Cray Wanderers 4-2 Dulwich Hamlet - We're getting better as a team each week but we don't want to give Tosh an easy ride and win four or five nil, we have to give him a few hairy moments to keep him on his toes, says Cray Wanderers' coach Roy Brooke

Cray Wanderers 4 – 2 Dulwich Hamlet
Location	Flamingo Park, Sidcup-by-pass, Chislehurst, Kent BR7 6HL
Kickoff	30/09/2025 19:45

CRAY WANDERERS  4-2  DULWICH HAMLET
Isthmian League Premier Division
Tuesday 30 September 2025
Stephen McCartney reports from Flamingo Park

CRAY WANDERERS coach Roy Brooke says his side does not fear anyone and are getting better each week after issuing a statement win with an impressive performance after the dark horses stunned Dulwich Hamlet.

 

The Wands attracted their largest crowd of the season (813), a game dedicated in the memory of the late Kerry Phillips, who fulfilled admin roles for both clubs and it was Tim O’Shea’s side that came away with a massive three points at Flamingo Park.

Cray Wanderers were ruthless in front of goal during the first half with striker Alex Hernandez and winger Lateef Adaja both scoring their fourth goals of the season, before centre-half Tom Bonner headed in from a corner.

Danny Mills, 34, came off the bench to bury a header as Mark Dacey’s side pulled a goal back, before substitute winger Joshua Williams scored a late fourth for the hosts, before former Glebe midfielder Solomon Baugh curled in an injury time second for Dulwich Hamlet, with many of their travelling fans missing the goal as they vacated the stadium before the final whistle.

“Good performance, good result,” said a 'happy' Brooke, who was sent out for post-match questions by O’Shea.

“Everyone’s finding themselves out a little bit at the beginning the season but every time we play a team, it’s like you find something out about them. If you have to adapt in the game and I thought we did that really well.

“Statement win? I don’t know. We’ve been ticking around nicely, What we do, we just worry about ourselves, take it game-by-game, all stick together and just keep cracking on really.

“That’s what we’re about. We’re going to take each game as it comes and just keep showing what we’re about.”

Cray Wanderers came out with all guns blazing and their desire levels spooked Dulwich Hamlet, who couldn’t get through a well-organised outfit.

“They’re an honest group and the coaches are honest coaches. They care about the club. We all want to do well for the club and without stating the obvious, we’re just taking it week-by-week, cracking on, worrying about ourselves and just see how we get on every week. 

“They’re an honest bunch of lads to be fair and all the coaching staff are an honest bunch of guys as well and everyone’s really enjoying the season so far,” came Brooke’s reply, when asked about his players’ desire levels.

Lone striker Kareem Islaka was withdrawn early with a hamstring injury, so 40-year-old striker Chris Dickson came on (7:03) and was involved with the home side’s opening goal, timed at eight minutes and 14 seconds.

Right-back Freddie Taylor played a short pass inside to Frankie Raymond, who hit a long ball down the right.  Dickson took a touch, skipped past the advancing goalkeeper Toby Bull and poacher Hernandez pounced on the ball and slammed his right-footed drive into the bottom near corner of an open goal from 15-yards.

“I thought he had a really good game Dicko. He’s played at a good level of football, Football league and he brings, without stating the obvious, he brings so much experience but he is a fantastic player as well,” said Brooke.

“He done really well when he came on. I thought he caused them a lot of trouble, holding up the play, winning headers and he could’ve had a few goals, I think tonight as well.

“Alex is doing really well. He’s a really good lad, really busy, really high energy, good to have around the changing room as well. He’s settling in really well and he’s a good summer signing.”

When asked about the injury situation at the club, Brooke replied: “Kareem’s nothing too serious, we hope. I think it’s just a bit more precaution. He felt his hamstring slightly. Hopefully good news and he’ll be back soon.

“Frankie Morgan, he should be back hopefully within eight to 10 weeks, I think. Slight ligaments strain. He’s a massive miss.

“Prosper Keto, he’s done his ankle. He should be back sooner than Frankie, next couple of weeks.

“Marc-Anthony Okoye done us a favour. He’s going to go out and get some minutes elsewhere.”

