27.11.2004 at 15:00 Hayes Lane, Bromley FC
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Attendance : 156
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Cray Wanderers
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2 - 2
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St Albans City
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Referee : Mr D Sheldrake
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FA Trophy / 2nd Round
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Jamie Kempster -> Tony Russell (59)
Michael Power -> Matt Woolfe(62)
John Myatt -> Drew Watkins (84) |
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Nick Roddis on the ball
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A deflected shot, diverted beyond the despairing dive of City keeper Paul Bastock, two minutes into added time ensured that a tempestuous encounter at Hayes Lane finished all square on Saturday as Ryman League Division One high-flyers Cray Wanderers overturned a two-goal deficit to keep alive their dream of causing an FA Trophy upset.
Ross Lover's fortuitous strike, which saw Ben Martin divert the ball beyond his own keeper for the second time in five days, punished St Albans City for failing to make territorial advantage count and will keep simmering no shortage of ill-feeling that grew between the sides during a scrappy first meeting between the two clubs for 30 years.
City, despite a couple of enforced changes with Chris Seeby and Ram Marwa replacing the suspended Dean Hooper and injured Ben Walshe, were quick to impose themselves on the game although home keeper Steve Northwood had precious little to worry him during the opening 45 minutes. During the opening half hour Northwood dealt well with two dangerous crosses from Matt Nolan but otherwise he was untroubled while Bastock had even less to contend with at the opposite end.
The match sparked into life when City captain Adam Parker overreacted to a poor challenge by Lover and indulged in a ridiculous spat which began the first push-and-shove session of the afternoon. Parker was more impressive on 35 minutes when he collected Bastock's long downfield punt before clipping a delightful angled ball into the path of Lee Clarke who smartly beat his defender before firing across Northwood to open the scoring.
Having made little impact on the Saints defence for 39 minutes Cray ended the half positively and after Jamie Wood, who later was fortunate to stay on the pitch, shot past Bastock but was ruled to be offside and then put another effort wide after outpacing Chris Zoricich while Bastock, despite the close attention of five Cray players at a corner, did well to punch the ball to safety.
Twenty seconds after the restart Parker drove a long range effort just over but four minutes he was again instrumental in City's second goal as his fine pass sent Clarke away to beat Northwood to his left with the strikers fourth goal in three games.
At this stage City were contemplating a first win for new manager Colin Lippiatt but on 64 minutes Cray, who last season were four Divisions below the Saints, began their comeback with substitute Michael Power proving pivotal just two minutes after replacing Matt Wolfe.
Power played the ball into Sam Wood whose firm drive Bastock spectacularly pushed against the woodwork but Power was swiftly onto the rebound and hammered it inside Bastock's right hand post despite his full-length dive.
Clarke squandered a clear chance to put the result beyond doubt when he shot tamely wide after being set up by Parker and Nolan but the Saints leading scorer was robbed of a hat-trick on 84 minutes when he held off two defenders en route to putting the ball in the back of the net only to be hauled back for an alleged foul when he was clearly the victim.
In-between times Cray could have seen Northwood depart prematurely when he slid out to smother the ball and retained possession after continuing to slide out of his penalty area, referee Mr Sheldrake generously presented him with only a yellow card.
Whilst that decision was marginal the referee blatantly got it wrong on 87 minutes as Danny Bower, the final Cray defender, cut down Clarke in full flight but again only received a booking. If those two decisions were not enough to make City think that this was not their day then events during the second minute of added time certainly did as Lover's harmless looking shot from just outside the penalty area clipped Martin and spun out of Bastock's reach and just inside his right hand upright.
Report by Dave Tavener |
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