Cray Wanderers 0-3 Aveley - Play-off's are our aspirations, it always will be, no matter how long Tim O'Shea is in charge, says Cray Wanderers coach Alfie George

Cray Wanderers 0 – 3 Aveley
Location	Flamingo Park, Sidcup-by-pass, Chislehurst, Kent BR7 6HL
Kickoff	09/01/2026 19:45

CRAY WANDERERS  0-3  AVELEY
Isthmian League Premier Division
Friday 9 January 2026
Stephen McCartney reports from Flamingo Park

CRAY WANDERERS coach Alfie George admits too many of his players put in five out of 10 performances and lacked that clinical finishing edge after losing to fellow play-off chasing side Aveley.

Brett Munyard’s side extended their unbeaten League record away from home with three clinical second-half finishes, as 688 fans braved the bitterly cold, wet and windy conditions at Flamingo Park.

The Essex side took the lead with Fletcher Hubbard scoring on the counter-attack, before substitute striker Toby Aromolaran came off the bench to score twice in the space of 147 seconds.

Tim O’Shea’s men also lost their last Friday night home game to Whitehawk (1-2) on 12 December, before picking up emphatic back-to-back wins over Steve McKimm’s Cray Valley (5-0) and Brentwood Town (4-1) but they lacked the same ruthless streak here tonight.

The Wands were without Harry Price (flu) and Kareem Isiaka (attending a family wedding in Nigeria) and Aveley made five changes to the side that inflicted Folkestone Invicta’s third league defeat of the season on Tuesday night, with a
1-0 away win over Jay Saunders’ runaway leaders.

George, 32, who was sent out by O’Shea for post-match media duties, said: “Disappointing, disappointing.  I thought we had four very good chances. Aveley were just clinical, resolute, defended well.

“The first one went in and we kinda capitulated a bit. Two mistakes and they punished us. It’s kind of what we did to Brentwood last week to be honest but you’ve got to take the medicine. It wasn’t the best performance from us.

“We sort of played into their hands but overall, they took the three points and we got none.

“Aveley are a very good side. We said at half-time, they’re probably, bar Folkestone, one of the best sides we’ve played in this League. They’ve got everything. They’ve got pace, they’ve got power, they’ve got experience. They’ve got youth. They rotate well. They’re just a strong, strong side.

“They’ve obviously got a few games behind, so I think they will win their games in hand and then you’re really going to see, probably too late to say, they could take Folkestone for a bit of a run, if they can continue with this form.”

The first 20 minutes was a cagey, low-quality affair before the Essex side created the first chance of the game with 18:50 on the clock.

Eleven-goal attacking midfielder Ollie Peters laid the ball off for holding midfielder Jayden Robinson’s whose first time low right-footed drive from 22-yards was comfortably held by Harry Seaden, diving low to his right to prevent the ball nestling inside the bottom left-hand corner.

“We work a lot with H, those sort of low reaction saves. His positioning was perfect. It’s what we kind of done in training these last couple of weeks, working on foot work and positioning and stuff like that, so yes, it was a comfortable save,” said George.

Frankie Raymond – who was Cray Wanderers’ best player on the night – whipped in a free-kick from just outside the left corner of the box and the ball came to left-winger Jordy Mongoy, who took a touch before slicing a poor right-footed shot harmlessly wide of the right-hand post from a central position from 15-yards.

When asked about Mongoy’s performance – considering he was the only Cray Wanderers player to be substituted – George replied: “He was impactful. I thought first half our left-wing was probably the one we were getting the most joy out of him and Frankie Morgan have got a good relationship. Both know when and where they’re going to be.

“I thought we could’ve utilised him a bit better. He come inside and caused them a little bit of a problem and I thought they changed their shape or personnel to deal with certain aspects of our play.

“I think if you speak to him, he’s down in the dumps about missing the opportunity he did, so can’t blunder it all on him.  One opportunity doesn’t finish the game but we know Jordy and his personality and he’ll come back firing on Tuesday in training.”

Both teams were cancelling each other out and Cray Wanderers squandered a glorious chance to grab the lead, courtesy of Gillingham loanee striker, Harry Bridle, with 32:56 on the clock, missing a glorious one-on-one opportunity.

Attacking midfielder Alex Hernandez (playing against his former club) broke down the left and his progress was ended by a sliding tackle from Aveley’s right-back Tobi Tinubu just over the half-way line.