Dulwich Hamlet centre-half Michael Chambers released high left-back Tom Chambers down the line and he cut inside and fizzed a low angled drive which was comfortably saved by Harry Seaden at his near-post (9:41).

Seven-goal left-winger, Luke Wanadio was a threat for Dulwich Hamlet and he often linked up well with striker Nyren Clunis and Seaden made a couple of comfortable saves as Dulwich Hamlet started to get back into the game.

Central midfielder Lonit Talla and Wanadio linked up within the final third down the left before Wanadio cut in and put it on a plate for Clunis, whose left-footed shot on the turn was hit straight at the 24-year-old goalkeeper (12:58).

Just 32 seconds later, Tom Chambers reached the channel down the left and cut the ball back for Wanadio, whose right-footed angled drive was comfortably caught in Seaden’s midriff.

“Luke Wanadio’s a good player, they’ve got loads of good players across the pitch,” admitted Brooke.

“Every week we go to a new ground, they’ve always got a good player. There’s no real bad teams in this League. You have to be on your game or you will get caught out.

“H (Seaden) is a good lad as well,” Brooke added.  “Another new signing this summer, really good guy. He’s done really well, H. He’s done brilliantly.  Like Alex, another great lad to have around the changing room.”

The 32-year-old Raymond was outstanding during the first half, pulling the strings in the middle of the park for Cray Wanderers against an old club.

Brooke said: “He rolled back the years, Frankie, didn’t he?  When you need someone to put a performance in, which Tosh asked of them, we needed a performance tonight. We need to step-up, a great game to play in. You know Frankie hears it and Frankie gets it and I thought he was fantastic tonight.”

Raymond played the ball inside to holding midfielder Harry Waldock, who played a sublime through ball to play in right-winger Adaja, who held his composure as Bull came off his line, to roll his left-footed shot into the empty net from 15-yards in a one-v-one, as Cray Wanderers raced into a two-goal lead with 16 minutes and 51 seconds on the clock.

“He’s done fantastic Lateef as well. He’s one of those players that just gives everything on the pitch,” said Brooke, who has graduated from the club’s youth ranks to first-team management.

“He defends and he’s getting goals now. We’ve put him a little target for him to get more goals and he’s done it.  I think, is that his fourth goal of the season?  He’s sprinting back 30-yards making slide tackles as well, so how many wingers can say they do both?”

Bonner tripped Clunis and Seaden lined up a five-man wall as Alfie Payne stabbed the ball a few inches for Wanadio to smash his right-footed drive off the wall and looping over the crossbar in the 20^th minute.

Bull often played the ball to centre-half Geofrey Okonkwo and Brooke was asked why Dickson didn’t press as the away side often played out from the back and Cray Wanderers were resilient and showed plenty more desire than their opponents.

“They kept the ball really well, so they tried to play through lines finding the little pockets in midfield,” said Brooke.

“We’ve worked on different types of press against different formations and they changed the formation in the second half and I thought we handled it really well.

“In pre-season we played a lot of different teams and we worked on a lot of different presses so we’re adaptable and we take each game as it comes.”

Dulwich Hamlet right-back Sean Bonnett-Johnson was their weak link and even Cray Wanderers centre-half Remi Sutton got in behind and reached the left by-line.

Dulwich Hamlet went close to pulling a goal back following their fourth of six corners, with 33:05 on the clock.

Holding midfielder Payne played the ball short to Talla, who put in a low cross from within the right channel and the ball was cleared out to Clunis, who drilled a low right-footed shot through a crowd of players and across the keeper and just past the foot of the far post from 20-yards.

“Do you know what?  You remember the ones you have more, don’t you? But I think arguably they had a bit of pressure around our box but we had some really good clear-cut chances to make it….The game should’ve been beyond them at half-time,” added Brooke.

Adaja was guilty of a glaring miss in the 42^nd minute, as a poor Bonnett-Johnson opened the door again, for being way too high in the build-up.

Adrian O-Gyamera’s quickly taken throw released Dickson in behind Bonnett-Johnson and he reached the by-line before hanging in a precise cross towards the back post but Adaja fluffed his big chance, ghosting in a hitting a right-footed volley against the top of the crossbar and behind for a goal-kick.

