Kentish Football 
PLAY-OFF FINAL LIVE: CRAY WANDERERS 1-0 METROPOLITAN POLICE - CRAY HEROES MAKE HISTORY
Saturday 02nd May 2009
CRAY WANDERERS 1-0 METROPOLITAN POLICE
Ryman League Division One South Play-Off Final
Saturday 2nd May 2009
Stephen McCartney reports from Hayes Lane
Simon Osborn clinched promotion for Cray Wanderers, as the second oldest football club in the world celebrated winning promotion into the Ryman Premier League for the very first time.
That means the Kent club will be playing in their highest level of football in their 150th season, thanks to Osborn’s stunning curling 79th minute free-kick.
Yes, I screamed the loudest, in the press box, when hero Osborn’s free-kick crashed into the net - and when that final whistle blew - well, I haven’t celebrated like that since THAT DAY at Wembley Stadium 12 months ago when Ebbsfleet United won the FA Carlsberg Trophy by beating Torquay United.
Day’s like today makes running this website (and going to bed at 2 o’clock on Wednesday mornings after midweek games) all that worthwhile.
Thanks for everybody at Cray Wanderers for a great day! See you in the Ryman Premier League!
Click here to read our emotional LIVE TEXT.
Cray Wanderers: Glen Knight, Arron Day, Tyrone Sterling, Danny Chapman, Mark Willy, Steve Aris, Scott Kinch, Simon Osborn, Michael Power, Leigh Bremner (Dean Morris 90), Jamie Wood (Juma Ibrahim 69).
Subs: Jamie Kempster, Richmond Kissi, Jack Bradshaw.
Goal: Simon Osborn 79
Booked: Arron Day 62, Leigh Bremner 65
Metropolitan Police: Will Packham, Lee Gledhill, Michael Cobden (Ron Edwards 34), Steve Sutherland, Nicky Humphrey, Stuart Harte, Steve Sargent, James Greenaway (Liam Baitup 86), Gary Drewett, Scott Forrester (Jon Henry-Hayden 73), Jamie Byatt.
Subs: Vernon Francis, Mo Mann.
Booked: Scott Forrester 62, Jamie Byatt 81
Attendance: 659
Referee: Mr Carl Berry (Cheam, Surrey)
Assistants: Mr Robin Cox (Banbury, Oxfordshire) & Mr Robert Hodges (Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire)
Fourth Official: Mr John Busby (Wallingford, Oxfordshire)
17:02
Cray players proudly disappear down the players’ tunnel to emotional and proud scenes here at Hayes Lane.
17:00
A delighted Tony Lettington, on the public address system, blasts out “we are going up, we are going up, we are going up!
16:59
With their theme tune blaring out of the speakers at Hayes Lane, the heroic Cray players line up as photographers take phots and the players celebrate their promotion.
16:58
Cray management of Ian Jenkins and Joe Francis walk up towards the table, as their heroic players walk up to receive their medals, with pride coming from all Cray fans. Mark Willy, Jamie Kempster and Jamie Wood lift the tiny trophy - let the party begin!
94:05 CRAY WANDERERS 1-0 METROPOLITAN POLICE
A special, stunning Simon Osborn free-kick, with just eleven minutes remaining, means Cray Wanderers will be playing Ryman Premier League football next season. A amber wall blocked out everything that the Police threw at them late on. As the final whistle blew, up went my arms and screams of “yes, yes, yes,” as we all celebrate a Kent club’s successful - and deserved - promotion.
92:00
The hardworking Leigh Bremner takes off his shirt, as he is replaced by Dean Morris. An excellent reception for the striker.
91:00
Leigh Bremner, with the crowd kicking every ball, escapes Steve Sutherland down the left, but his shot is blocked by the advancing Will Packham.
TIME ADDED TIME
The board goes up - and there will be four minutes of time added on at the end of this tense encounter.
89:00
Cray are so, so, so, close. Come on boys, we’re almost there, and games against Kentish rivals Dartford, Maidstone United and Tonbridge Angels next season.
86:00
Metropolitan Police make their third change as Liam Baitup comes on for James Greenaway. A last throw of the dice for the Imber Court outfit.
81:00
Jamie Byatt, who has impressed, is lucky to escape with just a booking, for an elbow on Arron Day.
79:00 GOAL - CRAY WANDERERS 1-0 METROPOLITAN POLICE
Cray Wanderers are awarded a free-kick, on the very edge of the Metropolitan Police penalty area, on the left. To my words of “come on Ossie, you’ve done this for a living,” the former Gillingham star steps up and with a right-footed shot, curls the, hopefully, winning goal, past the helpless diving goalkeeper and into the top left-hand corner. Wild celebrations, including me, all around Hayes Lane.
77:00
This is painful, so nervous. Cray striker Leigh Bremner gets in behind the Police defence, following a mistake from Nicky Humphrey - the first error of the game - but Bremner’s shot was blocked by the advancing goalkeeper.
75:00
Police survive. A free-kick from Simon Osborn and the ball broke to Steve Aris on the edge of the six-yard box, his cross-shot was bundled clear by Police substitute Ron Edwards.
