Cray Wanderers 3-0 Whitstable Town - Sayer has let himself down, says Munday

Tuesday 19th January 2010

CRAY WANDERERS 3-0 WHITSTABLE TOWN
Kent Senior Cup Second Round
Tuesday 19th January 2010
Stephen McCartney reports from Hayes Lane

CRAY WANDERERS booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Kent Senior Cup with a morale-boosting, comfortable victory over a Whitstable Town side that finished the game with ten-men.

A heroic goalkeeping display from Whitstable keeper Kevin Fewell kept the Ryman Premier League hosts at bay, until left-wing-back Dan Dolton scored an own goal after 56 minutes.

Whitstable sweeper, Gary Sayer picked up two yellow cards for fouls on George Porter (which led to Lewis Wood’s 39th minute saved penalty) and Tommy Tyne, which led to his 86th minute sending off, before the Wands wrapped up the comfortable win courtesy of two late goals from Ross Lover and Porter.

Cray Wanderers were smarting from their horrific 5-1 defeat at Canvey Island at the weekend and manager Ian Jenkins made six changes to his side, although still fielding a strong side for a county cup tie that attracted a poor attendance of just 38 to Hayes Lane.

Whitstable Town, meanwhile, went into the game sitting in the bottom three of the Ryman League Division One South table, and were without three key suspended players, Clint Gooding, Sam Denly and Tom Parker.

And it was Whitstable that created the first chance when David Stubbs fashioned a chance for Dan Wisker, who cracked a right-footed volley, which in the end brought a comfortable save from Pat Brennan, who was starting only his fourth game of the season.

Cray Wanderers then stepped up the gas, but found keeper Fewell in outstanding form, as the Gravesend based stopper made a string of smart saves.

Lover, who joined the attack at every opportunity from his rare position of right-back, struck an angled drive in the 15th minute, which forced Fewell to dive low to his right to save.

Then, Porter, exchanging a one-two with Lewis Wood, struck a right-footed curling drive from 25-yards, which was saved again and Lover’s driven shot was blocked by the keeper after he skipped through the heart of the Whitstable three-man defence.

Fewell excelled again when teenager Porter was released by an excellent pass from midfielder Dean Standen and his low drive, which was heading towards the bottom corner, was blocked by the advancing keeper’s legs.

At the other end, Whitstable should have done better when striker Stuart Vahid hit a shot on the run but his effort lacked power and rolled into Brennan’s arms.

Cray Wanderers were destined to break the deadlock when Porter was brought down inside the Whitstable penalty area after Sayer’s 39th minute challenge.

Sayer was shown his first yellow card of the night, but Lewis Wood squandered the chance to open the scoring as his poor right-footed penalty was blocked by Fewell, who dived to his right to beat the ball out.

A well-worked three-man free-kick just before the break resulted in Fewell blocking a drilled Lover shot from outside the box and Cray Wanderers had to settle for a goal-less stalemate for all their endeavours.

However, Brennan almost gifted Whitstable the lead, against the run of play, inside the opening two minutes of the second half.

His poor low clearance went straight to Stubbs, who cut along the edge of the penalty area, but his low shot was poor and the keeper scooped down on his goal-line to pick up the rolling ball, which lacked any real venom.

But Fewell was finally beaten, as Cray Wanderers took the lead in the 56th minute.

Lover swung in a free-kick from the left and this was so good it left Fewell rooted to the spot and he could only look on to see the ball bounce off Dolton (who was standing on the line) at the far post and bounce into the net.

Porter should have doubled the home side’s lead nine minutes later but he was denied by some excellent goal-saving defending from Whitstable defender Stephen Lloyd, who appeared to have lost out to the Cray striker initially as the ball ran loose.

Marcus Cassuis, who has joined Cray Wanderers on a one-month’s loan from their landlords, Blue Square South Bromley, and had scored a consolation goal at Canvey Island at the weekend, almost added another goal in the last eighteen minutes.

A move involving Porter and Rob Quinn, released the former Erith Town prolific marksman through on goal but Fewell made yet another fine block.

Whitstable wasted a half-chance to level when Dolton’s throw was flicked on by Vahid at the near post, but his weak header was straight at Brennan, positioned at the near post.

Fewell made a diving save to thwart Lover again, before Whitstable created their best chance inside the final ten minutes.

Substitute Gareth Cornhill floated in a free-kick into the Cray penalty area, which was headed out as far as Dolton’s left-boot, and he smashed a volley straight into Brennan’s grateful arms.