Brooke admitted: “He should’ve scored, shouldn’t he? Should he? Leaning back a little bit. We work on it, we’ve got to keep working on it. They’re hard.  They’re the ones that they seem very easy but as soon as you lean back, it’s hard.  You almost want them to cannon off their shin pad and roll in.”

Dulwich Hamlet were impressive down the left with Talla, Tom Chambers and Clunis all linking up well before Wanadio cut inside and onto his right-foot before drilling his right-footed angled drive across the flat-footed goalkeeper and screaming past the top of the far post from outside the penalty area.

Dulwich Hamlet gave the ball away inside their own half and Dickson pounced on it and raced through on goal and Bull made a vital save, diving low to his right to turn the ball behind for a corner in a one-v-one (43:46).

“We had Dicko one-on-one with the keeper, keeper’s made a good save. Dicko did everything right,” added Brooke, as Dulwich Hamlet just couldn’t live with Cray Wanderers’ attacking threats during the first half.

Cray Wanderers raced into a 3-0 lead, scoring from their fourth of six corners, with 44 minutes and 56 seconds on the clock.

An outstanding Raymond delivered a hanging corner in from the right with his left-foot wand towards the back post and Bonner buried his bullet header through a crowd of players into the near-corner from six-yards.

“First (goal) of the season. He had one disallowed last week, so he’s been getting closer and closer,” said Brooke, whose side have scored 21 and conceded 18 in this seventh-tier League this season.

“He should get five or six goals a season Bons really. What would you say his target should be? He’s got to have five or six a season, a player as good as him in the air.

“Honestly, we’ve had four defenders out this season at any given time and you can put Quade Taylor in that equation as well because Quade slips in next to Remi (Sutton) and Bons (Bonner). 

“You put two of them out there at any time and they don’t give a lot away. They’re very, very honest guys, they’re big guys, win their headers, win their tackles and they’re good lads to have around. It’s a good group this season, a really good group.”

There was still time for Raymond to clip the ball into the left-channel and centre-half Sutton (off all people) reached the by-line to put over a cross and Adaja went to pieces again, stabbing his first-time shot over the crossbar with his left-foot.

Brooke said: “We never pinch ourselves. We’ve been 2-0 up, we’ve been two-down, we’ve been 3-1 down, we’ve been 2-0 up and we always get a few goals and we concede a few goals, so tonight, it’s hard isn’t it.

“It was better it went in at three than two because two is such a horrible result to go in at and we’ve had that a couple of times where teams have pegged us back.

“Look, what the most important thing is that we’re creating lots of chances and we’ve just got to do our best to keep them out at the other end!”

Dacey made a triple substitution at the break, changing formation to three-at-the-back and it was no surprise when Bonnett-Johnson was hooked, as was Tom Chambers and quiet central midfielder Amadou Kassarate.

Anthony Cook (who served Cray Wanderers superbly during his time at Hayes Lane/Flamingo Park) came on at right-wing-back as  substitute Joseph Adewunmi (right), Okonkwo (central) and Michael Chambers (left) (after Giovanni Palmer came on and lasted just seven minutes) made it a three-man central defence, with Baugh operating as left-wing-back and breaking and cutting inside.

Dulwich Hamlet brought on Anthony Jeffrey at the break too, playing as a central striker, with Clunis now operating in a number 10 role.

Clunis laid the ball off to Wanadio, who unleashed a right-footed angled drive across the keeper and flashing past the far post inside the opening eight minutes.

Adaja delivered a quality delivery from a left-wing corner underneath the crossbar and Dickson steered his free-header over the crossbar from a couple of yards out, as another chance went begging for Cray Wanderers (10:06).

The Wands scored four of their seven attempts on target and five other chances were off-target.  Dulwich Hamlet scored two of their four on target and seven were off-target.

“We had enough chances to win three games,” claimed Brooke.

“Creating, this is what we’re working on and what’s really pleasing is that it’s an honest bunch of lads, good bunch of lads all want to be out there, all want to play for the club and we’re creating loads of chances which we’re working on in training.”

A poor backwards header from Raymond was latched onto by Jeffrey inside the Wands half and he cut in towards the edge of the penalty area but a couple of home players pressed and closed him down and a deflected shot was comfortably saved low down by an untroubled Seaden.

