Cray Wanderers match report
match report by James Maw
Be it a first away win in over two months, a first goal for a new striker after 13 matches, or a match report coming ten days after the match in question, good things come to those who wait.
Well, some good things, some mediocre things, and some possibly a bit fortunate things that are still very welcome (we’ll leave you to work out which is which).
Yes, Kingstonian continued their recent upturn in form with a hard-fought win away at Cray Wanderers last Saturday, with Walter Figueira finally breaking his K’s duck.
Having finally ended their winless run in the Surrey Senior Cup against Corinthian-Casuals, and followed that up with a first league win in nine against Bognor Regis Town, Kingstonian headed to Hayes Lane in a more confident mood than they largely had been of late.
On a spectacularly sunny day in Bromley, Kingstonian played with a certain swagger, and were not knocked from their stride by falling behind.
Cray went ahead through Anthony Cook, but it wasn’t look before K’s were back in the game. Daniel Ajakaiye and Teo Kurtaran linked up brilliantly to carve a way through the home team’s defence, with Kurtaran’s cross eventually turned into the net by a Cray defender, with Ajakaiye primed to pounce at the far post.
K’s played with verve for the remainder of the half, with Kurtaran looking a threat, but clear-cut openings were few and far between.
Enter Walter Figueira as a half time substitute, and with 15 minutes the moment we had all been waiting for. Kenny Beaney’s corner from the K’s right was not dealt with by the Cray defence, and Figueira was on hand to fire home a low shot from close range.
With Cray battling for their lives at the bottom of the division, the end of the game was always going to be frantic.
Alfie Young made one brilliant tackle, quickly followed by a superb block, before a Cray shot from long range grazed the top of the crossbar.
Then, deep into the seven minutes of added time, a mad scramble from a Cray corner saw K’s hurling bodies at the ball, and Julian Schwarzer making a fine stop to preserve the lead.
"We were delighted to win," said Hayden Bird, speaking to Kingstonian.com after the match. "After a difficult four or five weeks, we have won three and drawn one from our last four games. The players have worked hard to change our fortunes and we can look forward to finishing the season well."
"We are placed in a very respectable 8th position in the league and in the semi-final of the Surrey Senior Cup. We can now approach a good solid week on the training ground with a spring in our step. Having no midweek game is perfect. We can work hard to improve and the injuries have seven days to recover."
Cray Wanderers: Joseph Wright, Freddy Barton, Kasim Aidoo, Nazir Bakrin, Ethan Kaiser, TomHanfrey, Jedd Smith, Sam Wood, Anthony Cook, Chris Dickson, Jamie Yila.
Subs: Kyel Reid (for Tom Bolarinwa, 60m), Richie Danquah. Narcis-Florin Filip (for Jamie Yila, 76m), Tom Bolarinwa (for Jedd Smith, 34m), Max Hunter.
Kingstonian: Julian Schwarzer, Kershaney Samuels, Eze Ebozoeme, Simon Cooper, Declan Skura, Kenny Beaney, Gus Sow, D'sean Theobalds, Daniel Ajakaiye, Teo Kurtaran, Alex Addai.
Subs: Walter Figueira (for Teo Kurtaran, HT), Alfie Young (for Declan Skura, HT), Lewis Pearch (for Alex Addai, 77m), Jordan Wilson, Serine Sanneh.
Goal scorers: Anthony Cook (18m, 1-0), Daniel Ajakaiye (20m, 1-1), Walter Figueira (55m, 2-1)
Attendance: 306
