Molesey 1-5 Cray Wanderers
Molesey:Edghill '6 Cray: Fenwick '4, '58,'66 Baker '85 Willy '91
It was a day of disappointment for The Moles this week as a good performance in the first half was ruined by a second half battering from Cray Wanderers. Molesey had made few new signings in the two weeks since their last competitive run-out, striker Matt Fowler, defender Youssef Metwali and midfielder Wilkinson both started the match and, they will feel, did well. The score line certainly flattered Cray after a very even and competitive first half.
The game started at a frantic pace, Cray Wanderers opened the scoring as early as the sixth minute when defensive lapses from the Moles allowed Crays George Fenwick to take control and finish well, beating Steve Windergaard from close range. However the lead lasted only two minutes as the Moles hit back quickly. The ball was bobbling around the midfield, neither team able to gain control when the ball broke to Richard Edghill just inside his opponents half, Edghill broke forward as Crays defenders disappeared and allowed Edghill forward. Edghill reached the edge of the area and then fired a good shot past Glen Knight in the Cray Wanderers goal.
This wasn't the end of the action in the first half though. The game stayed scrappy with neither side keeping possession for very long, half chances fell to both sides. Julian Phillips ran through one-on-one with Knight but Knight saved well to deny the tall frontman. Cray too had one-on-ones but Windergaard did well to keep the scores level, the Moles 'keeper should be very pleased with a good batch of first half saves.
On the stroke of half time however Dean Morris found himself free, with the ball, in the six yard box. An almost certain goal was somehow missed as Morris fired over.
The second half began, and Cray began to put a lot of pressure on the Moles back line, which was struggling to cope with wave after wave of Cray attacks.
Cray won a free kick on the edge of Molesey's area, when controversy struck. Richard Brightwell in the Molesey wall was forced off the pitch by the pedantic referee, who had spotted a small cut on the young Moles arm. But the referee didn't then give Molesey time to reorganize and the ball was crossed in causing havok. Firstly Junior Baker headed the ball straight against the bar, as it rebounded out it seemed to fall out to Fenwick in an offside position. He finished the ball into the back of the net, leaving Moles players confused and angry.
This goal seemed to spur Cray on to new heights as they pressed home their advantage. After Molesey's Matt Fowler forced Glen Knight into a good save. The ball went to Windergaard with no pressure, but he took too many touches and his eventual pass was intercepted, slipped back across the box to Junior Baker for an easy finish, to double Cray's lead to 3-1
Cray continued to press forward, and in the 85th minute Cray broke quickly and sharply, the ball was bounced into the air, Baker then got his second of day as Windergaard wasn't able to get to his header. Cray had one more effort to score and compound Molesey's misery. A Cray corner was swung in, Windergaard failed to collect and the ball slowly and agonizingly bobbled into the goal.
TEAM : Ratings:
1. Windergaard 4
2. Matt Ottley 7
3. Phil Caughter 7
4. John Boswell 6
5. Youseff Metwali 6
6. Robert (?) Wilkinson 5
7. Ben Beswick 6 > '85
8. Richard Brightwell 7
9. Matt Fowler 6 > '73
10. Julian Phillips 7
11. Richard Edghill 8
SUBS:
12. Stefan O'Brien
14. Steven Lang
15. Sam Lampard 6 < '85
16. Paul Cross 6 < '73
17. John Ashwood
