Cray Wanderers 1-2 Maidstone United - Probably one of my worst defeats I've suffered, admits Jenkins

Saturday 30th October 2010

CRAY WANDERERS 1-2 MAIDSTONE UNITED
FA Carlsberg Trophy Second Qualifying Round
Saturday 30th October 2010
Paul Parkinson reports from Hayes Lane

MAIDSTONE UNITED performed the footballing equivalent of daylight robbery to snatch victory in a pulsating Kent derby at Hayes Lane, to knock hosts Cray Wanderers out of the FA Carlsberg Trophy at the Second Qualifying Round stage.

Having dominated the game for the best part of 85 minutes, after taking the lead through Mark Willy‘s powerful header, Cray‘s control was dealt a blow by Rhys Coleman‘s dismissal five minutes from time. Then came the late drama of headed goals by Danny Hockton, his 9th in the last 8 games, and former Wand, substitute Tommy Whitnell.

Naturally the reaction from the two camps couldn‘t have been more different. A devastated Cray Wanderers boss, Ian Jenkins told www.kentishfootball.co.uk : “That‘s probably one of the worst defeats I‘ve suffered in football. I go back a long way, have missed out on a Vase semi-final to two late goals, but to lose that today was absolutely gutting because the game should have been dead and buried.”

Whereas Stones‘ assistant manager, Steve Butler told www.kentishfootball.co.uk: “I‘m happy. Even if we‘d come in having lost the game I‘d have thought the performance was very good.

Butler enthused about his team, saying: “The young boys who came on were absolutely brilliant. I think every one of them can sleep well tonight, they‘ve done well today. Sean (Johnson) has made some good runs out there, (Alex) Flisher I think was different class and Tom‘s (Mills) come on and set up the win.

“We need that bit of impetus from the youngsters and the three we had on there speaks wonders for our youth system.”

For the majority of the game it was a tale of two goalkeepers, as man-of-the-match Andy Walker, and his Cray counterpart, Dave King produced save after save to keep both sets of strikers at bay.

Butler, also praising his team‘s hero, said: “Walks has been brilliant for us. He‘s not just a good keeper, but a good experienced one and a good character in the dressing room as well. You can‘t buy that kind of experience.”

But Jenkins reflected on his team‘s efforts, adding: “We‘ve had five or six gilt-edged chances and if we put two or three of them away, the game‘s over.””

From the start, Walker had to be alert to turn over a shot from former Stones‘ midfielder, Chris Saunders, then held onto a fierce Laurent Hamici shot.

Afterwards King had been brave to deny Alex Flisher a chance, Walker again came to the fore, turning a long-range drive from Aaron Day over his bar.

Cray probably should have taken the lead on 23 minutes when Richard Whyte found himself free in the box 8 yards out, but could only fire wide. Hamici also would have hoped to do better, heading wide at the back post from Alex Bentley‘s cross.

Maidstone responded, constantly looking to drop balls in behind the Cray defence. Kane Rice split the defence with a through ball for Sean Johnson, but the young midfielder could only fire straight at King, although Bentley‘s challenge forced the hurries effort.

The visitors felt aggrieved just before the break, as their appeals for a penalty were waived away, after Jake Hobbs‘ cross struck the arm of Willy and trickled harmlessly through to King.

The second half started in the same fashion, with King denying Flisher again at the edge of the box before turning a drive from the same player round the near post. From the corner, Danny Hockton toe-poked the ball goalwards only to see Ross Lover hook off the line.

This looked to be crucial as Cray took the lead two minutes later. Danny Phillips struck a left foot shot from the edge of the box which Walker palmed over the bar. From Lover‘s corner, Willy‘s powerful header could only be pushed into the roof of the net.

Inspired by their lead, Cray pushed forward relentlessly and Walker had to change direction smartly to push Hamici‘s deflected shot round the near post, then saved two good chanced for Whyte.

First, the forward turned Joe Vines but saw his shot parried away, then Whyte should have done better when through one-on-one with Walker, but the keeper somehow pushed the shot away from goal.

Hockton, meanwhile, was coming more into the game, but must have wondered what he‘d have to do to score. A flick from Adrian Stone released Hockton into the area, but his volley at full stretch flew just over, while pressurised by Rhys Coleman.

Maidstone threw on two replacements, Mills for Johnson, then Whitnell for Hobbs, who both had an impact on the final result.

As Butler admitted: “It wasn‘t so much changes to personnel, but to the way we played. We were getting it out to the full backs and playing some good football, so I had to get the boys pushing on to them and playing a bit higher, and then I thought we‘d nick one. I thought our pressure told in the end.””

Hockton had two good chances to get Maidstone back into the match. First, he met Mills‘ cross with a volley that he could only steer back across the face of goal, then, when fed through by Flisher, Hockton was denied by a wonderful one-on-one save by King.

Then came the match changing moment. Rice broke through Lover‘s challenge and charged towards the box. Coleman came across with a desperate lunge which, for the Cray defender, missed the ball and caught Rice.

Mr Jaye immediately went for the red card and from the resulting free-kick, King turned Hockton‘s rasping drive over the bar.

With a man advantage, Maidstone streamed forward. Rice laid in Mills down the left wing, and the youngster played a pinpoint cross to Hockton, whose powerful header in the last minute of normal time gave King no chance.

Then two minutes into additional time, Colin Richmond found space in the box, released Flisher, who dinked a ball to the back post for Whitnell to dive in and head beyond King‘s despairing dive.

Butler addde: “We’d had suspensions to a couple of experienced players, and we‘ve got a couple of walking wounded, but the reason we got the result is that everyone worked their socks off.

“But we‘ve got a free week now, with Tuesday and Thursday training. The young boys have done great and a couple of suspended players are back, so it will be a difficult team for Andy (Ford) to pick now for next weekend.”

Cray Wanderers: Dave King, Richard Whyte (Allan McLeod 86), Alex Bentley, Aaron Day, Mark Willy, Rhys Coleman, Ross Lover, Chris Saunders, Laurent Hamici, Danny Phillips, Steve Lozano.

Subs: Adam Cotterill, Ebenezer Masade, Keiran McCann, Ian Jenkins.

Goal: Mark Willy 53

Sent Off: Rhys Coleman 85

Maidstone United: Andy Walker, Ryan Andrews, Kane Rice, Joe Vines, Peter Hawkins, Sean Johnson (Tom Mills 66), Jake Hobbs (Tommy Whitnell 72), Colin Richmond, Adrian Stone, Danny Hockton, Alex Flisher.

Subs: Joe Goldsmith, Ant Bodle, Harry Lee.

Goals: Danny Hockton 89, Tommy Whitnell 90

Booked: Peter Hawkins 29, Sean Johnson 41, Joe Vines 46, Danny Hockton 89

Attendance: 224

Referee: Mr Richard Jaye (Borehamwood, Hertfordshire)

Assistants: Mr Steven Conway (Edgware, Middlesex) and Mr Sebastian Podsadny (Northolt, Middlesex)