City bowed out of the Kent Senior Trophy at the first hurdle after this home defeat to Cray Valley. Despite taking the lead and missing chances to win the game, the visitors eventually won through in a tight contest.

Returning at right back was Sam Baker, with Michael Scott moving to centre-half which allowed Joe Kennett to move forward into midfield. City started brightly enough and could have gone in front as early as the fifth minute when Michael Smissen found some space in the box following a Macauley Murray free kick. Unfortunately, he was denied a shooting opportunity due to a crucial blocking tackle by Cray defender Alex Prall just at the vital moment and as the ball came back out, Murray fired over from distance and the chance was gone.

Cray went close just three minutes later when a cross from the right by Ben Healy had City keeper Connor Quinn back-pedalling and very relieved to see the ball only land on the roof of the net. Cray’s Matt Knuckey shot straight at Quinn and then Chris Elliott produced his own roof of the net cross for City on thirteen.

Cray went close again on fifteen minutes as the ball ricocheted about in the City box with Mark Allen getting the best effort on goal forcing Quinn to save well with his feet. City then had a chance to open the scoring when Elliott powered a free kick through the Cray wall, but found keeper Stewart Back at his best with a fine diving save, the first of several good stops the keeper would make on the day.

Steve Springett hit the side netting for Cray, before Smissen back-headed a free kick just over the bar for City. Baker fired wide from a City corner routine, before Back excelled again, this time turning away a Murray free kick that came through a crowd of players.

On thirty-nine minutes City took the lead. Awarded a free kick some way out, Kennett strolled forward unnoticed. Taking the kick quickly, Murray chipped a lovely little ball in and Kennett nodded it past Back unchallenged and with some ease for 1-0. Cray pressed straight back and Kennett was soon in the thick of it at the other end with two crucial defensive headers.

With three minutes to go before the break, City had the chance to go two up. Jake Marsh got the ball forward and it was nicely dummied by Smissen allowing Wayon Anderson to power through the Cray defence with the ball. With only the keeper to beat, the striker was foiled by another last ditch defensive tackle. Just two minutes later, another gilt-edged chance passed City by. Firstly Renford Tenyue burst into the Cray box only to see Back come to their rescue again this time saving well as he spread himself but as the ball came back out to Smissen, he fired over with the goal there for the taking.

Right on half-time Cray deservedly drew level. A long through ball lured Quinn well out of his box to clear, but Robbie Bryant was on hand to intercept the clearance and with the keeper awol, he had a fairly straightforward task of shooting back into an empty net for the equaliser.

Half time then and it’s 1-1.

The second period went much the same as the first. Fairly even, with both sides creating few chances without either really forging ahead. Smissen came round the back of the Cray defence to volley a left wing cross over the bar, whilst for Cray, a Jamie Miller effort was well blocked out by defender Grant Bagley with Luke Tanner heading the rebound just wide.

On seventy-four minutes Cray took the lead. Quinn had done well to save an effort at full stretch, but in doing so had conceded a corner. City were unable to deal with it and as the ball came back out for the second time, Allen was on hand to shoot home low from about twenty yards through a packed penalty area, giving Quinn little chance to see it or to react.

Some tinkering with the formation failed to find City a way back as Cray thwarted another Anderson chance with some more excellent defending. With just six minutes left the striker was replaced by Bobby Powell as City sought to level and possibly take the game into extra-time. It wasn’t to be however, and the game meandered out in disappointment from City’s perspective.

Final score City 1 Cray Valley 2.

City; Connor Quinn, Sam Baker, Chris Elliott, Michael Scott, Grant Bagley, Renford Tenyue, Macauley Murray, Jake Marsh, Michael Smisson, Joe Kennett, Wayon Anderson (Bobby Powell). Unused Subs; Sean Armstrong, Sam Staunton.