Wands give youngsters a chance to shine

JOE FRANCIS was a frustrated man as “dominant” Cray Wanderers were on the end of a smash-and-grab raid by Eastbourne Town on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.

The assistant boss saw the east Sussex side inflict the Wands’ fifth defeat of the season, stealing a 2-1 win at The Saffrons.

Francis, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk tonight, admitted things just didn’t go their way.

“It was one of those days,” he said. “We dominated possession, played some really good football and their first goal; we didn’t defend their corner well. We went to sleep defensively and then we absolutely dominated the first half with possession and we were creative.

“Leigh Bremner and Tommy Whitnell linked up well up front; we played well in midfield and looked solid at the back, but in front of goal we were snatching chances, but we created an awful lot.

“We continued that second half. Tyrone Sterling had a great twenty minutes in the first part of the second half and won us our penalty (which was converted by Colin Luckett) and then we should have gone on and won the game really.

“We introduced three attacking players to add to our four that were already on. We finished with seven attacking players at the end of the ninety minutes. We were unlucky to come away losing
2-1.

“But full respect to Eastbourne, who counter attacked extremely well and snatched the winner in the last minute with a quality move after we conceded possession.”

Despite their unlucky defeat, Cray Wanderers were given a fillip yesterday following Ashford Town’s impressive 3-2 victory at league leaders Kingstonian.

Steve Lovell’s side went into the Kingsmeadow clash without a win in eleven games - although eight of those games were drawn - and goals from James Humphreys, Paul Jones and a rare goal from Anthony Browne, stunned Kingsmeadow to silence.

The K’s are now only four points clear of second placed side Metropolitan Police and five points clear of Cray and Francis says the Ryman League Division One South title is now up for grabs.

He said: “Just shows what an open league it is and I think that makes it even more intriguing this year.

“If you look at the season as a whole there are three phases to it, and we’re not in the second phase.

“Ok, if you want to look at conditions, you look at surfaces that you can play football on and that occurs between August and the end of October, middle of November.

“I would agree that you have to adapt your game between November and the end of February. Then you have to adapt your game and rely on different qualities in your team - and we’ve got that!”

The Wands make the short trip to Champion Hill to lock horns with Dulwich Hamlet in the second round of the Ryman League Cup tomorrow and Francis revealed changes will be made.

“We’re going to play all those players that haven’t had game time so Jamie Wood, Matt Lee will start and get ninety minutes,” he said.

“We will also look to continue to give game time to some of our younger reserve team players and to be honest when you have a bad result all you want is another game to get over it.”

Striker Andrew Williams, 17, will make his second first team appearances against the promotion chasing South Londoners, having impressed Francis down on the east Sussex coast.

“He plays for our under 17 side and he came on for the last twenty minutes on Saturday and we’ll give him some game time tomorrow,” said Francis.

“He looks a bright prospect and has a great attitude as a young player.”

Williams joins youngsters Jamel McCann, Michael Munday and Scott Manzi in the side, players that have excelled in the Ryman League, having progressed through the ranks.

“Both our under 18 sides are well managed, well developed and have been together for two or three years,” said Francis.

“I think the cornerstone of any club who wants to progress. You think (about those three players) whose made debuts this year and they’ve all played in big games and played extremely well.

“Jamel has been outstanding in the performances that he’s shown.”

Visit Cray Wanderers’ website: www.craywands.co.uk

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this match

Dulwich Hamlet v Cray Wanderers
Ryman League Cup Second Round
Tuesday 2^nd December 2008
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Champion Hill Stadium, Edgar Kail Way, East Dulwich, London SE22 8BD