The FA Vase semi-final saw a record crowd enjoy a home victory for Cray Valley PM but the tie is still alive and kicking.

Both sides must have taken heed of the words of Tommy Sampson who said you cannot win today but you can lose as the first half was very cagey with both defences on top, they also had to contend with 4 seasons in one half as it Rained, Hailstones, Wind & Sun, the second half had only a bit of Rain & then it was dry but the pitch was very heavy.

The game took a long time to get going but that’s Semi-Finals for you, Canterbury seemed to be the better team & they had two half chances to Cray’s none, In the 32nd minute Ryan Cooper on the left wing crossed into the area where Dean Grant rose but headed past the post, then in the 44th minute Mobalaji Dowodu in the area saw his shot saved by Andy Walker. The half time whistle went & both teams trooped off knowing they were still in the tie.

The second half saw a lot more chances for both sides, in the 47th minute Gavin Tomlin on the left cut in & from 20 yards his shot was deflected for a corner, Cray’s first shot in anger.

In the 56th minute Cray took the lead when Ryan Flack received the ball on the right wing & he went forward & cut in across the pitch avoiding 5 challenges & then from 20 yards struck his shot into the bottom right hand corner. Goals give confidence to teams & in the 62nd minute a free kick into the area saw Ashley Sains 6 yards out headed goal wards but Jack Delo saved it. In the very next minute Grant tried his luck from 18 yards but Andy Walker saved it.

Canterbury should have scored in the 65th minute when Grant on the left got down to the by-line & his low cross to the near post saw Dawodu sliding in but he missed it & ended up in the arms of Walker to his relief, it did seem that the net was going to bulge could this come back to haunt him & Canterbury.

Four minutes later Tomlin found himself in space in the area & his first shot was blocked by the onrushing Delo & his second was cleared off the line & cleared, a minute later Tomlin received the ball on the right wing & his cross to the near post was met by Anthony Edger but his side foot effort went over the bar. Canterbury were not giving up & in the 72nd minute Grant latched onto a long ball & once in the area took aim but it was deflected for a corner.

The board went up Four minutes added on time & Canterbury threw everything at Cray, in the 90+2 a ball forward saw Dawodu flick it on for Grant & from 15 yards his shot was blocked by Walker. A minute later Phil Starkey put Cooper through in the area & from an acute angle his shot was saved by Walker’s legs.

The full time whistle went & against all the odds next week’s game will be really interesting as both sides can smell Wembley.

CRAY VALLEY PAPER MILLS:

A.WALKER 2. B.POTTER 3. D.SMITH 4. J.JAMES 5. A.SAINS 6. C.TUMKAYA 7. A.EDGER

8. P.SIMAKULA 9. G.TOMLIN 10. K.LISBIE 11. R.FLECK

SUBS USED: NONE

SUBS NOT USED: 12. F.BABALOLA 14. D.GAYLE 15. T. MYERS 16. C.WILLOCK 17. L.HICKEY

BOOKINGS: 9.G.TOMLIN (57) 10. K.LISBIE (67)

CANTERBURY CITY:

J.DELO 2. R.COOPER 3. G.SAYER 4. P.STARKEY 5. L.WHEATLEY 6. B.GORHAM 7. A.WOOLCOTT (68)

8. O.LEE (83) 9. D.GRANT 10. M.DAWODU 11. D.LAWRENCE

SUBS USED: 14. R.TENYUE (68) 15. J.TURNER (83)

SUBS NOT USED: 12. R.LAWRENCE 17. J.FROGGATT 18. K.LIGHTFOOT

BOOKINGS: 7. A.WOOLCOTT (66) 6. B.GORHAM (79)

REFEREE: Mr J.SMITH

ASSISTANTS: Mr P.EVANS & Mr G.JERDEN

4TH OFFICIAL: Mr S.HUGHES

ATTENDANCE: 663

Pictures supplied by Dave Cumberbatch