Cray Wanderers will take part in Monday evening’s FA Cup First Round draw for the first time in the club’s history after deservedly holding National North Bedford Town to a draw and a home replay on Tuesday evening.
In a game where the stakes were high there weren’t too many real goalscoring chances but Cray did have the more shots on goal with Alex Hernandez in particular with three attempts and Frankie Raymond came close to a late winner with a shot pushed round by Laurie Walker who had a lucky escape when his clearance hit Ade Yusuff on the back and looped into the net but was disallowed.
As the scoreline would suggest it wasn’t a game of many chances but doesn’t maybe as is always the case of goalless games that there was some fine defending on show and especially from the Wands who restricted National North opponents to no shots on goal at all in the second half.
There was one change to the Wands starting lineup from last Saturday with Soul Kader in for Jakob Lowe.
For Bedford Town who last reached the 1st Round in 2001-02 there were three changes to the side beaten at Chester last Saturday. In came George Moncur, Eno Nto and T’Shane Gallimore for Edward Gyamfi, Ben Weyman and Tarik Gidaree.
Cray began in impressive fashion and on the front foot and Frankie Raymond’s ball across from the right was spilled by Laurie Walker but claimed at the second attempt.
Cray won a couple of corners, but Bedford had their first shooting chance when David Hicks fired over.
The home side had to make an early change when Nto who earlier was treated after colliding onto the advertising boarding after a challenge and replaced by Tarik Gidaree.
The Wands had the best opening in the first half as Soul Kader’s left-wing cross fell to Alex Hernandez whose snapshot was superbly saved by Walker turning the ball aside.
There was a strange moment just after the half hour when George Moncur’s shot hit the wheel on the goal frame and into the net under JJ Briggs, but the ball was ruled to be out of play. Then Jose Castiglione shot over as the game began to open up.
Hernandez had another snapshot held but Bedford did come close when Moncur saw his low shot held by Briggs.
From a Wands corner the excellent Sammie McLeod flicked a ball out to Ade Yusuff whose shot was blocked.
Joe Payne shot well over for Town while another Hernandez shot was claimed by Walker.
At half time though Cray had more than held their own and deserved parity at the break.
Cray dominated the early stages of the second half with Soul Kader shooting over and then his header across from the left just missed Yusuff in the box.
Bedford didn’t really create a chance second half as the Wands defence were immaculate with Briggs secure with his handling and distribution Rob Strachan, Crossley Lema and Frankie Morgan resilient, but the second half became a tense affair as it went on.
Things did pick up in the last ten minutes. Yusuff down the left set up sub-Jakob Lowe at the near post but blocked.
Then in the 82nd minute Raymond saw a swerving shot pushed round the right post by Walker.
There was a moment of controversy two minutes later when Walker’s clearance came back off Yusuff’s back and into the net but was disallowed for reasons not entirely apparent and an indirect free kick given
The game was a bit tetchy second half with a few yellow cards. The last half opening came to Bedford when Manny Duku saw a shot charged down by the superb Lema and a late free kick was cleared and the Wands saw out added time for another chance at history on Tuesday night under the lights at Flamingo Park.
Twice now Cray have picked up clean sheets at Step 2 sides in Maidstone and Bedford, and this shows the desire and heart in the side. With the likes of McLeod, Ola Ogunwamide, Soul Kader, Lateef Adaja, Ade Yusuff all working so hard, but Alex Hernandez orchestrated everything perfectly and an outstanding display.
Bedford showed in the last round they can win away as at Wingate & Finchley after a replay so this will still be a tough challenge still, but Cray have fully earned their right to go into Tuesday with a chance of knowing a potential 1st Round opponent for the first time.
Admission on Tuesday, £15 adults, £10 concs, £5 u18s/17s.
Bedford Town: Laurie Walker, Joe Payne, Ryan Doherty, John Castiglione, George Moncur (Reece Evans, 80), Lewis Franklin, Eno Nto (Tarik Gidaree, 23), T’Sharne Gallimore, David Hicks, Alfie Thornett, Louie Kudiabor (Manny Duku, 66): Subs: Aaron Flahaven, Sonnie Davis, Finley Wilkinson, Ben Weyman
Booked: Gallimore 17, Castiglione 67, Thornett 86
Cray Wanderers: JJ Briggs, Crossley Lema, Rob Strachan, Frankie Morgan, Frankie Raymond (Capt.), Sammie McLeod, Lateef Adaja, Ola Ogunwamide, Alex Hernandez, Ade Yusuff, Soul Kader (Jakob Lowe): Subs: Payne, Sanogo, Tinibu, Wall, Morley, Eyers
Booked: Adaja 68, Raymond 76, Hernandez 86, Lema 90+1
Att: 1283
Images courtesy of Natalie Stribbling