The ball broke for Bridle, who raced into the box, left a defender on the deck, cut inside and stroked his right-footed shot straight at Aveley’s debutant goalkeeper Rylee Mitchell, the Norwich City loanee comfortably catching the ball at chest height.

“Really disappointing in front of goal tonight,” admitted George.

“If you watched us against Cray Valley and Brentwood, we were ruthless. We just lacked that edge tonight. I don’t know what it was, whether it will be Friday nights – I think that will be our last one – but we just lacked that clinical touch in front of goal.”

When asked about the nineteen-year-old central striker’s debut performance, George said: “He done well, he done well. He battled well. We know he’s not the tallest and direct service into him isn’t going to be the best. We tried to play into his feet as much as we can but he put himself about.

“He said himself he should’ve squared the ball (to Lateef Adaja) from the opportunity he had but I don’t think he realised Lateef was there. I thought all round it was a tough game for everyone.

“It was the first time we’ve seen him tonight because of the Friday night game, we weren’t in (training) last night. We were in on Tuesday but this sort of opportunity (to sign him on loan until the end of the season) came around on Wednesday, so we knew the risks.

“But he’s good friends with (Gillingham team-mate) Harry Waldock and we knew about him at Whitehawk last year and I think he’ll settle in fine.  It was just a baptism of fire tonight.”

Raymond played a free-kick along the deck into Mongoy, who played the ball inside to another Gillingham loanee, Harry Waldock, whose first time right-footed drive from 30-yards was drilled well wide of the right-hand post.

Cray Wanderers were to be denied by the far post, following a set-piece, with 40:37 on the clock, as another chance went begging.

Left-back Frankie Morgan threw the ball to Raymond, whose sublime turn saw him cut onto his right-foot before curling his 30-yarder angled drive across the diving Mitchell, only for the ball to agonisingly clip the top of the far post and winger Lateef Adaja lacked composure with the rebound.

“I mean, if you watched us against Brentwood last week, that would’ve gone in.  Last week we were so clinical,” admitted George.

“It was a great move from Frank and it’s hit the inside of the post and Lateef couldn’t steady his feet.  I think he could’ve had a touch and scored to be fair but great from Frankie but they’re the kind of fine margines that we lacked.”

When asked what was missing from his side, George replied: “Just patterns really. Just the lack of bravery. We tried to implement the last three, which is bravery on the ball, midfield patterns and we just couldn’t free our midfield up, so you’ve got to give credit to Aveley with the way they set up.

“I think just a bit of bravery and a clinical finishing edge. We’ve had four chances, we’ve got to score at least one of them.

“At half-time we were just talking about bravery and getting braver on the ball and the boys did it second half. I thought we did have a bit more joy and we got on top of it more. We had arguably the better opportunities before they scored and that was it really. Just be a bit braver.

“We all knew we were all five out of 10s. It was like to win this game we’re going to have to be all up to seven, eight, nines (out of 10) and I think that goal just took it out of us and then we were trying to push for the equaliser and they caught us on the counter.”

Cray Wanderers kicked off for the second half and went close to scoring after only 18 seconds.

Mongoy cut in from the left into the middle before switching the ball out to right-winger Adaja, who easily cut inside Aveley left-back Harry Critchley before shifting the ball onto his left-foot before arrowing his shot just past the top of the far post from just inside the penalty area.

George said: “Frankie Raymond had one at the end as well. We had a few shots. Against Brentwood and Cray Valley, they were going in and they were nestling in the net. It just wasn’t meant to be tonight and that’s just football, sometimes they go in, sometimes they don’t.”

Robinson swung in Aveley’s second corner of the game from the left and eight-goal winger Ryan Charles’ glancing header at the back post deflected past the far post.

Aveley grabbed the lead, courtesy of a two-man counter-attack, with 13 minutes and 11 seconds on the clock.

Central midfielder Fletcher Hubbard broke from midfield, played a fine one-two with often isolated lone central striker Louie Kudiabor before Hubbard clinically drilled his right-footed shot into the bottom left-hand corner from 16-yards with only Seaden to beat.

“Exactly. Clinical. I think that’s the key word,” admitted George.

