Greenwich Borough 0-1 Cray Wanderers - We just kept knocking on the door, says Joe Francis

GREENWICH BOROUGH  0-1  CRAY WANDERERS
The FA Cup with Budweiser First Qualifying Round
Sunday 9^th September 2012
Stephen McCartney reports from Oakley Road

CRAY WANDERERS assistant manager Joe Francis thanked substitute James Darvill for getting his side across the line with a last-gasp winner over plucky Greenwich Borough.

The Ryman Premier League side deservedly booked their place in tomorrow’s FA Cup Second Qualifying Round draw after striker Darvill headed home the winner with 49 minutes and 34 seconds on the clock at the end of the second half to secure the Wands first away win of the season.

Greenwich Borough were punished for only having two substitutes and they were down to ten-men because substitute Jamie Linnett was forced off the pitch through injury minutes before Darvill’s first goal of the season.

Francis was just pleased to come away from Holmesdale’s Oakley Road ground in Bromley unscathed and with £3,000 coming his club’s way in much-needed prize money.

“They’re always very tricky games to play in,” Francis said, the first of the management team to emerge from the joyous away dressing room.

“We had one a couple of years ago with (Combined Counties League side) South Park where we left it very late.

“We just kept knocking on the door.  I think if everyone who watched the game was honest we should have had a few more but I becomes very frustrating the longer the game goes on and their goalkeeper’s pulled off some worldy’s.

“Their two centre halves defended really well.  They defended so well from set-pieces. They gave an admirable effort.”

Cray Wanderers created the first opening with only 52 seconds on the clock when Louis Sprossen’s right-footed hooked volley bounced wide of the far post from 20-yards.

Greenwich Borough, who only have Fisher and Holmesdale below them in the Kent League table, failed to test visiting keeper Andy Walker when James Parkinson’s inswinging corner from the right was headed over by a towering Andrew Williams.

A higher-league side always want an early goal in The FA Cup and Cray Wanderers really should have done that when Sprossen and Michael Power linked up well before Power released Laurent Hamici through on goal but the Frenchman dragged his right-footed shot across the keeper and wide of the far post.

An early goal, Francis added, “it settles, not nerves, but it just allows you the comfort of maybe playing in a different way a bit more assuredness.  Yes, we’ve crossed the line and that’s the most important thing.”

Walker was called into action after fourteen minutes when Andrew Williams cut the ball back to James Parkinson and the Greenwich Borough skipper drove a low shot across Walker from 20-yards but the keeper dived to his right to parry and comfortably gathered the loose ball at the second attempt.

Cray Wanderers, who were without the suspended Mark Willy, Shawn Beveney, who is on international duty and injured pair Danny Phillips and Alex Stavrinou, squandered numerous chances.

Francis added: “I think the shot count was something like 27 shots on goal – we keep a tally – it’s quite a lot!”

Greenwich Borough keeper Luke Roberts was immense and he made a swift low save to his right to deny Hamici after the Cray Wanderers frontman beat two defenders after he latched onto a ball out of defence from Billy Burgess.

Hamici then cut in from the left and stroked a right-footed drive from 19-yards, which crashed into the side-netting.

Stand-in skipper, Aaron Day, linked up well with Sprossen, who laid the ball off to Leigh Bremner, whose right-footed shot on the turn was caught above the keeper’s head.

But Greenwich Borough squandered their best chance in the 38^th minute.

Dan Akpoveta’s ball over the top sailed over Matt Pooley’s head and Ashley Wright could see the headlines right in front of his eyes but the winger fluffed his big chance and sent his left-footed chip over Walker’s crossbar from sixteen-yards when he only had the keeper to beat.

Francis praised home keeper Roberts, who made a string of fine second half saves to keep the Wands at bay.

He said: “He had a blinder and I said that to him at the end of the game. The FA Cup throws up performances like that. It might be us going to a team placed higher than us. Who knows it could be Walks (Andy Walker).

Burgess’s forward pass found Sprossen and the former Bromley and Fisher midfielder turned and cracked a dipping right-footed drive from 25-yards which forced Roberts into diving to his right to parry.

Francis revealed how he was felling when Hamici hit the woodwork from a couple of yards in the 53^rd minute.

Power, who was playing behind the front two, played the ball outside to right-back Pooley, who burst unmarked down the right channel and he whipped the ball low towards the near post for Chris Saunders to flick his pass across the face of goal and Hamici stuck out his right leg and the ball agonisingly bounced off the near post and rebounded across the face of goal and no-one in an amber shirt could tuck the rebound home.

Francis said: “You’re always thinking is this going to be one of those days? You’ve just got to keep knocking on the door, that’s all you’ve got to do.

“We mentioned (to the players) banana skins and upsets, approaching the game in the right attitude. We’ve got good players.  None of them took the foot of the gas. You’ve just got to keep persevering in games like that.”