73:00
Metropolitan Police make their second change as Jon Henry-Hayden replaces striker Scott Forrester. A visiting official, sitting behind us, confirms that there are only four police officers in their side today.
71:00
Cray Wanderers’ first shot on target finally arrives. Steve Aris chips the ball towards the edge of the box for striker Leigh Bremner, who turned and then unleashed a left-footed drive from 18-yards, which rolled towards Will Packham, making a comfortable save.
69:00
Cray manager Ian Jenkins makes his first change, teenager Juma Ibrahim replaces Jamie Wood, who scored the semi-final winner against Worthing here on Tuesday night.
RYMAN LEAGUE PLAY-OFF FINAL LATESTS
Premier: Staines Town 0-0 Carshalton Athletic
Division One South: Cray Wanderers 0-0 Metropolitan Police
Division One North: Waltham Abbey 0-1 Concord Rangers
65:00
Frustrated Cray striker Leigh Bremner is booked for his challenge on Police right-back Lee Gledhill, in front of the away dug-out.
62:00
Referee Carl Berry issues his first cards of the tentative final, with Scott Forrester (Met Police) and Arron Day being booked, although it appeared that Forrester had tangled with the Cray defender.
53:00
Simon Osborne whips in a cross from the right towards Danny Chapman at the far post, but his glancing header went past the near post. A better start to the second half by the Kent side.
52:00
Scott Kinch plays in Cray striker Leigh Bremner down the inside right-channel, and as Police goalkeeper Will Packham rushes off his line, Bremner’s first time right-footed shot sails agonisingly over the crossbar.
51:00
Alert defending inside the six-yard box from Arron Day ensured Steve Sutherland’s header didn’t find the corner, following Steve Sargent’s floated free-kick towards the far post.
16:01 SECOND HALF
Cray Wanderers get the second half underway, kicking towards the car park terrace at sunny Hayes Lane, hoping to play better than they did during the first half. But, at least no goals have been scored. Metropolitan Police were the first side to come back on to the pitch. Cray boss Ian Jenkins is hopefully giving his side a rallying cry to go on and win this game and clinch promotion into the Ryman Premier League for the first time in their 149-year history.
RYMAN LEAGUE PLAY-OFF FINAL HALF-TIMES
Premier: Staines Town 0-0 Carshalton Athletic
Division One South: Cray Wanderers 0-0 Metropolitan Police
Division One North: Waltham Abbey 0-0 Concord Rangers
46:24 HALF TIME: CRAY WANDERERS 0-0 METROPOLITAN POLICE
A tentative first half ends goal-less, although Metropolitan Police have created a trio of chances, but thankfully Glen Knight has made saves from Jamie Byatt (twice) and Stuart Harte.
43:19
Cray goalkeeper Glen Knight, made his third save of the game, although he didn’t know much about it as Metropolitan Police’s holding midfielder Stuart Harte unleashed a right-footed drive from thirty-yards. The Cray stopper stopped inside his six-yard box and the shot rebounded off his left knee to safety.
35:41
Lee Gledhill, the Police right-back, joins an attack and he delivers a cross into the Cray penalty area and Gary Drewett wins an aerial battle with Cray defender Mark Willy, and his looping header drops wide of the far post.
34:00
Metropolitan Police are forced into making their first substitution as Ron Edwards replaces the injured Michael Cobden.
31:00
A well worked training ground free-kick move by Cray Wanderers saw Michael Power slip the ball to Simon Osborne, and as Jamie Wood peeled off into the box, Osborne squared the ball to Power, in space, whose drilled shot deflected off Nicky Humphrey and out for a corner.
24:03
Cray Wanderers’ goalkeeper Glen Knight thwarted Jamie Byatt at his near post after the left-midfielder latched onto a flick from Scott Forrester. Byatt’s left-footed angled shot was well held by the Cray goalkeeper as the visitors’ press in front of Cray Wanderers’ largest crowd of the season.
13:41
Cray Wanderers’ striker Michael Power turns his marker on the edge of the six-yard box, but blazes over a right-footed shot. Steve Aris’ throw was flicked on by Jamie Wood and as the ball spun beyond the Police defence, Power wasted the opportunity.
9:50
Metropolitan Police have the first real chance of the game when Jamie Byatt’s 25-yard drive had Cray goalkeeper Glen Knight into action, but the former Dover Athletic stopper dived to his right to turn the low drive around his near post.
8:25
Metropolitan Police have their first chance of this final. Tyrone Sterling, coming in for left-back, pulled Gary Drewett’s shirt, and Jamie Byatt, taking a free-kick right on the line, on the right-hand side, chipped a free-kick towards the far post, and this was met by Stuart Harte’s header, which sailed across goal and dropped wide of the far post.
1:49
Leigh Bremner robs Steve Sutherland on the left edge of the penalty area, drove into the box with his first touch, and unleashed a left-footed drive over the Metropolitan Police crossbar.
