It ends all square and a replay on Tuesday night as Rob Strachan’s 83rd minute goal levelled for Cray Wanderers after Tom Leahy put Maidstone ahead as the Wands, 15th in the Isthmian Premier held the National South League leaders to a deserved draw.
On a great afternoon of FA Cup tie action, the Wands edged a goalless first half, but the second half was more even and the Stones took the lead when Leahy crashed home from the edge of the area following a corner. Cray though never gave up and were a constant threat from set pieces and levelled seven minutes from time with Rob Strachan heading in from a corner and the teams must do it all again on Tuesday night.
For Cray there were two changes to the side which did well to fight back late to draw 3-3 with St Albans City for the challenge of Maidstone United with loan signing JJ Briggs from Cambridge United in goal for Henry Molyneux. Ade Yusuff who missed the St Albans match came in for Jakob Lowe.
Maidstone showed Cray a lot of respect by picking a very strong side and made three changes to the team which were beaten away for the first time this season last Saturday at Braintree Town. In came Dermi Lusala for George Fowler, ex-Wand Alex Stepien-Iwumene for Tariq Uwakwe and Nana Boateng for Alfie Tuck.
Before the game there was a respectfully observed one minute silence for former Cray Wanderers captain and all-time record appearance holder, John Dorey. It was almost fifty years to the day that Cray last played Maidstone United in the FA Cup on 9th October 1976 when the Wands pulled off a huge upset and hoped to repeat that achievement but knew it would be a hard task.
Cray began the game on the front foot and especially Ola Ogunwamide who carried on where he left off against St Albans with an excellent display down the right. In the sixth minute the Wands had the first opening when Alex Hernandez won a corner off Leo Hamblin from the corner down the right the ball came to Ogunwamide who whipped in a fierce cross-shot which was pushed over by Lenny Holden.
Maidstone looked to respond and Tom Leahy saw a shot pushed out by Briggs but wouldn’t have counted because of a handball. Maidstone then threatened from a free kick out on the right from Riley Court played into the box by Taylor Foran headed over.
The Wands then had a good spell in the ascendancy and almost went in front after a fine three man move as Ogunwamide brought the ball forward, then found Soul Kader down the left who laid the ball across to Ade Yusuff who fired wide of the right post with a sharp volley.
Then Ogunwamide found space in the area to get in a shot which was well blocked by Frankie Hvid for a corner. From the corner from Frankie Raymond down the right into the area Sammie McLeod got his head to the ball but was cleared off the line by Dermi Lusala. This was followed by Raymond’s free kick down the left going into the area for Ogunwamide who shot just wide.
The Wands then felt in the 36th minute perhaps claims for a penalty when Kader looked to have beaten Foran to the ball in the area and appeared maybe to be pushed over but no penalty was given.
In the 44th minute Maidstone had a chance to take the lead when they broke from a Cray corner with Court bringing the ball forward on a two-on-two situation and elected to pass to the right to Leahy who shot over. Then just going into added time Ken Charles who was an U23s player with the Wands and made one first team appearance in 2017-18 found space in the area and Briggs did superbly to make a fine blocked save and Court shot wide from the rebound. At half time though the game was delicately poised with all to play for.
HT: 0-0
Maidstone began the second half more on the front foot and Charles had the ball in the net from Lusala’s cross but was ruled out for offside. Then the visitors threatened with the ball coming to Ryan Hanson and the Maidstone skipper hit a low shot which was well held by Briggs.
Cray though were still a threat going forward and Lateef Adaja was found by Ogunwamide down the right and his near post shot was well pushed out by Holden.
From here Cray had a good spell of pressure winning corners before both teams made changes with the Wands bringing on Seidou Sanogo who made such an impact late on against St Albans, Jakob Lowe who also scored on Tuesday, William Unadike and Tobi Tinibu.
In the 71st minute with the game entering a tense phase Maidstone took the lead. Hanson saw a shot deflected behind and from the corner the ball came out to Leahy who crashed home a fine shot through a crowd of players from fourteen yards.
Four minutes later it could have been all over as Leahy again caused problems down the left but this time his shot cannoned back off the left post. Then two Maidstone subs combined as Tariq Uwakwe found Stan Leech making his debut, but Briggs did well to get down to claim the ball.
Cray though were not finished and won a corner down the left in the 83rd minute and Hernandez’ ball into the area towards the far post was headed in well by Rob Strachan and the game was level once again.
The last real opening fell to Maidstone from a free kick but Briggs did well to push behind Court’s shot but in the end, time ran out and for the second round in a row the Wands will require a replay meaning at least a place in the 3rd Qualifying Round draw on Monday afternoon.
This was a terrific cup tie, and Cray did well all match against a strong side at the top of the National South and did the club, fans and the Isthmian League proud.
The replay will take place on Tuesday 22nd September at the Gallagher Stadium, Maidstone, 7.45 pm.
Cray Wanderers: JJ Briggs, Crossley Lema, Rob Strachan, Frankie Morgan, Frankie Raymond (Capt.), Sammie McLeod (Seidou Sanogo, 68), Ola Ogunwamide, Lateef Adaja (Tobi Tinibu, 79), Ade Yusuff (Jakob Lowe, 70), Alex Hernandez, Soul Kader (William Unadike, 78): Subs: Alfie Payne, Billy Wall, Oscar Johnson
Scorer: Strachan 83
Booked: Sanogo 90+3
Maidstone United: Lenny Holden, Dermi Lusala (Tariq Uwakwe, 63), Leo Hamblin, Taylor Foran, Frankie Hvid, Alex Stepien-Iwumene (Jayden Davis, 82), Ryan Hanson (Capt.), Nana Boateng (George Fowler, 63), Riley Court, Tom Leahy (Alfie Tuck, 90), Ken Charles (Stan Leech, 67): Subs: Mark Boruk, Lucas Brookman
Scorer: Leahy 71
Booked: Foran 61
Referee: Nicholas Dunn
Assistants: Robbie Maris, Byron Beard
4th official: Sam Wiginton
Att: 862
Images courtesy of Natalie Stribbling