Kentish Football 
Kingstonian 3-2 Cray Wanderers - I'm disapointed to go out, says Ian Jenkins
KINGSTONIAN 3-2 CRAY WANDERERS
London Senior Cup (Sponsored by Coventry Scaffolding) Semi-Final
Thursday 18th April 2013
Stephen McCartney reports from Kingsmeadow
CRAY WANDERERS boss Ian Jenkins says he feels disappointed that his side missed out on a mouth-watering London Senior Cup Final against landlords Bromley.
Mark Goldberg’s Bromley will lock horns with Kingstonian at Metropolitan Police’s Imber Court in West Molesey, Surrey, on Tuesday 30 April, after Cray Wanderers threw away two leads to exit the competition in front of a sparse Kingsmeadow.
Cray Wanderers hit the post twice early inside the opening 20 minutes and they took a deserved lead when striker Michael Power flicked in a free-kick.
But their Ryman Premier League hosts restored parity when central defender Kieran Murphy came up for a corner to power his header in to the net.
Cray Wanderers regained the lead just six minutes later when Power’s deft header found the far corner following another corner.
But Alan Dowson’s side upped their urgency levels and equalised when striker Kamil Okai smashed home an equaliser, before 25-year-old Polish winger Szymon Sidorowicz finished all hopes of a landlords-versus-tenants final with a late winner.
Jenkins, 45, who is running the London Marathon on Sunday, said: “I thought it was a good game really. End to end. A lot of youngsters on both sides who applied themselves the right way I think. It’s just unfortunate to lose.
“I thought Walks had an outstanding game. He pulled off three or four worldys. They missed a few good chances. I think possession wise and football wise I thought we were the better side but they created the better chances than us.”
Jenkins added: “I said before the game we’ve got a chance of playing Bromley in a final. It would be nice to play them in a proper game. It’s so disappointing. You can’t fault the players tonight because they were excellent with what we had out there. We had key players missing. We performed really well with the youngsters that we had out there today, they were brilliant.”
Jenkins opted to blood some youngsters in this semi-final, mindful that their next three games will decide whether they’ll be playing Ryman Premier League football again next season.
Fourth-from-bottom Wands welcome Hampton & Richmond Borough to Hayes Lane on Saturday, before hosting second-from-bottom Lewes next Tuesday night and ending their campaign with a trip to Wingate & Finchley on 27 April.
But midfielder Chris Saunders (turned ankle) and central defender Barney Abbott (knee) are likely to miss Saturday’s game after picking up injuries during the first half.
Cray Wanderers created the opening chance inside the first five minutes when stand-in skipper Alex Stavrinou clipped the ball over the top for Power to stroke his left-footed volley straight at Kingstonian keeper Louis Bragg.
A poor kick out from the Kingstonian keeper went straight at Power who wriggled his way through the defence before laying the ball inside to sixteen-year-old striker Joseph Ogunebiya, who slotted a left-footed shot across the stranded keeper and the ball bounced agonisingly off the foot of the far post and Bragg pounced on the loose ball.
Jenkins revealed that he has to blood youngsters into the first team next season due to the financial restraints imposed on him by chairman Gary Hillman.
“Joe should’ve done better. He went through one-on-one. He’s gutted that he didn’t score that.”
Jenkins added: “Joe’s in our Academy with (Academy manager) Darren Anslow. He goes to Coopers School. He’s only sixteen the kid. I’ve watched him play for the youth team a couple of times in the last few weeks and he impresses me. He works hard. He’s got a good first touch, he’s got a good football brain about him and he’ll learn from this and he’ll be a part of my squad for Saturday.
“We’ve got to look at the kids in the future because with what’s happening at the club at the moment, financially it’s a little bit different what it has been over the last four or five years. We’re going to have to look at getting some of these kids through.”
Kingstonian’s first attempt came in the ninth minute when Matt Pattison swung in a corner from the right and Daniel Sweeney came up from the back to plant his bullet header wide of the right-hand post from 12-yards.
The hosts went close again when left-winger Luke Wanadio whipped in an excellent cross towards the near post and striker Wade Small cut the ball on to his right foot before curling his right-footed shot wide of the far post.
Cray Wanderers were desperately unlucky again in the 20th minute when the right-hand post saved Kingstonian again.
