Cray Wanderers 2-1 Leatherhead - Francis' joy at last-gasp winner

With Valentines Day fast approaching, it was quite apt that the 18-year-old came off the substitutes bench for the injured Leigh Bremner to revitalise the home side, setting up the equaliser for the returning Lewis Wood, before snatching the late winner himself.

As a result, the Wands climbed one place into fifth in the Ryman League Division One South table, but are just two points adrift of leaders Kingstonian, although the Surrey giants have four games in hand.

Leatherhead found goalkeeper Glen Knight in fine form during the first half, with the former Dover Athletic stopper making a string of fine saves.

But the Tanners deservedly broke the deadlock just two minutes before the break, through Kev Terry’s three-man finish.

But Wood, who has just returned from Ryman One North side Thamesmead Town, tapped home from one yard out to bring the Wands back on level terms after 53 minutes, before the impressive Kissi stole the headlines with a right-footed finish at the death.

The Wands, who were without suspended trio Scott Kinch, Dean Standen and Jamie Wood, were on the back foot for the majority of the first half, only creating one chance through Leigh Bremner.

Bremner was released by skipper Jamie Kempster in the 33^rd minute and decided to go all alone, ignoring Wood, in a three-versus-three counter attack.

The former Carshalton Athletic striker cracked a left-footed shot from twenty-yards, which brought a fine save from Chris Lewington, tipping the fierce drive over the bar.

But that was the only chance created by the home side, playing their first game for fourteen days, following the postponement of three games due to the recent poor weather.

Leatherhead called Knight into action early, following their first two corners, saving from low drilled efforts from Iain Hendry and Jason Henry.

The green shirted visitors’ called Knight into action again after 21 minutes, as Tom Hutchins cut in from the right and his drilled shot was parried by the goalkeeper and Tony Cuff skied the follow-up shot from the edge of the box.

Leatherhead thoroughly deserved to break the deadlock, with 43 minutes on the clock, and it came from a clinical counter attack, following a Cray Wanderers corner on the right.

Goalkeeper Chris Lewington jumped to claim Callum O’Shea’s flag-kick and then kicked the ball to Hutchins on the left touchline on the half-way line.

His sublime diagonal pass released his strike partner Terry through on goal and as Knight advanced off his line the striker rolled the ball past the goalkeeper and into an empty net.

However, the introduction of Kissi, turned the game on it’s head, as Leatherhead couldn’t cope with the teenager’s style of play.

And Cray went close inside the opening two minutes of the second half when O’Shea’s floated corner from the right was met by a towering header by Tyrone Sterling, which cleared the crossbar.

But Wood marked his return to the club with a poachers goal-line finish.

The striker attempted to charge down Lewington’s clearance, which was hit poorly and went straight to Jamie Kempster in the middle of the pitch.

The skipper then released Kissi down the right and his power and pace left the Leatherhead defence flagging and his angled driven shot appeared to be heading towards the bottom far corner - but Wood was on hand to stab the ball over the line at the far post - although Kissi celebrated like crazy, trying to claim the goal.

Leatherhead called Knight into action again, after 65 minutes, as the goalkeeper made a comfortable low save to his left, preventing Hutchins scoring with a drilled left-footed shot from 25-yards, which was heading towards the near post.

Nine minutes later, Kissi met Colin Luckett’s in-swinging corner with a towering header, which cleared the near post.

But Leatherhead rued an excellent chance to regain the lead two minutes later, through a set-piece.

Cuff’s corner from the left was flicked on at the near post by John Cartledge and the ball dropped to Terry in space at the far post, but his stabbed shot brought yet another low save from Knight, well positioned at his near post.

Good work from Sterling carved open a chance for substitute Mo Conteh, but his driven shot brought a save from Lewington.

But 18-year-old Kissi proved to be the match winner.

Luckett and Wood combined down the left and Sterling’s high ball into the penalty area wasn’t dealt with by the Leatherhead defence and Kissi’s shot crept past Lewington to find the bottom right-hand corner.

Francis, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards, was delighted with the last-gasp victory.

“We’ve been waiting all season for a win that we’ve had to work really hard for in the second half,” he said.

“I mean, we’ve gone 1-0 down and to be fair, Leatherhead we’re very, very good in the first half. They passed the ball well, we’re tenacious and played with a lot of tempo and we just lacked a little bit of match sharpness.

“We’ve waited all season to win one in the last minute and I thought we played really, really well in the second half.

“We came out on the front foot and scored early and we continued to pass the ball, which showed real courage I think. They’re the sort of things that give you a real lift.”

The introduction of Kissi certainly gave Cray a lift and Francis and boss Ian Jenkins will have to consider the teenager for the visit of Burgess Hill Town on Saturday.

“I thought collectively the whole side stepped up in the second half,” said Francis. “We’re a side that likes to play football and to play football you’ve got to have a bit of courage.

“Richmond was a real handful up front for us in the second half. Leatherhead’s centre halves began to drop off, again, he was physical but he looked really bright.

“He’s been waiting for his chance and I’ve known Richmond for two years since his time at Charlton and he’s a bright young lad and a bright young player and he’s hungry and he wants to score and wants to play well.

“He’s given us some food for thought for Saturday.”

Francis praised Leatherhead manager Bob Langford for getting his tactics right in a one-sided first half - but admitted they couldn’t cope with his side when they raised the bar in the second half. 

“I thought Leatherhead were very good,” said Francis. “I know Bobby from old and he knows what a good side we are. He likes to come here and gets his players up for it and I thought they worked extremely hard all over the pitch, they shut us down and didn’t allow us to play.

“We said to the boys at half-time, I keep using the word courage, but you’ve got to show some courage to play football and not show people your backside.

“When you’ve got three or four passing movements when they can’t (stop you), then they drop off and it allows you a bit of space and we kept passing the ball, worked hard and we got our reward.

“We’ve waited all season to win a game in the last minute.”

Cray Wanderers: Glen Knight, Arron Day, Colin Luckett, Danny Chapman, Mark Willy, Dean Morris, Callum O’Shea (Mo Conteh 77), Jamie Kempster, Lewis Wood (Michael Munday 90), Leigh Bremner (Richmond Kissi 45), Tyrone Sterling.
Subs: Steve Aris, Tommy Whitnell.

Goals: Lewis Wood 53, Richmond Kissi 89

Leatherhead: Chris Lewington, Dev Williams, Ryan Palmer, Iain Hendry, John Cartledge, Stuart Holmes, Steve Goddard (Ben Shannon 56), Tony Cuff, Kev Terry, Tom Hutchins (Simon Mitchell 86), Jason Henry.
Subs: Matt Jones, Jack Holmes, Andy Layzell.

Goal: Kev Terry 43

Booked: John Cartledge 53

Attendance: 92
Referee: Mr Darren Blunden (Dartford)
Assistants: Mr Andy Mead (Orpington) & Mr Neil Baker (Welling)