But Whitstable’s chances of emulating reaching last year’s final evaporated when Sayer was shown his second yellow card of the night for a clumsy challenge on Tyne down the left and the Oystermen were made to pay as the Wands added two late goals.

Left-back, Tyrone Sterling, who like Lover got forward at any given opportunity, went on one of his runs in the 87th minute and centred for Lover to smash the ball into the net from eight-yards.

And inside stoppage time, another Sterling cross picked out the unmarked Porter, who guided the ball into the net with his head from six-yards.

After Saturday’s gloomy defeat at Canvey Island, assistant manager Joe Francis, who was speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk, admitted tonight’s win was just what the doctor ordered.

“It’s nice to get a little bit of confidence,” said Cray’s number two. “I thought we passed the ball really well and (we kept) a clean sheet.

“I think in addition to the three goals I thought we had six or seven really good chances, but we finished the game strongly.

“It’s nice for players to get run-outs like Dean Standen, Tyrone (Sterling) started at left-back, Aaron Day to get 90 minutes, Lewis Wood.

“It’s given everybody a chance to be in contention for Saturday.”

Francis, one of the true characters of the game added, “We’ve just said in there, a win’s a win. It doesn’t matter whose it against. To play well and look solid, it’s all positive.

“We could have had four or five (goals) in the first half and another three or four in the second and that’s what has been, not letting us down, but when you’re on top of games that are tight and you have chances you must put them away, as it takes the pressure off the rest of the side and the momentum in games stays with you.

“The key things, as you go up the levels, is that you must be disciplined to create the chances and keep your shape but you must score your chances and don’t concede sloppy goals.

Whitstable Town boss Mark Munday, who was on the pitch for 81 minutes, paid tribute to Fewell for his heroics, but was also disappointed with Sayer for picking up a suspension in fourteen days time.

Munday, who was speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards said, “Kevin did very well. I thought we had a few half chances. The scoreline flattered them a little bit in the end considering we’ve made a couple off saves. Their keeper has made a couple of saves where we haven’t got any real purchase on shots.

“Probably a fair result but it’s served a good purpose for us as we got our match legs back and did a little bit out there and worked on a few things, a little change of personnel.

“Overall, we haven’t played for three weeks, so it’s served a good purpose for us.”

Speaking about Sayer’s two yellow cards, Munday said, “I was disappointed with Gary. I’ve certainly let him know that. Apart from that he’s been excellent in that new role as sweeper.

“I thought he was lazy tonight. The first one, fair enough, he’s got to make that sort of challenge, but the second one is just silly and lazy. There’s no need to make the challenge, especially being on a booking as well.

“He’s let himself down in respect of he’s going to miss the games now.

“That’s the disappointing part because he’s an important factor in what we’re doing and how we’ve changed the shape. He’s got to take his medicine.”

Munday was disappointed that his side leaked two goals after Sayer’s dismissal.

“Two of the goals came from people just being lazy and not going with their runners and giving fouls away,” he bemoaned.

“Yes, a 1-0 would’ve reflected a closer game. It was a half decent game in that respect. I think they deserved it on the amount of possession they had. We did alright, we tested them, created a few half chances and got them running back towards their own goal.

“After three or four weeks out I was pleased with the overall performance and the effort that the chaps gave, especially after not having a match for so long.”

Cray Wanderers: Pat Brennan, Ross Lover, Tyrone Sterling, Rob Quinn, Mark Willy, Aaron Day, Dean Standen (Steve Aris 73), Tommy Tyne, Lewis Wood, George Porter, Jamie Wood (Marcus Cassius 59).
Subs: John Guest, Colin Luckett, Jack Smelt.

Goals: Dan Dolton 56 (own goal), Ross Lover 87, George Porter 90

Booked: Tommy Tyne 79

Whitstable Town: Kevin Fewell, Kieran Morris, Gary Sayer, Stephen Baines, Ben Smith, Dan Wisker (Paul Axon 77), Mark Munday (Gareth Cornhill 81), Stuart Vahid, David Stubbs (David Cory 52), Dan Dolton.

Booked: Gary Sayer 38

Sent off: Gary Sayer 86

Attendance: 38
Referee: Mr Neil Baker (Welling)
Assistants: Mr Martin Lehane (Bexleyheath) & Mr Daniel Wyatt (Bickley)