Cray Wanderers produced one of the greatest FA Cup results and performances in their history as Tim O’Shea’s side advanced past National South league leaders Maidstone United after a quite outstanding display at the Gallagher Stadium.
The Wands will now host Southern League Premier South Chippenham Town at Flamingo Park in the 3rd Qualifying Round on 3rd October.
Cray went in front in the 22nd minute through a special strike out on the right from Ola Ogunwamide. The Wands had to show discipline and resolve especially at the start of the second half but in the end looked the more potent going forward and the win was sealed with the last kick of the game after five minutes of added time as Tobi Tinibu’s cross was turned home by Ade Yusuff for his sixth goal of the season. This made it the second time in close to fifty years that Cray had beaten Maidstone in the FA Cup after a 2-1 win at Oxford Road in October 1976 in the same round.
The two sides had met in an engaging and high quality match on Saturday where Cray had to show similar resolve to peg Maidstone back after Tom Leahy opened the scoring in the 71st minute but Rob Strachan who was immense over the two matches levelled from a corner to set up a trip to the impressive Gallagher Stadium.
For the Wands there was one change to the starting lineup from Saturday with Tobi Tinibu in for Ade Yusuff. Maidstone were able to make three changes with George Fowler, Tariq Uwakwe and Stan Leech coming in for Dermi Lusala, Nana Boateng and Ken Charles.
On an incredibly mild night by the Medway the scene was set for a match where if Cray were going to advance they would have to put in an almighty shift and from the first whistle matched the hosts.
Maidstone looked to start on the front foot and in the opening minute threatened when Tom Leahy exchanged passes with Tariq Uwakwe and tested JJ Briggs with a low shot well held. On the quarter of an hour mark Rily Court saw a shot blocked well by Rob Strachan.
Cray though enjoyed possession as the game settled down and the Wands won four corners, the fourth of which came from a Frankie Raymond shot deflected behind. From the corner the ball was eventually worked out to the right and in the 22nd minute Ola Ogunwamide who caused the Stones all sort of problems on Saturday cut inside and from just outside the area curled a beauty into the top left corner.
This stirred Maidstone into life and Alex Stepien-Iwumene who had a loan spell at Cray last season found himself in the area and crowded out but the ball fell to Uwakwe who hooked his effort over the bar.
Then Maidstone were able to make inroads through the midfield and the ball came to Court but his shot was again well held by Briggs who had another assured and confident game in goal.
The Wands though didn’t try to sit back and almost added a replica second to the first goal when again Ogunwamide found space to crack in a shot again from the right which this time hit the angle of left post and crossbar.
Cray were playing with great discipline and resolve but just before half time Maidstone almost grabbed a leveller when Uwakwe saw his shot from twenty yard pushed over the bar well by Briggs.
HT: 0-1
Cray would have expected a bit of a backlash at the start of the second half and Nana Boateng came on at the break for Uwakwe.
Maidstone almost levelled three minutes after half time with Boateng involved down the left and he put over a fine cross into the box but Court’s header was superbly saved and pushed out on the line by Briggs. The home side then had a good couple of minutes of pressure with Cray having to clear their lines which made it look like it would be an incredibly long half.
The Wands though were able to weather that early storm and although had to dig in a bit and Sammie McLeod and Alex Hernandez received yellow cards but still showed confidence to attack and Lateef Adaja saw a cross-shot pushed out by Lenny Holden.
Maidstone had a half opening when Boateng set up Leahy for a shot that may have taken a slight nick and was well gathered by Briggs. For Cray a ball whipped across from the left was headed over by substitute Seidou Sanogo.
Going into the last ten minutes Maidstone had time to try and take the match to extra time but the claret wall did their jobs superbly with perhaps the best chance falling to Boateng who fired a shot just past the right post.
The Wands though soaked up the pressure well like a sponge and were able in the last few minutes and added time to have the confidence to go on the attack for the goal that would clinch the tie.
Firstly in the 85th minute good work down the right again by Ogunwamide who played a return pass into substitute Ade Yusuff but his shot was saved by the legs of Holden. Shortly after Yusuff fired in a shot into the arms of Holden.
Finally in the fifth minute of added time the Wands broke away with great effect to make it two nil with the ball coming to Ogunwamide who found Tobi Tinibu down the right and his excellent ball across to the far post was turned in by Yusuff for his sixth of the season and cue delirium for the Wands fans with the final whistle blown ten seconds later.
Maidstone United were gracious hosts and can still have an incredible season in the league, FA Trophy and Kent Senior Cup and move on to a big league match on Saturday vs Truro City at home.
The Wands meanwhile can just put the next round at the back of their minds with an FA Trophy tie at Cheshunt on Saturday and a league match at Maldon & Tiptree on Tuesday night. Cray then can prepare for a first ever meeting with Chippenham Town who will be tough opponents travelling from Wiltshire who beat Yate Town after extra time to advance and promises to be a great afternoon on 3rd October.
Maidstone United: Lenny Holden, Leo Hamblin (Jayden Davis, 74), Taylor Foran, George Fowler (Capt.) (Dermi Lusala, 88), Frankie Hvid, Alex Stepien-Iwumene (Alfie Tuck, 64), Ryan Hanson, Tariq Uwakwe (Nana Boateng, H/T), Riley Court, Tom Leahy, Stan Leech (Ken Charles, 64).
Subs not used: Mark Boruk, Lucas Brookman.
Booked: Hamblin 32, Hvid 90+3
Cray Wanderers: JJ Briggs, Crossley Lema, Rob Strachan, Frankie Morgan, Tobi Tinibu, Frankie Raymond (Capt.), Sammie McLeod (Seidou Sanogo, 59), Lateef Adaja, Ola Ogunwamide, Alex Hernandez (Alfie Payne, 79), Soul Kader (Ade Yusuff, 69).
Subs not used: Jakob Lowe, Billy Wall, Oscar Johnson.
Scorers: Ogunwamide 22, Yusuff 90+5
Booked: McLeod 52, Hernandez 62, Tinibu, 90+1
Referee: Tommy Breen
Assistants: Bogdan Khimych, Josh Williams
4th Official: Gerry Heron
Att: 1162
Pictures supplied by Ben Keyes.