“We were breaking with a good pattern of play. I think Jordy probably picked the wrong pass. I thought Lateef, if he could’ve reversed, it was the better option but he’s sort of put Harry a bit too wide and then it’s just turned over and the goal was just clinical.

“It just killed the game for us to be honest. One-nil is hard enough but two-nil, especially against Aveley, yes, difficult.”

Munyard then pulled off a tactical masterstroke with Robinson and Critchley both being hooked for attackers Jesse Nwabueze and the nine-goal Christopher Harris and this switch caused the home side mega issues on the counter-attack.

Hernandez put in a low cross from the right by-line towards the unmarked Mongoy at the back post but the former Hanwell Town winger dropped to his knees after his shot was blocked when he really should have tested the goalkeeper Mitchell.

Aveley went route one as they grabbed their second goal, with 32 minutes and 27 seconds on the clock, when centre-half Remi Sutton failed to cut out a long ball from the halfway line from Aveley centre-half Ryan Henshaw.

This through ball released Aromolaran through on goal and he kept composed to skip around the advancing Seaden before rolling his right-footed shot into the bottom far corner of an empty goal.

“Toby’s clinical. We know he is. He’s obviously been at Hashtag with the numbers that he’s done but they’ve got good strength-in-depth. They’ve got exactly what you need to do well in this League.  They’ve done it, got out of (the Isthmian League Premier Division) before,” said George.

“A bit of one when you’re just trying to push really, we committed more bodies forward and we just sort of a loose pass into midfield and they snuffed it out. It was just a first time ball and with Toby’s pace, you know he’s going to get there, just sort of killed the game in the end.”

Cray Wanderers capitulated and leaked a third goal with 34 minutes and 54 seconds on the clock, courtesy of some horrific defending from Cray Wanderers right-back Adrian O-Gyamera inside his own penalty area.

O-Gyamera gifted the ball to Nwabueze who slipped the ball to Aronolaran, who swept his first time right-footed shot into the bottom left-hand corner from eight-yards, as Seaden’s awful performance in goal saw Aveley score three of their four shots on target.

“We tend to, if we concede one, concede shortly after, so that’s something we have to eradicate quite quickly,” admitted Georghe.

“I think Adrian’s held his hands up to that. Dribbling across your own box isn’t ideal but passes weren’t on and he should’ve just put it in row Z, to be honest, like the old days but that’s game over.”

Cray Wanderers kept plugging away and Mongoy played the ball inside to Raymond, who took a touch before going very close with his right-footed drive from 35-yards, which screamed just past the left-hand post.

Aveley were, however, threatening on the counter-attack and Tinubu broke straight down the heart of the pitch before playing a one-two with the impressive Aromolaran (who offered more of a threat than Kudiabor), before Tinubu drilled his right-footed shot against the base of the left-hand post (42:33).

“It should’ve been four to be honest, should’ve been four. We were pushing and we got caught and that’s what happens when you play good teams,” added George.

Despite dominating the corner count by 11-3 tonight, Cray Wanderers found Aveley in resilient mood, with centre-halves Harry Haysom and Henshaw keeping the door securely locked, keeping back-to-back clean-sheets away from home.

“Yes, listen, you don’t go to Folkestone on Tuesday night and come away with a clean-sheet if you’re not good at defending your own goal. We know that first hand (losing 8-1 on the Kent coast on Tuesday 11 November),” recalled George.

“They’re very resolute, they’re strong, you know the type of personnel. They’ve got Matt Johnson, an excellent signing for them.  Harry Haysom at the back, obviously very experience and they’ve brought on experience.

“It’s just desire really. I think their desire to keep the ball out and we had no desire to put it in the net.”

Morgan threw the ball into the six-yard box from within the left-channel and Bridle’s shot from within a crowd was blocked by Mitchell at his near-post.

Referee Adam Steele (who played six minutes and 46 seconds of stoppage time, despite the game being dead and buried), witnessed Hernandez shooting on the turn and Waldock cracking a right-footed volley over from the edge of the box, as Cray Wanderers still couldn’t trouble the debutant Aveley goalkeeper.

Tonight’s game was streamed live on Clubber TV and Cray Wanderers will earn £1,000 as the home club, with Aveley getting less.

“Personal thoughts, I’m not a fan. I think it takes away from the non-league scene in terms of getting people into grounds and that but listen, it’s the way everything’s going now, streaming services and stuff like that. It gives it a wider audience,” said George, when asked about Cray Wanderers being shown for the second time this season, having kicked off their game at Wingate & Finchley at 12:30 last month.

