Cray Wanderers sealed their place in Monday’s FA Cup fourth qualifying round draw with a very impressive three goal win over Chippenham Town at Flamingo Park on Saturday afternoon with two goals in the first half and one in the second, plus a superb penalty save from young keeper JJ Briggs.
The game got off to an open start, Soul Kader going close for The Wands in an end-to-end encounter, with both sides looking positive. The Wands made the vital breakthrough on 18 minutes out of the blue, thanks to a sublime finish from Ola Ogunwamide, the left winger curling in a 25-yard effort into the top left-hand corner of the net for 1-0.
Just over a minute later Cray were two up, when Lateef Adaja broke down the left and sent in a dangerous low cross that Ade Yusuff slid in to convert from six yards. Kader almost made it three, with a cheeky lob that Chips keeper Jack Witchard managed to get back and save under the bar.
Chippenham’s first effort saw Alex Keith shoot from range, but Briggs made a good save. Town came more into things as the half went on, but The Wands kept them at bay and took a two-goal lead into the break.
The second half saw Chippenham make a positive start, Olaf Koszela having a shot saved, before Piotr Pterynski crossed for Joel Odei-Larbi who headed just wide. Just after the hour mark The Wands battled back and they killed the game off as a contest on 69 minutes when Alex Hernandez hit the post, but Adaja pounced on the rebound to make it 3-0.
Chippenham kept going and were awarded a penalty when a slick passing move ended with Briggs bringing down Koszela in the box. Koszela stepped up to take the spot kick, but Briggs made up for his error with a fine penalty save low down to his left.
Late on Cray had chances to extend their lead, but Kader and Adaja had shots saved by Witchard and Ogunwamide fired over after a great run in from the right.
In the end 3-0 was enough to see Tim O’Shea’s side through to the final qualifying round of this famous old competition, which will see National League sides enter.
Cray: Briggs, Lema, Morgan (Wall 90), Strachan, Adaja, Raymond, Hernandez (Payne 85), Yusuff (Tinibu 85), Ogunwamide, McLeod (Sanogo 75), Kader (Lowe 85). Subs not Used: Johnson, Bello.
Chippenham: Witchard, Moore (Rose 47), Ptrynski (Sady 72), Macron, Keith, Haines, King, Obei-Larbi (Oatley 72), Miles, Koszela, Richards-Everton. Subs Not Used: Poffley, Davis, Royston, Branston.
Goals: Ogunwamide 18, Yusuff 19, Adaja 69mins.
HT 2-0 FT 3-0
Att: 716
Referee: Redmond Egan