Greenwich skipper James Parkinson almost gave the home side the lead on the hour-mark, unleashing a left-footed free-kick from 35-yards, which brought the very best out of Walker, the keeper diving to his left to tip away.

Sprossen then played the ball inside to Power, who cracked a powerful right-footed angled drive from 20-yards, which Roberts palmed away high to his left at his near post.

Mark Okoye – who was immense at the heart of the Greenwich Borough defence – should have capped off an excellent performance when he ghosted into the penalty area and latched onto Ashley Wright’s cut back on the break but produced a defenders finish, blasting his right-footed shot over from fifteen-yards.

Bremner’s last contribution of the game saw him latch onto Dan Parkinson’s ball over the top but his volley, whilst stretching, flashed across goal and wide of the far post.

An excellent last-man sliding tackle from sixteen-year-old defender, substitute Dan Parkinson thwarted Greenwich Borough a chance after Linnett was through on goal with only Walker to beat.

But Greenwich Borough were denied what appeared to be a penalty two seconds into stoppage time.

A long ball was played out of defence and Linnett wriggled his way past Burgess and Vines but Vines brought down Linnett just inside the penalty area, referee Shaun Farrer bottled it and waved play on.

Francis said: “From where I was looking, it looked like an honest challenge from Joe, whether he’s missed timed it or not I don’t know. 

“It’s hard for the referee because it’s a long ball.  It’s a lot for him to keep up with the play there and to make a decision from that distance is always difficult for the referee.  I thought the referee had a great game.”

But as Greenwich Borough manager Gerry Cox no longer speaks to the press, we will never know his thoughts on the decision that ultimately cost the Kent League’s sole survivors a potential place in the next round.

That penalty decision turned out to be a crucial one as Cray Wanderers continued to knock on the door inside stoppage time.

Tyrone Sterling burst down the left flank and whipped in a cross towards the far post and Saunders cut the ball across goal but Sprossen hit his shot into the ground, which allowed Roberts to gather.

Power then released Darvill through on goal and his dinked shot was blocked by Roberts’ outstretched left-leg as he went to ground at his near post.

Hamici then cracked a shot on the turn, which Roberts pushed away high to his left but the keeper’s resilience was finally broken in heartbreaking fashion just nineteen seconds later.

Power whipped in an excellent cross from the right and the two Greenwich central defenders (Okoye and Cedric Abraham) failed to pick up Darvill’s run and the super-sub glanced his header across Roberts to find the far corner from eight-yards.

Francis said: “The ideal time to score!  It was a good goal.  We played some good football at times.  It was quite sticky out there, bumpy, windy, bouncy. Difficult. Difficult game, they always are!

“It was a fantastic goal to win it. We built it up down the right-hand side and it’s a good whip in. James Darvill, if he wasn’t going to America he’d be part of our plans.  He’ll be going at the end of September.  We’ve always known it which is why he hasn’t figured in our plans. James is a quality goalscorer, he’s a great lad, all the boys love him and I’m really pleased that he got the goal because he’s a goalscorer.

“He did his Scholarship there and he’s been keen to get something off the ground there. We wish him all the best – he’s not gone yet!

“He’ll be around for the best part of the next three weeks so who knows he may get a chance in the next round.”

The winning goal knocked the stuffing out of Greenwich Borough (the final whistle was blown with 53:16 on the clock) and it could be argued that if the home side had three substitutes then they might have held on to earn a lucrative replay at Hayes Lane on Tuesday night.

Francis was very complimentary towards their Kent League hosts, who have picked up £2,750 in FA prize money and the gate receipts from four FA Cup ties, by saying, “Listen, they had a really plucky performance. I thought the two centre halves played exceptionally well for them.  They should be proud of themselves.”

Francis added: “This is a nice little lift for us. We’ve got a couple of players out injured, hopefully we’ll be welcoming them back. It was nice to see Laurent get some game time today as well.”

Greenwich Borough: Luke Roberts, George Jones (Joe Suttie 51), James Parkinson, Corey Knight, Mark Okoye, Andrew Williams (Jamie Linnett 71), Akim Hanson, Dan Akpoveta, Tanner Hillyard.

Cray Wanderers: Andy Walker, Matt Pooley (Dan Parkinson 64), Tyrone Sterling, Aaron Day, Joe Vines, Billy Burgess, Michael Power, Chris Saunders, Leigh Bremner (James Darvill 75), Louis Sprossen, Laurent Hamici.
Subs: Williams Pearoux, John Guest, Gareth Williams, Tony Dolby, Grant Hall

Goal: James Darvill 90

Attendance: 141
Referee:  Mr Shaun Farrer (Reigate, Surrey)
Assistants: Mr Ryan O’Sullivan (New Addington, Surrey) & Mr Lloyd Beecham (South Croydon, Surrey)