Jack Clark swung in a free-kick from the left, which was headed clear and Danny Phillips was left in space to stroke a left-footed drive from 25-yards, which sailed past the stranded Bragg to clip the upright.
Jenkins said: “He should do that a lot more. He gets good possession around the edge of the box, he’s hit a good shot and Saunders had one as well that’s looped over the bar. We had good chances but not as clear cut as they had.”
Saunders then looped a right-footed drive over the bar from 25-yards, before the Kent sides’ troubles began.
Barney Abbott hobbled off through injury and he was replaced by his 48-year-old father Gary, who surprisingly slotted in at the heart of defence, despite banging in goals at the other end of the pitch during a glittering non-league career.
“We had a few players with injuries first half,” confirmed Jenkins.
“Barney had to go off, Chris Saunders. We’re going to lose them for Saturday, which is gutting. Barney’s got a bad knock just behind his knee and Chris has just turned his ankle so very doubtful Chris, definitely out on Saturday and Barney’s very doubtful.”
Jenkins explained why Gary Abbott was deployed in defence.
“Blado (coach Paul Blade) said ‘you could stuck him up front and put Shaggy (Power) at the back?’ I said ‘no, stick him at the back. He can play there!’
“It’s the first time he’s ever played there, he reckons, in his career. He done really well. Gary’s got a really good football brain and he talks really well. When you’ve got a talker out there it makes so much difference.”
Kingstonian midfielder Pattison sent a right-footed free-kick from 25-yards sailing narrowly wide of the near post.
But Cray Wanderers squandered another decent chance when another poor clearance from Bragg fell to Ogunebiya, who took the ball forward before stroking his right-footed shot just past the foot of the near post from ten-yards.
However, their despair was to be short-lived, as Cray Wanderers deservedly opened the scoring in the 41st minute.
They were awarded a free-kick down the left-hand channel and John Estrada whipped in a teasing right-footed free-kick from 25-yards. The ball should have been easily gathered by Bragg, but he allowed the ball to go through his fingers at the far post and the ball sailed into the far corner.
Jenkins claimed after the game that Power got the slightest of flicks to the ball and the striker was accredited with the goal.
“Micky Power got a touch on it,” claimed Jenkins afterwards. “It was a mistake from the keeper. It’s gone right though him but it was a good delivery in, good place from John and when you put a ball like that in, it’s going to cause trouble if someone gets a flick on it.”
Kingstonian put in a flat performance during the first half and left-back Tom Bird sent a left-footed free-kick sailing harmlessly over the crossbar at the end of the half.
Kingstonian boss Dowson appeared to have lifted his side during the half-time break as they came out with much more urgency.
Small was left in acres of space inside the Cray Wanderers penalty area but sliced his right-footed shot harmlessly wide of the far post when he only had goalkeeper Andy Walker to beat.
And Walker then made a fine block to thwart Pattison, when he was through on goal.
A majestic run with the ball from Okai saw the Kingstonian striker dance past four amber-shirted defenders through the heart but he was denied by another fine block from an alert Walker.
Walker then dived to his left to beat out Sidorowicz’s right-footed angled drive after he cut in from the left wing.
Jenkins added: “Walks has pulled off some worldys tonight, he has been for the last four or five weeks. He’s definitely been my player-of-the-season to be honest, although we’re in the position that we are, it could be a lot worse if Walks hadn’t pulled off some key saves in key moments in games.”
But Kingstonian broke Walker’s resistance when they deservedly equalised in the 57th minute.
Pattison whipped in an excellent corner from the left for Murphy to plant his free-header into the near corner from two-yards.
Jenkins said: “Free header, which is disappointing. It looks that Walks is in form. It’s just one of them. We’ve defended corners so well all year. To let a soft goal in like that is so disappointing, but it’s just one of those things.”
Cray Wanderers, who went into the game on a run of four games without a win, could easily have folded, but they found the resolve to regain the lead.
Jenkins was pleased that the goal came from a set-piece of their own.
Estrada swung in an excellent corner from the left and Power peeled off his marker to send his deft header across goal and into the far corner of the net to score from 12-yards.
Jenkins said: “Great header and at great ball, again, in from John! He’s whipped two good balls in, one from a corner, one from a free-kick and he’s got two goals for us.
