlogged pitch.

Match referee Ashvin Degnarain arrived at Hayes Lane at around 18:15 and agreed that the immaculate looking Hayes Lane pitch was playable following an inspection - but the heavens opened and during the interval puddles started appearing and moments after the Kent side doubled their lead, the Islington based referee abandoned the game after 53 minutes.

As the second half did get underway, the 175 fans that braved the torrential rain will not be entitled to a refund - Carshalton fans chanted “we want our money back!” - but deep down they knew their side have just played their first get-out-of-jail card of the season.

The abandonment ensures Laurent Hamici’s and Lewis Perkins’ (who is on loan from Charlton Athletic) goals for the Wands will be chalked off, although the bookings handed out to Steve Lazano, Hamici and Carshalton’s Michael Boateng will still count.

Also a concern for the Cray management team is that Allan McLeod (suspension lasting 1 more game) and Chris Saunders (2 more games) will have to wait a little bit longer before they can take to the field.

The Cray starting line-up - the same one that began their second Ryman Premier League campaign with a 1-0 defeat in Hornchurch - had an unfamiliar look to it as only Aaron Day, Mark Willy and John Guest turned out for the club last season, and the returning Tyrone Sterling (a summer arrival from Hastings United) slotted in to the heart of midfield.

With the ball zipping off the playable playing surface, Carshalton created the first chance inside the opening nine minutes.

Right-back Michael Boateng stole the ball off Hamici and ventured forward on a mazy run before slipping the ball through to striker Byron Harrison, who was denied by a fine near post block from Cray goalkeeper Dave King.

This was a pitch to shoot on sight at every opportunity and after picking the ball up from right-back Adam Cottrell, Danny Phillips cut in from the right and cracked an ambitious left-footed drive from 35-yards, which bounced once before comfortably being gathered by visiting goalkeeper Craig Ross.

Cray Wanderers’ left-back, Alex Bentley released Hamici and after exchanging passes with Steve Lozano, Hamici drove a right-footed shot from 25-yards straight at the Carshalton keeper.

Cray Wanderers really should have broken the deadlock in the 28th minute.

Perkins played the pass off the game with a low diagonal that sliced open the Carshalton back line like a knife through butter to pick out Lozano in space, but the keeper made a fine block as the youngster tried to drill the ball inside the near corner.

But the Kent side did break the deadlock - just four minutes later.

Phillips looped in a free-kick from the right touchline into a crowded penalty area and Carshalton didn’t clear their lines and the ball was squeezed out to Hamici out on the left and his driven shot took a wicked deflection off Danny Young, which wrong footed his keeper as the ball rolled into the net.

Both sides attempted to score with shots from outside the penalty box, but King was never going to be beaten by Luke Pigden- and at the other end Ross comfortably saved from Perkins - a player who won his fair share of aerial challenges.

As both sides trudged towards the sanctuary of the dressing rooms at the interval soaked to the bone and the substitutes started going through their half-time ritual, it was evident that puddles started to emerge and that the game would not finish.

Carshalton manager Mark Butler made a double substitution at the break, bringing on Karl Murray and Lloyd Blackman, but the pair didn’t have any time to make a contribution as the eight minutes played was farcical as the ball was no longer moving as it did during the first half.

There was concern when Lozano was booked for a lunge, which saw the referee call both captains together.

But to abandon the game just 99 seconds after Cray Wanderers had doubled their lead was harsh.

A left-wing penetrating run from Lazano saw his driven shot parried by Ross, but the ball rolled into Perkins path and he couldn’t miss from six-yards, but all their efforts were in vain as the referee halted proceedings with 7 minutes and 39 seconds on the second half clock.

“We can control many things in life Steve, but we can’t control the weather, can we?” a disappointed Francis told www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards.

But there were plenty of positives to come out of the 53 minutes played.

Francis said: “We’ve got a good team. The positive about coming away from here is that we have the belief that we can play that well.

“I spoke to Buts (Mark Butler) the (Carshalton) manager and he said ‘we were better in every department than us’.

“I think we would’ve gone on and won comfortably. We were 2-0 ahead, I think the game was won, so it’s a bit frustrating but we’ve just got to do it all again.”

Francis admitted the referee was right to start the game - and to abandon it when he did.

“He made the right decision, there’s no criticism of the referee,” he said. “No-one wants the game called off, least of all him. He’s had to come miles to be here, like everybody else. It’s just frustrating, a bit disappointing but there’s loads of positives.”

Cray are next in action on Friday night when Tooting & Mitcham United visit - let’s hope the weather is better to allow more people to watch that game - and Francis admitted that suspended pair McCleod and Saunders may have a fight to get into the team.

He added: “The way we played tonight, we don’t need them do we? They’ve got to get back into the team, haven’t they?

“We’ve just said to all of the boys to do it all again (on Friday night). You’ve got to be going away from here thinking that everyone’s buoyant in the dressing room and they know they’ve played well.

“We’re looking forward to Tooting coming down. We’re looking forward to every game.”

Francis was on top form, and came out with a better quote that Blackpool’s Ian Holloway would be proud off.

“There’s a campaign I think we’re going to start saving, being nice to the planet, put something back. I’m going to start by tipping out by bath water over the flowers.”

We’re in the first week of the Ryman Premier League campaign and Margate’s trip to Croydon Athletic was postponed at 4:15pm due to a waterlogged pitch over in Thornton Heath.

Cray Wanderers: Dave King, Adam Cottrell, Alex Bentley, Aaron Day, Mark Willy, John Guest, Steve Lozano, Lewis Perkins, Laurent Hamici, Danny Phillips, Tyrone Sterling.
Subs: Frankie Sawyer, Mark Hammond, Rhys Coleman, Kieran McCann, Richard Whyte.

Goals: Laurent Hamici 32, Lewis Perkins 52

Booked: Steve Lazano 50, Laurent Hamici 52

Carshalton Athletic: Craig Ross, Michael Boateng, Richaro Joseph, David Ray, Danny Young, Tommy Williams (Karl Murray 46), Paul Johnson, Luke Pigden, Anthony Joseph (Lloyd Blackman 46), Byron Harrison, Chris Henry.
Subs: Rishi Nankani, Brett Cooper, Liam Strong.

Booked: Michael Boateng 52

Attendance: 175
Referee: Mr Ashvin Degnarain (Islington, London N5)
Assistants: Mr Tim Burman (Stone) & Mr Lee Dyson (Gravesend)