Cray Wanderers v Stockport County FA Cup First Round. Flamingo Park, Chislehurst, Sunday November 8, 2026. By Clive Richardson.

Three Minutes from Glory... Cray Wanderers’ first involvement in the First Round Proper of the FA Cup, the round in which teams from EFL Leagues One and Two compete for the first time, ahead of Premiership and Championship teams joining the competition in the Third Round in January.

The fourth official had signalled four minutes of additional time to play at the end of 90 minutes,
with Cray Wanderers leading 2-1, from two first half goals, when Stockport County won a corner kick
in the 91 st minute. The ball was played into the penalty area where, from some 12 yards, Mandron
hit the ball goal-bound, and a couple of seconds and deflections later, it was in the net for the
County equaliser and consequent extra time – there are no longer replays for drawn games at this
stage of the FA Cup.
Cray – ‘The Wands’- had begun brightly, taking the game to Stockport, their high-flying League One
opponents and more than 100 places above them in league standings from the Pitching In Isthmian
League, and took the lead on 20 minutes when Ogunwamide drove forward with a good through ball
to McLeod, who finished well from close range. Things got even better on 36 minutes when Ufuah
was brought down on the 18 yard line by visitors’ keeper Ashby-Hammond, who was sent off for the
offence. The resultant free kick produced a ‘worldie’ from Hernandez, curling into the top corner of
theCounty net – 2-0 to the hosts, and the visitors now a man short.
The second half saw more attacking play from Stockport, in search of a way back into the game,
while the Wands were restricted to breakaway attacks while defending well. Manager Tim O’Shea
made a number of substitutions for the hosts as legs tired with the part-timers. There were a couple
of half-chances to increase the lead, but it was County who scored next, a close range header from
Wootton on 81 minutes, then we kept an eye on our watches as the 90 minute mark approached.
Four minutes announced, and 91 brought the equaliser as described. Extra time ensued, with the
hosts now matching the visitors with attacking moves, mainly balls from midfield down the wings. It
was a right wing cross from County that reaped the next reward, however, when home keeper
Briggs was adjudged to have impeded a Stockport forward and a penalty kick resulted, converted by
Fiorini on 101 minutes.
With light and energy fading for the hosts, an equaliser was not forthcoming and when the final
whistle blew after two minutes of stoppage time, many exhausted Wands players sank to their
knees, taking some solace from the rousing ovation from the record crowd of 2,372 – glorious in
defeat and a lasting testimony to their spirited but unsuccessful performance. A truly memorable
afternoon for Cray Wanderers, the oldest football club in London, and their appreciative fans.