Cray Wanderers made their first ever appearance in the FA Cup first round a memorable one as they took League One promotion challengers Stockport County to extra time in a pulsating cup tie at Flaming Park on Sunday afternoon only to lose out to a controversial penalty.
In front of a huge crowd of 2,372 the game got off to a lively open start, but neither side created any real chances until the 20th minute. Then out of the blue Cray took the lead when Ola Ogunwamide broke down the right and crossed for Sammie McLeod who coolly side footed the ball home into the far corner for 1-0. The Wands then had a penalty shout turned down when Ade Yusuff was pulled back in the box, but they did double their lead soon after.
John Ufuah lobbed the ball over Ashby-Hamond who then collided with the striker and as Gardner cleared the ball off the line, Referee Sandoe awarded Cray a free kick and sent the County keeper off. After a lengthy delay, Alex Hernandez then curled a superb free kick into the top left-hand corner giving the new keeper Whatmuff no chance.
Stockport created a couple of chances late in the half as Adigun and Fiorini went close, while cray nearly had a third when Ogunwamide found Yusuff who just pokes the ball wide under pressure.
The second half saw Cray start really well, Yusuff had a header cleared off the line by O’Connell during a good spell of pressure, but then County rallied, boosted by the introduction of top scorer Kyle Wootton. Wood had an effort saved by JJ Briggs when one on one and with Cray starting to tire Edun had a free kick saved by Briggs. With Cray sitting deep, County keeper Whatmuff often played like more of a sweeper coming up to the halfway line.
Diamond went close for the visitors before they got back into the game when Pye and Dacres-Cogley combined to set up Woottton who converted from close range to make it 2-1 on 80 minutes. From there County pressed for an equaliser and it finally came a minute into injury time when Mandaron knocked down a long ball to Wood when then crossed for Mandaron to head home the equaliser and break Cray Wanderers hearts. A frantic couple of minutes followed as both teams tried to win it, but the tie went to extra time.
Stockport started the extra 30 minutes on top, and they were awarded a penalty on 101 minutes when Briggs and Mandaron went up for a high ball and the Cray keeper was judged to have fouled the big striker. Fiorini converted the spot kick with no fuss and put the League One side in front for the first time. Just before the break Saidou Sanogo had a great chance to level for The Wands, but he knocked the ball wide past the advancing Whatmuff.
The second half of extra time saw Cray rally once more, Alfie Payne sent in a dangerous free kick that set off a frantic scramble in the six-yard box, but Whatmuff did well to gather the ball in a crowd of players.
McLeod put a chance narrowly over and with Cray giving everything they had left Tobi Tinubu shot wide and Lateef Adaja headed past the far post with a diving effort, but it wasn’t to be for Tim O’Shea’s impressive side.
The Wands now get back to Isthmian League Premier Division business on Tuesday night taking on Three Bridges at home as they look to move up the table.
Cray: Briggs, Lema, Morgan, Strachan, Spencer-Adams (Tinubu 84), Raymond (Sanogo 80), McLeod, Ogunwamide (Adaja 79), Hernandez (Payne 102), Ufuah (Hutchinson 103), Yusuff (Kader 86). Subs Not Used: Taylor, Wall.
Stockport: Ashby-Hammond, Wilson-Brown (Pye 45), O’Connell, Dacres-Cogley (Mingi 90), Gardner (Whatmuff 34), Fiorini, Wood, Edun, Adigun (Wootton 61), Mandron (Ilara 105), Adresson (Diamond 45). Subs Not Used: Astles, Bailey, Huddleston.
Goals: CWFC – McLeod 21, Hernadez 36mins SCFC – Wootton 81, Mandron 90+1, Fiorini 101 pen.
HT 2-0 FT 2-2 AET 2-3
Att: 2,372
Referee: Lewis Sandoe