Talla gave the ball away inside his own half and Adaja took a touch and his right-footed drive from 25-yards was destined for the bottom left-hand corner, only for Bull to dive to his right and hold the ball, as this open, high-quality game continued.

Bonner hit a long ball out of the Cray Wanderers backline, the ball was cleared away and substitute holding midfielder Luke Allen cracked a right-footed half-volley past the left-hand post from 25-yards.

Talla jumped out of his shell and drove down the heart of the pitch before playing the ball out to the left to Jeffrey, who cut inside and flashed his right-footed drive past the near-post from 30-yards as Dulwich Hamlet proved they weren’t out of the game just yet.

Dulwich Hamlet pulled a goal back with 33 minutes and 20 seconds on the clock, courtesy of Mills’ first goal of the season.

Jeffrey put in a cross from within the right-channel in with his left-foot towards the back post where the towering striker buried his downward header into the bottom near corner from inside the six-yard box.

“We said about it, Stimmo (assistant manager Mark Stimson) called it. Big lad, always peels off to the back post, always a threat and it’s hard. Sometimes it’s hard to deal with that,” admitted Brooke.

“We never want an easy game. We like to give the fans’ a little bit for their money so we don’t want to give Tosh an easy ride and win four or five-nil. We have to give him a few hairy moments to keep him on his toes!”

When asked what former Gillingham and Margate manager Stimson, 57, brings to the party at Flamingo Park, Brooke replied: “The pair of them, him and Tosh (O’Shea), they bounce off each other as well and then you’ve got Alfie (George) as well. Ali (Maloney, physio).  We’ve got a new kit lady in.  Everyone, together it’s a really good group.

“We’ve got good camaraderie. We’ve got a Darts League going during the week. We’ve got a really good rapport with each other.  If you want to throw in that I’m the best Darts player and I’m winning the League and I’m better than Stimmo and Tosh!

“But look, from the owners down to the kit lady down to the players’, all the coaching staff, everyone’s getting on with it. Everyone’s enjoying it. We’ve got a really good thing going off the pitch and hopefully we can keep doing it on the pitch.”

Adewunmi put the ball into the Cray Wanderers box and Bonner headed the ball away and sent the home side on a counter-attack.

Williams broke, played a reverse pass in behind to put Dickson through on goal, skipped past the goalkeeper again and rolled his shot towards the goal, which was stabbed past the foot of the near-post by a covering defender.

The outstanding Dickson saw Bull off his line and attempted to score with a right-footed chip from 30-yards, which was plucked out of the air two-handed by the 22-year-old goalkeeper.

Dickson switched the play with a sublime 25-yard pass along the deck to Williams, who cut onto his left-foot to drill his shot past the diving Bull into the near corner from the 18-yard line to give Cray Wanderers a convincing 4-1 lead, with 43 minutes and 45 seconds on the clock.

“What pleases me is the stuff that we’ve working on in training and how we want to play, creating loads of chances, we’re doing it and that is something that’s really pleasing,” said Brooke.

“Another thing that is pleasing is the way we can press and adapt during a game, so we’ve got different presses, we’ve got different blocks and we can adapt during the game and that’s another thing that we’ve been working on in training and it’s coming out on matchdays.

“We feel like we’ve got in great positions and what we’re working on, on the training pitch, is to get in those positions and it seems like every game we’re getting in those positions and we’re either scoring from it, or creating really good chances, so it’s good that it’s paying off.”

Many Dulwich Hamlet fans starting to head for the exit at this point in the game and it was no surprise that Dacey’s side scored a second goal, timed at five minutes and 38 seconds into stoppage time, with Baugh scoring his first goal of the season.

A well-worked move involving Cook (right) into the middle to Clunis, who played the ball out to Baugh on the left.  The former Glebe midfielder cut inside Raymond and curled a sublime right-footed shot around Seaden into the far corner from 17-yards.

“We’re 4-1 up, the lads’ game management. Could we have held it in the corner and see the game out at 4-1? They think the job’s done don’t they and they get a bit complacent but look the lads are an honest bunch, we’re always developing as a team each week.

“We’re getting better as a team each week. We’ve got a really new squad, there’s only about five or six lads from last year, we’re constantly learning about the squad.

“The biggest message I’d like to get through is they’re an honest bunch, they’re a hardworking bunch and they’re a good bunch of lads to be fair and we’re really enjoying the process.”