“Micky got across his marker. It’s good to see us score from a set-play like that. Players with a little bit of desire going across people, that’s all you ask for in the box and if the ball falls for you, you score. Good finish!”
Kingstonian should have been level within three minutes when Bird’s corner from the right dropped at Lewis Taylor’s feet at the far post, but the former Tonbridge Angels’ midfielder somehow smashed his right-footed volley high over the bar when it appeared easier to score from two-yards.
Kingstonian missed an even better chance when Okai ghosted past Emanuel Fasunan down the left and cut the ball along the face of goal for an unmarked Small, who lost his composure and blasted over from eight-yards.
Cray Wanderers ventured forward and created a rare second half chance when Ogunebiya’s pace took him past right-back Jack Barton to reach the by-line before he cut the ball back to substitute Kavaughn Ward, who stabbed his first time shot past the foot of the near post.
Kingstonian equalised with sixteen minutes remaining when Bird wasn’t closed down quickly enough by Estrada and the Kingstonian left-back sprinted into the box before delivering a cross towards the near post for Okai to stick out his right-leg to guide his volley past Walker.
Jenkins added: “John got a bit close to the left-back and he’s turned him. A free cross and they’ve scored. It’s disappointing because I thought we was going to go and pull it out of the fire. It’s disappointing when we concede them.”
Power almost won it for Cray Wanderers when he picked up the ball in midfield, raced forward and ignored Ogunebiya and Ward either side of him before cracking a left-footed drive from 30-yards, which sailed agonisingly wide of the left-hand post.
But Kingstonian sealed their place in this year’s final when they scored the winner with eight minutes to go.
Wanadio played a delightful diagonal pass to pick out Pattison in acres of space down the left flank and he ran with the ball at pace before cutting into the middle of the penalty area and was denied by a fine low block from Walker.
But the keeper couldn’t prevent the loose ball being tucked into the bottom corner by Sidorowicz from six-yards.
Jenkins claimed the goal should’ve been ruled out for offside.
“Their guy stabbed it home when he was standing in an offside position when the first one went in,” he said. “It’s disappointing when you saw that. You think you’ve done our job, he’s done his job by saving it and the blokes standing there and he puts it into an empty net and the referee and linesman missed it!”
Jenkins would have settled for another 30 minutes – despite their vital last three league games coming up during the last seven days of the season, with his side hanging only two points clear of the relegation zone in the bottom four.
“I was screaming Walks up for the last free-kick in the game to go and get an equaliser,” said Jenkins.
“The majority of these players are hardened non-league players, they know what it’s all about at this time of the year. They know they have to play three games in seven days. The pros moan but these boys have to go to work so extra time would’ve been great if it gets you to a final. I’d take extra time and penalties all day long. I’m disappointed to go out.”
Walker went up for a free-kick at the death and Estrada’s free-kick was cleared away and Kingstonian hit their opponents on the break. However, the goalkeeper sprinted the whole length of the pitch and was in position by the time that Sidorowicz cut the ball back on to his right foot and stroked his shot towards goal, which brought another smart low block by the outstanding goalkeeper.
Kingstonian: Louis Bragg, Jack Barton, Tom Bird, Kieran Murphy, Daniel Sweeney, Lewis Taylor, Szymon Sidorowicz, Matt Pattison, Jamil Okai (Aaron Goode 89), Wade Small, Luke Wanadio.
Subs: Jamil Jimoh, Lee-Van Sullivan, Reece Hall, Rob Tolfrey
Goals: Kieran Murphy 57, Jamil Okai 74, Szymon Sidorowicz 82
Booked: Szymon Sidorowicz 20
Cray Wanderers: Andy Walker, Matt Pooley, Jack Clark, Chris Saunders (Kavaughn Ward 40), Emmanuel Fasunan, Barney Abbott (Gary Abbott 24), John Estrada, Alex Stavrinou, Michael Power, Danny Phillips, Joseph Ogunebiya.
Subs: Leigh Bremner, Aaron Day, Ian Jenkins
Goals: Michael Power 41, 63
Attendance: 112
Referee: Mr Matt Foley (Palmers Green, London N13)
Assistants: Mr Mark Tweed (Islington, London N1) & Mr Peter Zuffa (Walthamstow, London E17)
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd