I want to beat Jenko's tally, says Kempster

JAMIE KEMPSTER scored his 60^th career goal for Cray Wanderers during their clinical 4-1 win over Chichester City United in the FA Cup Preliminary Round at Hayes Lane today, writes Stephen McCartney.

However, their Sussex County League visitors appeared to have enough about them to cause an upset, after dominating the opening 25 minutes.

But impressive left-winger Tyrone Sterling grabbed the Kent side the lead, totally against the run of play, with their first shot on goal, after 26 minutes.

Their second goal came from their second attempt on goal, just eleven minutes later, when Danny Chapman sent a bullet header into the net, following Colin Luckett’s corner.

And two goals on the stroke of half-time from Kempster and Scott Kinch gave Cray Wanderers a 4-0 lead at the break and created even more chances during the second half but Chichester City United deservedly scored a consolation late on through substitute Lee Bedden with two minutes left.

“We started off a bit slow, credit to them,” Kempster told www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards. “They came up as the away team, put us under a bit of pressure.

“We were probably favourites but we got into the game a bit and managed to get the first goal and then a couple more after that so by half-time, being four-nil up, made it a little easier for us and we relaxed a little bit then.”

Kempster thought goal number 61 had arrived when he turned in a cross from Steve Aris, but the goal was ruled out for offside, but Chichester broke away and scored just 24 seconds later.

“I scored, which I thought was an legitimate goal and we’re still arguing with the ref a little bit and they broke away and scored, so we’re disappointed to concede the goal,” said Kempster.

Kempster, like his manager Ian Jenkins, admitted they “weren’t at the races” during the opening 25 minutes.

“They done well, they came out for the first 15-20 minutes and caused us a few problems,” admitted the midfielder.

“We weren’t at the races a little bit but we’ve got the goal and then we managed to get a couple more after and by getting the fourth one as well made it a bit easier for us coming out (for the second half).”

With ITV.com bring down a camera crew for this game, The Football Association also brought The FA Cup along with them and it was pride of place along the touchline just before kick-off.

Not one player dared touch the trophy as they walked past, although Cray Wanderers substitute Ryan Royston did turn his head to stare at the most famous piece of silverware in world football after walking past it.

Although a Kent club will not win the FA Cup this season, Kempster, who did win the FA Carlsberg Vase at the old Wembley Stadium with Deal Town in 2000, relished today’s occasion.

“It’s magic playing in the competition,” he said. “Later on in the rounds you get all the best players in the world playing in the FA Cup.

“I managed to get to see my team, Millwall in the final a couple of years ago, which was a dream come true.

“Playing in it, it’s just a fantastic competition, everyone knows about the FA Cup around the world.”

With sixty Cray Wanderers goals to his name now, 35-year-old Kempster only has 19 more to score to beat Jenkins’ goalscoring haul of 78.

“It’s a great feeling as it goes scoring the 60^th goal,” said a very proud Kempster. “It’s a bit disappointing that the next one was chalked off because I’m aiming at Jenko now.

“I don’t know how many he’s got, but my next tally is Jenko’s, I think.”

The Wands play two Ryman League Division One South games before their lucrative FA Cup First Qualifying Round trip to Sutton United in thirteen days time.

And Kemspter hopes the Ryman Premier League side take the Wands for granted, and the Kent side can cause an upset to try and reach the first round proper for the very first time.

“They started off really well and maybe because they’re lower league, the old cliché thinking you just have to turn up and roll them over and it doesn’t work like that,” explained Kempster.

“The same thing, hopefully (will happen to us) in a couple of weeks time.

“The thing is, we’ve gone in four-nil up at half time but they didn’t give up, they’ve not rolled over.

“It’s not like we ran away, seven, eight or nine. I thought I scored and they broke away and scored so credit to them.

“But that’s what the FA Cup does for you. No-one gives up do they? They kept preserving.”

For Wands manager Jenkins - a Manchester United supporter - he said it was great to see the FA Cup here in Kent at today’s match.

“It’s nice to see the young kids with the Cray supporters having their photo taken,” he said.

“You’re never going to touch it at the stadium are you? So it’s nice to see it!”

On Kempster's milestone, Jenkins added: “He was at the club fourteen years ago, went away and done his bit and he’s come back.

“He’s an eight out of 10 player and gets his fair share of goals. It’s two he’s got already this season, not bad.”

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