Moneyfields’ FA Cup dream ended by Cray Wanderers first half goal blitz

On the eve of their FA Cup second qualifying round tie against Cray Wanderers, Carter told his players they would have to cut out their defensive mistakes if they were to surprise their high-flying Isthmian League visitors.

The warning fell on deaf ears for within 13 minutes Moneyfields had gift-wrapped the Kent side two goals and were already staring down the barrel of a 6-2 defeat.

Ten minutes before half-time it was effectively all over with Cray 4-0 up, a lead a subsequent Steve Hutchings brace trimmed to make the final scoreline slightly more respectable.

Tormentor in chief was Cray’s Joe Taylor, last season’s top Isthmian League goalscorer, who gave Sam Pearce an uncomfortable afternoon and who completed his hat-trick in the last minute.

Overall Cray, unbeaten in all competitions since Boxing Day 2019, were a class apart.

A philosophical Carter reflected on Moneyfields’ defensive misgivings, saying: ‘We repeated what we did against Melksham in midweek and gave away two costly goals.

‘We were up against a very good footballing side and, from 4-0 down, I thought we did okay in the second half – but by then the damage was done.’

Moneyfields pressed the self-destruct button eight minutes in – goalkeeper Jake Hallett uncertain and caught in two minds whether to come for the ball.

The speedy Jerome Federico nipped in and seized the opportunity to deliver a low ball into the box for an easy Taylor side-foot.

Moneyfields’ prospects of recovering from that early setback were promptly struck a double blow when George Barker pulled up lame with a strained hamstring and moments later Hutchings shot narrowly wide of the keeper’s left-hand upright.

‘If that had gone in it might have been a different game,’ Carter rued.

Five minutes after being gifted the lead, Taylor struck again, turning Pearce before lobbing Hallett to make it 2-0.

Cray, enjoying significant midfield possession, might have scored on three more occasions before two more goals in the 32 and 35th minutes effectively ended the contest.

Moneyfields unsuccessfully appealed for offside when Freddie Parker went through unchallenged to make it 3-0 – full back Ed Sanders, on the far right, was playing him onside – before the face-masked Gladiator lookalike Jay Leader climbed at the far post to head in a corner.

Moneyfields at least had the consolation of a Hutchings goal – well worked by substitute Kieran Roberts and Marley Ridge – to take into Carter’s half-time team talk.

Their bruised confidence boosted by that goal, Moneyfields thrived for a while before Charlie Allen – the 28-year old son of former Pompey player and journeyman manager Martin Allen – underlined his influence in midfield with Wanderers’ fifth.

Allen made 46 appearances for Notts County and Gillingham between 2011 and 2014 before playing for a variety of clubs on the South London non-league circuit.

Hutchings clawed a second goal back for Moneyfields from a 71st minute corner forced by Alex Lafleur - his fifth FA Cup strike of the campaign in three outings.

But, appropriately, Taylor had the final word, heading a simple hat-trick goal after Hallett had parried a fierce drive from Allen into his path.

It was his eighth goal in four games this season and took his tally to 53 in only 64 games since joining the Bromley-based club.

No surprise his signing-on signature is one of the most sought after on the Isthmian League circuit.

‘We knew were going to go out of the cup sometime and at least we can take consolation from being beaten by a very good Cray side,’ lamented Carter.

‘Now we must concentrate on getting some Southern League points on the board.’

That quest, after two defeats in their opening two Division 1 South fixtures, resumes at Thatcham Town on Tuesday evening.

Moneyfields: Hallett, Sanders, Dacosta, Pearce, Lafleur, Bailey, Ridge, Raine, Briggs, Hutchings, Barker (Roberts, 11).

Attendance 194.