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Cray Wanderers Reserves 1 v Whitstable Town Reserves 2: Kent League ? Division 1
Whitstable Town Reserves went top of Division 1 with a thoroughly deserved 2-1 victory away at Cray Wanderers. Cray is a very difficult place to go and get anything and Town had to battle till the very end to take all three points and move above Cray to the top of the table. Simon Kay and Peter Budge went with the new formation of 4-5-1 or 4-3-3 however you like to look at it and it id paying off for them because they have the players to play the formation. Town were missing I.Hossick, Maine, A,Hossick, Cummings and Liam Quinn from the squad and Darren Budge who had an illness was amongst the subs so the changes were made but still Town come away with a big win.
Cray dominated the early exchanges mainly due to the fact they were playing down the very sloped pitch and there was early pressure on the backline. Cray had Dimmock playing upfront and he looked a handful but once again Terry Ratchford and Sam Baker were awesome together in keeping him at bay. The Ratchford/Baker partnership is starting to look very strong but it is certain to break up soon as Ratchford looks for that shirt in the first team. With Andy Martin as the lone man through the middle he was always going to have to work hard and he put in a superb display of hard work and skill to lead the line on his own. Martin it was who opened the scoring with a fine header. Darren Bridges swung in the corner and Martin met it to power the header past the keeper. Cray threatened again before the break but keeper Hickson was not to be beaten, producing some great saves and claiming everything they threw into the box. Second half saw Town completely control the opening 30 minutes as Harker, Roy and Gess won the midfield battles and Gess was starting to spray some great passes out wide and through the channels for Martin. Town were soon 2-0 up when Bridges broke clear down the right and his cross missed out Martin but Toby Roy was in round the back to curl a lovely shot into the top corner. Cray now had to press and for the last 15 minutes it was real pressure on the town goal. Cray pulled one back after Hickson made a great save to deny the first attempt but he could do nothing as the follow up was rammed home for 2-1. Town though could have extended the lead as Bridges was ripping his full back in shreds with some surging runs but could find no goal at the end of them. Town cleared of the line late but battled to the end to take all three points and there won?t be many sides that go to Cray this season and take all three points. Town: Hickson, Duffy, Saffrey, Ratchford(N.Smith), Baker, Harker, Gess, Roy, Bridges(Braidwood), Wilson(Seagers), Martin. Sub: Budge <!--[if !supportEmptyParas]-->
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Reserves 