14:58 - THE BIG KICK-OFF
Metropolitan Police get the game underway.
Team News
Cray Wanderers have made two changes from the side that defeated Worthing 1-0 at Hayes Lane in midweek. Tyrone Sterling, as expected, replaces the injured Leigh Bremner, whilst Lewis Wood, who is away in Las Vagas, is replaced by Michael Power.
13:30
The entire Cray Wanderers squad are in front of us talking to each other on the perimeter fence, wearing club tracksuit bottoms and white t-shirts.
13:12
Cray Wanderers’ assistant, Joe Francis, arrives and walks down the players’ tunnel, and we wish him luck for today’s winner-takes-all showdown against Metropolitan Police.
13:10
More Metropolitan Police players - how many of them are actually policemen? - arrive and disappear down the players tunnel.
A couple of white t-shirted Metropolitan Police players, one swigging from a water bottle, arrive and disappear down the players tunnel.
12:55
The music below us, in the home dressing room, starts to blare out from the speakers as Ian Jenkins and Paul Blade get their pre-match preparations underway. Their players are expected to arrive, as usual, at half past one.
12:50
Ian Jenkins, in his tenth season in charge of his beloved Cray Wanderers, arrives at Hayes Lane and immediately strolls onto the pitch to look at the hard playing surface. Paul Blade joins him moments later on the edge of the centre circle.
12:45
Paul Blade, a member of Cray Wanderers’ management staff, arrives first.
12:40
No wonder the Ryman League enjoy play-off’s - they pick up 25% of the play-off takings! Cray Wanderers have to pay for three stewards, a medical man and Metropolitan Police’s travelling expenses. For fans though, including season ticket holders, it’s ALL PAY at the turnstiles. Don’t forget that admission prices are £8 (adults) and £4 (concessions). We look forward to seeing you for the 3 o’clock kick-off.
12:30
Upon arrival at Hayes Lane, the Glemnet Suite, which is expected to do a roaring trade, looks like it’s open for business today. Please ask stewards if this is open for supporters’ use. Looking down onto the playing surface, a lack of rain has meant that the pitch appears to be rock hard and bobbly - a typical end of season looking pitch for football clubs up and down the country. The tension, which I didn’t have when I woke up this morning, is starting to build, although I am very confident that Cray Wanderers will join Kingstonian in the Ryman Premier League next season. The Wands scoring the first goal would, obviously, help!
11:30
I think I spoke too soon! Now at Sevenoaks, the excitement, tension and nerves, that I felt before and during the Worthing game, are setting in. I fully expect Cray Wanderers to win this game and we’ll be celebrating their deserved promotion - with champions Kingstonian - into the Ryman Premier League. If you’re attending this game at Hayes Lane, Bromley today, please give Ian Jenkins’ men passionate, vocal support - something that doesn’t usually happen at Wands’ games. It’s vitally important that we all play our part in this must-win showdown.
10:45
About fifteen minutes before I leave home (Tunbridge Wells), I don’t have any butterflies in my stomach - unlike the whole of last Monday afternoon and throughout Tuesday until the final whistle, when I punched the air in relief, although feeling disappointed about Tonbridge Angels‘ self destruction against Carshalton Athletic. I actually felt sick half-an-hour before the Worthing semi-final kicked-off. I really detest play-off games, a season is over 42 games and if you finish in the top three you should clinch promotion. Why should your entire season comprise of one or two lotteries at the end of the season? Please revert back to the old way of promotion and relegation and scrap the play-off system. Ok, it does mean teams have something to play for throughout the entire season, but there’s go to be a fairer way to settling a season than this. Hopefully, come five o’clock this afternoon, we are all celebrating Cray Wanderers’ promotion into their highest ever level - the Ryman Premier League. Come on, who wants to be playing Metropolitan Police in that division next season?
COUNTY WIDE SUPPORT
Today is the day for all supporters from our great county to flock through the turnstiles of Hayes Lane, Bromley to give Kent side Cray Wanderers all the support they can. Admission prices are £8 (adults) and £4 (concessions). Remember season tickets are NOT valid so it’s ALL PAY on the day. Victory for Ian Jenkins’ men will ensure the club will be playing Ryman Premier League football in August - the club’s highest ever position in 149 years’ of football.
EARLY TEAM NEWS
Experienced left-back Colin Luckett is expected to miss this play-off final due to an ankle ligament injury, sustained during the first half of Cray Wanderers’ 1-0 home win over Worthing. Tyrone Sterling is expected to take his place, like he did after 28 minutes of Tuesday night’s game.
WE’VE GOT IT COVERED!
You can read LIVE TEXT COVERAGE from Hayes Lane on www.kentishfootball.co.uk this afternoon. Also, BBC Radio Kent are providing LIVE WEBSITE COMMENTARY on www.bbc.co.uk/kent with regular updates on their sports show on 96.7fm or 104.2fm.
GOOD LUCK CRAY!
I would personally like to wish Cray Wanderers good luck for today’s Ryman League Division One South play-off final against Metropolitan Police - see you in the Ryman Premier League in August!
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd