On an incredible night of drama and passion Cray Wanderers are through to the FA Cup 1^st Round for the first time and a home tie with EFL 1 leaders Stockport County after the drama of a penalty shoot-out decided a titanic contest vs Bedford Town at Flamingo Park.

The match was in stark contrast to the goalless draw at Bedford on Saturday and on a murky and damp night by the Sidcup Bypass the expectation for both sides rose after Monday’s FA Cup draw and a home tie with Stockport County, the top ranked team in the competition.

For Cray there was one change from Saturday with Tobi Tinibu adding industry and guile for Soul Kader.

There were three changes to the Bedford side with Ben Weyman, Tarik Gidaree and Manny Doku in for Ryan Doherty, Eno Nto and Louie,Kudiabor.

The match started amid a fair din from the fans with the Cray Massive in particularly good voice.

National North Bedford began impressively and created more openings in the first even minutes than the entire second half on Saturday. First, George Moncurr hit a skidding shot from the right pushed round the left post by JJ Briggs.

Then Lewis Franklin’s shot deflected off  Sammie McLeod and behind for a corner from which Alfie Thonett’s header was hooked away almost off the line.

For Cray, Ola Ogunwamide saw a shot blocked by Alex Hernandez while for Bedford Franklin’s cross was headed over by Tarik Gidaree.  Then Cray threatened from a corner to the far post with Hernandez’s effort held by Laurie Walker.

The first goal of the tie cane in the 17^th minute and another gem from Ola Ogunwamide who after Tinibu won a corner, picked up a short Frankie Raymond pass down the right to cut inside and drill a sweet strike wide of Walker fir his third memorable goal in the cup this year.

The game then settled down for a short while until just after the half hour Franklin sown the left curled a shot past the right post. For Cray Hernandez tried his luck from 25 yards with a shot over the top.

Cray were looking good for a half time lead but in the first minute of added time Moncur from a free kick saw his shot well pushed round again by Briiggs.

However from the corner played towards the far post the referee spotted an infringement not totally apparent to many in the crowd. From the spot Moncur finished well as the half ended on a down note. 

HT: 1-1

The second half began with both teams looking to get ahead quickly with Moncur lifting a shot over from the kick off and then turned wide a Manny Doku cross.

In the 54^th minute from a right-wing corner Ben Weyman found David Hicks whose near post shot was pushed out by Briggs.

For Cray, Ogunwamide who had an outstanding game set up Ade Yusuff for a shot on the turn held by Walker.

Bedford came close again when Josh Castiglione’s shot was saved by the legs of Briggs.

On the hour though came the best chance of 5he half when a ball over the top put Yusuff through down the right and the crowd held its breath but fired wide of the right post.

Soul Kader was introduced and vert nearly made an instant impact and just couldn’t apply a header to an excellent Lafeef Adaja cross.

The match was tantalising poised with Alfie Payne on but after substitute Seidou Sanogo shot wide the game took a breather and extra time was needed.

FT – 1-1

 Extra time can sometimes drag onto an inevitable penalty shoot-out but certainly wasn’t a case here. For Cray, Yusuff down the right saw a shot at the near post held.

However, in the 101^st minute Town substitute Reece Evans received the ball from a quick one-two to break into the box and placed the ball under Briggs into the net.

Cray though showed commendable resilience and in the final minute of the half drew level after Adaja down the right of the area was sent sprawling by Walker and an obvious penalty. From the spot Yusuff made no mistake to score his 11^th of the season and a goal in each round.

HT ET 2-2

The second half began with what would have been another Ola special as he made a great run-down middle and was unlucky to see his goalbound shotvl over superbly by Walker.

In the 113^th minute Cray were awarded a second penalty when Kader was brought down by Evans but from the spot Yussuf’s kick was saved at the right post by Walker.

Finley Wilkinson saw a shot held for Bedford and Gidaree a shot blocked by his own player.

Finally, Kader and Ogunwamide combined to set up Yusuff down the right but his shot was deflected wide.

Despite great endeavours over a gruelling game that saw seven yellow cards but never dirty it would require a penalty shoot-out to decide the winners.

Taken at the Golf club end with the developing stand taking shape Wilkinson and Yusuff struck home the first penalties. Bedford’s second pen from Louie Kudiabor was turned aside by Briggs and Alfie Payne made it 2-1 Cray.

Joe Payne was next up for Bedford and Briggs again excelled with a smart stop but Ogunwamide saw his penalty go wide.

Moncur and Kader scored with the fourth kick making it 3-2 Cray and set up the final kick.

Evans scored for Bedford but Jakob Lowe who only came on two minutes from the end showed composure to stroke home and create history for London’s oldest football club and cue delirium and an excited pitch invasion by Wands.

This was a night never to be forgotten and now Cray can prepare for a visit from last season’s League 1 playoff finalists in just under three weeks and is great reward for a lot of hard work over many years to get this shot of National TV exposure and a day not to be missed.

Cray Wanderers: JJ Briggs, Crossley Lema, Robert Strachan, Tobi Tinibu (Soul Kader 63), Frankie Morgan, Frankie Raymond (Capt) (Seidou Sanogo, 82), Sammie McLeod (Jakob Lowe, 118), Ola Ogunwamide, Lateef Adaja, Alex Hernandez (Alfie Payne, 75), Ade Yusuff: Subs: Kian Eyers, Billy Wall, Bayli Spencer-Adams.

Scorers:  Ogunwamide 17, Yusuff 105 pen

Pens: Yusuff scored, Payne scored, Ogunwamide missed, Kader scored, Lowe scored

Booked: Tinibu 37, Ogunwamide 45+1, McLeod 74, Lema 76, Morgan  90+1

Bedford Town: Laurie Walker, Joe Payne, Josh Castiglione (Capt) (Louis Kudiabor, 86), George Moncur, Lewis Franklin (Ben Jones, 113), Ben Weyman (Finlay Wilkinson, 58), Tarik Gidaree (Sonny Davis, 97), T’Sharne Gallimore (Calum Doyle, 106), David Hicks, Alfie Thornett, Manny Doku (Reece Evans, 58): Subs: Aaron Flahaven.

Scorers:  Moncur 45+3 pen, Evans 101

Pens: Wilkinson scored, Kudiabor saved, Payne saved, Moncur scored, Evans scored

Booked: Payne 57, Gallimore 90+3

Referee: Tom Ellsmore

Assistants: Leigh Ballinger, David Payne

4^th official: Daniel Trout

Att: 926