Cray Wanderers 4-1 Corinthian-Casuals - Jenkins plans for title decider

With leaders Kingstonian winning 2-0 at Folkestone Invicta, it was imperative for Ian Jenkins’ side to gain the three points after their recent hiccup that saw them take just one point from their last two games to give Kingstonian the edge in the title hunt.

Not that boss Jenkins would have it any other way.

“All we can do now is to win games” a beaming Cray boss told www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards.

“It’s frustrating in a way because we started like that against Whyteleafe in our last home game, but didn’t get the start that we got today.

“I’m delighted for Lewis and Leigh,” Jenkins continued in praise of his strike force. “Lewis is the best finisher at the club, whilst Leigh is more of a handful.

“But it’s great for a manager to walk into the dressing room at half-time with both of your strikers already scored."

Indeed, it took Lewis Wood just 61 seconds to open the scoring.

Jamie Wood played a delightful through ball, which Lewis Wood took into his stride, sprinting past Michael Power, who was stationery in an offside position.

Lewis Wood was allowed to continue and from the edge of the box drilled the ball beyond Matt Mann and into the net.

It was nearly two inside the first four minutes, when Simon Osborn’s speculative 40-yarder bounced over the keeper and landed on the roof of the net.

Cray were rampant and the Casuals’ defence simply had no answer.

Lewis Wood almost doubled the lead on 18 minutes. Again, it was from Jamie Wood’s through ball, only this time, his brother missed the initial through ball; it ricochet of the goalkeeper’s shins and the startled Cray striker shot wide from six-yards.

As comfortable as Cray were, they needed the second goal and were almost stunned on 33 minutes when Corinthian’s best player Jamal Carr thundered the ball against Glen Knight’s crossbar after some fine work from Kane Sargeant down the left.

This proved to be the wake-up that the Wanderers’ needed and two minutes later the lead was doubled.

Colin Luckett’s corner was nodded down by Danny Chapman and Bremner scored his ninth goal of the season with a spectacular overhead kick.

Bremner almost added his tenth of the season in first half stoppage time but his dipping volley just didn’t dip enough.

The onslaught continued after the break.

Bremner was denied by a brave save on 50 minutes, and then Mark Willy saw his thumping header brilliantly saved by Mann, following Osborn’s free-kick.

Cray confirmed the points on 66 minutes. Again, Luckett was the provider and a delightful ball over the top saw Lewis Wood run on and lob the ball over Mann only to anxiously watch the ball as it bounced into the roof of the net.

Lewis Wood was denied his hat-trick four minutes later when he broke down the left. His initial square pass for Osborn was blocked and Lewis Wood reacted quickest, however, only to see his curling shot brilliantly tipped onto the post with the goalkeeper getting the luck the save deserved as it rebounded into his arms.

He was not to be denied, and on 71 minutes the hat-trick was completed.

Sixteen-year-old substitute Juma Ibrahim, making his debut, poked the ball through to Bremner, who squared for Lewis Wood, who walked around the keeper to score.

Corinthian-Casuals did pull one back in the final ten minutes when Saheed Sankoh beat the offside trap to score from the edge of the box.

The visitors’ could have had a second in the dying moments when substitute Joe Nwoko was only denied by the giant left boot of keeper Knight.

And so, with four games left for Cray Wanderers, they stand level on points with Kingstonian (whose game in hand over Eastbourne Town is on Monday), but manager Jenkins conceded, “If we win all four I think it may be enough, especially as we go to their place on Easter Monday.”

With Walton Casuals to play at Hayes Lane before then, Jenkins was asked if the big title decider was already in his thoughts.

“Of course it is!” he said. “With two games in three days next weekend, I’m going to have to look at the squad and maybe pick and choose which games the older players’ play as two games in three days at the end of the season is a lot.

“Given the way that Ossie (Osborn) and Danny (Chapman) are playing, whilst Walton Casuals is important obviously, I’ve got to have my best side at Kingstonian.”

Whilst Jenkins was full of praise for his hat-trick hero, he also had a word for veteran full-back Colin Luckett, on the eve of the former Kingstonian defender facing his old club.

“His delivery is fantastic and as far as I’m concerned, he’s the best left-back in this league,” said Jenkins.

“I just hope he has a happy return to Kingsmeadow.”

Cray Wanderers: Glen Knight, Aaron Day, Colin Luckett, Danny Chapman, Mark Willy, Steve Aris (Dean Morris 64), Simon Osborn, Michael Power (Juma Ibrahim 23), Lewis Wood, Leigh Bremner (Richmond Kissi 74), Jamie Wood.
Subs: Jamie Kempster, Tyrone Sterling.

Goals: Lewis Wood 2, 66, 71, Leigh Bremner 35

Booked: Simon Osborn 81, Richmond Kissi 86

Corinthian-Casuals: Matt Mann, Martin Dunne (Richard Brightwell 45), Dale Hennessey, Youseff Metwali, Chris Horwood, Gavin Cartwright, Tyrone Myton, Sam Robinson, Saheed Sankoh, Jamal Carr (Joe Nwoko 67), Kane Sargeant.
Sub: Eseosa Omeregle.

Goal: Saheed Sankoh 81

Booked: Tyrone Myton 55

Attendance: 147
Referee: Mr Gary Croft (Battle, East Sussex)
Assistants: Mr Andy Mead (Orpington) & Mr Guy Marley (Bexleyheath)