“There’s a lot of You Tube teams around (Hashtag United and SE Dons) that stream their games.  Me personally, just my own personal opinion, I think non-league should just be kept as non-league (and fans attending games, games kicking off at three o’clock on a Saturday).

“That’s what it’s about, togetherness, community. I’m not against (streaming games live). It’s just one of those things. I prefer to have bodies in the ground. I think it supports your local club.”

Cray Wanderers’ fifth League defeat of the season sees them slip down a place and drop out of the Isthmian League Premier Division play-off zone after Dartford came away from Aveley with a 2-2 draw away to Hashtag United, who climbed out of the relegation zone.

Folkestone Invicta (60 points from 25 of 42 games) seem to be running away with the League title.

Brentwood Town (49 points from 25 games), Chatham Town (46 points from 23 games), Aveley (45 points – 12 wins, nine draws and two defeats – from 23 games) and Dartford (41 points from 25 games) are in the play-offs tonight.

The Wands are now in sixth-place with 41 points (10 wins, 11 draws and five defeats) from 26 games, five points clear of Burgess Hill Town.

O’Shea takes his side to Parkside to play Hashtag United (25 points – six wins, seven draws and 11 defeats) next Saturday, a side that are one point clear of the relegation zone that contains Cheshunt, Canvey Island, Welling United and Potters Bar Town.

“Listen, Hashtag are maybe in a little bit of a false position. The League is super, super strong but as you can see one result and places and positions change so quickly, apart from Folkestone, there’s no clear runners,” said George.

“So you go to a team that’s fighting to stay in the League and if you think they’re going to roll over and give us an easy game, you’ve got to think again!

“They’re going to be battling for their lives, try to get to the 40-point mark as quickly as they can, so it’s not going to be an easy game. We’ve got to get a reaction out of the boys.

“Now knowing that Dartford result, disappointing (that we’ve slipped out of the play-offs tonight), opportunity lost again but see how the results go tomorrow. We might still be in the mix, which is crazy. Still a long way to go. Half the season. It’s only our fifth defeat of the season.

“When Tim took over from Neil Smith, aspirations was always safety first. Obviously, that’s key, so in house that was our objective. One more point and I’ll say we’ve achieved it.

“Play-offs are our aspirations, it always will be. No matter how long Tim O’Shea is in charge, that is always an aspiration for us and listen we’ll see where we end up after 42 games.”

George had this message for the fans’ that braved the bitterly cold conditions.  It’s crazy that the Isthmian League do not play more derby games in the warmer months of August and September, which would have brought a far greater attendance instead of braving the bitterly cold temperatures on a wet and windy Friday night in January.

“Just thank you for turning up. The boys need the support, need the energy, especially on cold nights’ like this and it supports the club helps the club grow.

“I do a lot of work with the youth team here as well, so it’s good to see some of the youth kids here banging the drums and getting involved.

“As crazy as it sounds, it just creates a one club thing. It’s brilliant. Me and Tim have been here four years’ now and it’s sort of grown from 100 odd fans at Bromley to an average gate of around 600, so it’s great to see.”

Cray Wanderers: Harry Seaden, Adrian O-Gyamera, Frankie Morgan, Frankie Raymond, Remi Sutton, Tom Bonner, Jordy Mongoy (Chris Dickson 85), Harry Waldock, Harry Bridle, Alex Hernandez, Lateef Adaja.
Subs: Billy Wall, Quade Taylor, Prosper Keto, Ralf Hand

Booked: Tom Bonner 23

Aveley: Rylee Mitchell, Tobi Tinubu, Harry Critchley (Christopher Harris 60), Jayden Robinson (Jesse Nwabueze 60), Harry Haysom (Jayden Gipson 48), Ryan Henshaw, Ryan Charles, Fletcher Hubbard (Louis Reynolds 79), Louie Kudiabor (Toby Aromolaran 75), Ollie Peters, Matt Johnson.

Goals: Fletcher Hubbard 59, Toby Aromolaran 78, 80

Booked: Harry Critchley 54, Ryan Charles 77, Christopher Harris 86
 

Attendance: 688
Referee: Mr Adam Steele
Assistants: Mr David Lofgren & Mr Bogdan Caraghin