Cray Wanderers prepared for Saturday’s FA Cup tie with Chippenham Town by moving up to 11th place in the Isthmian Premier after victory at Maldon & Tiptree and netting five goals on the road to maintain the recent momentum.
The Wands got off to the perfect start by going ahead in the 6th minute via a Sam Wilson own goal and netted two more before the break through Soul Kader and Sammie McLeod. Cray looked to finish the game with a flourish and Ade Yusuff netted his eighth of the season with a smart header from a corner.
Maldon did pull a goal back in the 79th minute when Sam Adeyeye turned home a right wing cross but a minute later Ola Ogunwamide cracked home another great goal to complete the scoring. The Jammers were reduced to ten men four minutes from time when Scott Simmons was dismissed for a late tackle on Jakob Lowe.
Cray travelled to the impressive Maldon Stadium on a murky but incredibly mild evening interspersed with about a thousand midges floating about in good form especially in the cups but perhaps needed three points to kick-start the league points total.
For the Wands there was one change from the FA Trophy tie with Cheshunt with Soul Kader in for Frankie Morgan. On the bench was Tolani Bello, a new dual registration signing from Sutton United.
Maldon & Tiptree had lost their last four games in league and cup and there were a few changes to the side which lost to Egham Town on Saturday.
The match began with Cray looking to continue the knack of storming out of the blocks quickly and did so after just six minutes when the ball was worked down the right and Ola Ogunwamide’s cross to the near post was turned into his own net by Sam Wilson before Ade Yusuff could get a touch.
The Wands played with confidence and speed and Alex Hernandez fired over from a free kick down the left. Maldon & Tiptree though looked to respond with spirit and Yassin Fares saw a shot comfortably held by JJ Briggs.
For Cray, good work again by Ogunwamide who is in stellar form right now set up Ade Yusuff but his shot was saved by the feet of Sebastian Thrussell. At the other end after a spell of possession down the left the ball came to Sammie McLeod but his shot was blocked.
Maldon & Tiptree had a decent spell of pressure leading to corners and a free kick and from one corner the ball was headed over by Noah Adejokun.
Cray though were potent on the counter attack and five minutes before half time it was two nil when from a Jammers attack, the Wands broke away through Ade Yusuff and Hernandez combined with Ogunwamide who then set up Soul Kader for a great finish from just outside the box firing high into the net for his fourth goal of the season.
A minute before half time Cray continued to up the gears and added a third as down the left a ball across into the area found its way to the far post for Sammie McLeod to net his first Cray Wanderers goal and a deserved reward for recent performances.
HT: 0-3
The opening exchanges of the second half saw Cray looking to take stock and looking to withstand any home pressure.
Cray did come close when Lateef Adaja down the left curled a shot just wide while for Maldon & Tiptree Noah Adejokan was played through but Briggs did superbly to come out and smother the ball.
The Wands though were still looking much the better side and Kader came close to a second as he received a return pass from Adaja but his well placed shot was saved by Thrussell. Then Ogunwamide saw a shot go over the top.
For Maldon & Tiptree there was a half opening when after a Briggs clearance fell to Adejokun who then set up Fares for a shot which the Wands keeper made a comfortable save. For Cray, Alfie Payne and Jakob Lowe were introduced to the game.
In the 74th minute Cray scored a fourth goal after a well worked corner kick down the right. Hernandez’ cross to the near post was met by an excellent header from Yusuff diving between defenders to head into the net for his eighth goal of the season.
A minute later Yusuff was shown a yellow card harshly for diving when he seemed to be quite clearly clipped in the penalty area but the referee didn’t agree. Shortly after Tolani Bello was introduced for his debut for the Wands.
Maldon & Tiptree did pull a goal back in the 79th minute when down the left Sam Adeyeye received the ball, turned and fired in to the bottom right corner.
This just inspired the Wands to go forward again and a minute later Ogunwamide capped another fine performance with a class strike from twenty yards which gave Thrussell no chance.
Four minutes from time Maldon & Tiptree were reduced to ten men when Scott Simmons scythed through Jakob Lowe and was shown an instant red card.
The match was won by then and Lowe himself almost got on the scoresheet but saw his shot inside the area blocked.
In the end though it had been a satisfactory evening once again as Cray preserved their unbeaten Tuesday night record this season and did so with real style and panache to score five away from home for the first time since
Once again thanks to the gaggle of Wands supporters making the trip and enjoying the match and has to be said excellent hospitality.
The Wands now can settle on cup tie football on Saturday with a first ever game with Chippenham Town in the FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round and should be a great occasion and one not to be missed.
Maldon & Tiptree: Sebastian Thrussell, Sam Wilson, Tom Eastman (Capt.) (Olamiji Ayoola, 68), Eze Ebuzoeme (Samuel Adeyeye, H/T), Yassin Fares, Emmanuel Adebiyi (Reiss Webber, 65), Noah Adejokun, Aaron Williams-Bushell, Scott Simmons, Rowan Dorling, Cheyne Burgin (Ibby Akanbi, 71): Sub: Iffy Allen
Scorer: Adeyeye 79
Sent Off: Simmons 86 (straight red)
Booked: Fares 30
Cray Wanderers: JJ Briggs, Crossley Lema, Rob Strachan, Tobi Tinibu, Seidou Sanogo, Sammie McLeod (Alfie Payne, 56), Ola Ogunwamide, Lateef Adaja, Soul Kader (Jakob Lowe, 69), Alex Hernandez, Ade Yusuff (Tolani Bello, 77): Sub: Oscar Johnson
Scorers: Wilson o.g 6, Kader 40, McLeod 44, Yusuff 74, Ogunwamide 80
Booked: Sanogo 50, Yusuff 75
Referee: Nick Reece
Assistants: Ellis Lander, Joe Wise
Att: 221
Images courtesy of Natalie Stribbling