crayvsporting160803

Champagne performance puts Jenkins champions back on top spot

Saturday 16 August 2003
GO TRAVEL KENT LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
CRAY WANDERERS 10-0 SPORTING BENGAL UNITED
(Attendance 116)
by Jerry Dowlen - www.craywanderersfc.co.uk 

Cray Wanderers knocked Lordswood off the top of the Go Travel Kent League Premier Division table on goal difference after crushing newcomers Sporting Bengal 10-0.

It was Cray Wanderers highest Kent League victory since 1894 and their highest win since February 1957 when Chingford were beaten 11-0.

Cray took a fourth minute lead when Jamie Wood headed home.  A goal procession followed as Ricky Bennett and David Gray each scored hat-tricks and Cray's other goalscorers were Adam Heaslewood, James Taylor and Paul Dimmock.

Ironically, the Wands had started the day with a goalkeeping worry, and had brought 40-year old Micky Simmons out of retirement to fill the vacant position.  He had a quiet afternoon between the posts, but he did pull off one flying save from Rahman, the visitor's skipper, to deny Sporting a consolation goal.

The Wands committee had introduced a special new prize - a bottle of champagne - for the player voted Man of the Match this season.  First recipient at Hayes Lane was Paul Dimmock who was handed two bottles of bubbly after winning the committee vote for the games at Hythe Town and Sevenoaks Town.