There was almost a seventh goal of the game when Baugh raced to the by-line, cut the ball back to Payne, who played the ball into the Cray Wanderers box.  The ball was missed by Taylor and Clunis hit a right-footed half-volley flashing past the near-post from 12-yards.

Exceeding all expectations, Cray Wanderers’ first aim of this season was to retain their Isthmian League Premier Division status but they are among some big hitters going into October.

Brentwood Town are at the summit with 25 points from nine games.

Folkestone Invicta are in second-place with 20 points from eight games, full-timers Chatham Town are third with 19 points from eight games and Cray Wanderers are in fourth with 19 points from 10 games (five wins, four draws and one defeat) and Dulwich Hamlet drop down a spot into fifth-place with 16 points from nine games.

When asked if his side were dark horses for promotion, Brooke, kept tight-lipped.

“Just take each game as it comes. We can’t get too excited do we? We don’t get too down when we lose, we don’t get too high when we win but we had a really, really good pre-season. We’ve been unlucky with a few injuries and we’ve dealt well with it and we’ve just got to keep working hard, that’s it, just keep working hard.

“Dark horses? We will never comment further than onto the next game because I’d get strung up by Tosh, if I did.”

Cray Wanderers are in Cup action for their next two games.  O’Shea takes his side to Bishop’s Stortford on Saturday in The FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round before AFC Wimbledon visit here next Tuesday in the London Senior Cup.

Bishop’s Stortford sit in the top five in the Southern League Premier Division Central, having picked up 16 points (five wins, one draw and three defeats) and came away from St Ives Town with a 1-1 draw at the weekend.

“Another game, a bit of a break from the League. I don’t know what we’ll do squad wise but it’s a bit of a journey but we’ll go there like we do every game and we’ll work our hardest and try our best for the club.”

Cray Wanderers lock horns with Dulwich Hamlet again in their next League game – in front of over 2,000 people – on Saturday 11 October.

“Look, it’s always difficult when you play a team on a quick turnaround because there might be a few niggles out there that get taken into the next game,” said Brooke.

“You’re a bit more aware tactically of what they’re about, they’re a little bit more aware of what we’re about.  Their gaffer might’ve seen something in us that he can try to exploit in the next game. We might see something in them that we need to exploit a little bit better so it’s always difficult when that happens.

“But we’ll go there, everyone loves playing in the big games, big crowd. All our boys will be up for it and hopefully we can come away with the points again.

“Succes for Cray Wanderers is working our hardest, keep creating loads of chances that we’ve worked on in training and just see where it takes us.

“What can you say, is success for a club like Cray? We want to go toe-to-toe with every club we play. We’ve played some of the best teams in the League and we’ve beaten them, we’ve drawn with them.  We lost to Brentwood at home but there were some good signs before we let in a few goals (during our 5-1 home defeat on 25 August).

“We’ve had a bit of unluck with injuries so I think we can just keep playing each game and I don’t think there’s anyone we need to fear in this League, as long as we keep working hard and keep doing what we’re doing.”

Cray Wanderers:  Harry Seaden, Freddie Taylor, Adrian O-Gyamera, Harry Waldock (Luke Allen 70), Remi Sutton, Tom Bonner, Ashley Nzala (Joshua Williams 71), Frankie Raymond, Kareem Islaka (Chris Dickson 8), Alex Hernandez (Nodirbek Bobomurodov 71), Lateef Adaja.
Sub: Quade Taylor

Goals: Alex Hernandez 9, Lateef Adaja 17, Tom Bonner 45, Joshua Williams 89

Dulwich Hamlet: Tony Bull, Sean Bonnett-Johnson (Anthony Cook 46), Tom Chambers, Alfie Payne, Michael Chambers (Giovanni Palmer 46, Joseph Adewunmi 52)), Geofrey Okonkwo, Luke Wanadio (Danny Mills 73), Lonit Talla, Nyren Clunis, Amadou Kassarate (Anthony Jeffrey 46), Solomon Baugh.

Goals: Danny Mills 79, Solomon Baugh 90

Attendance: 813
Referee: Mr Tom Berry
Assistants: Mr Daniel Whale & Mr Craig Griffiths