Cray Wanderers cup interest for the season came to an end as Charlton Athletic moved into the Semi Finals of the Kent Senior Cup with a classy and polished display against a young Wands side.

Several first team regulars were rested to save them for the tough rigours of the festive football programme but the side that played did have some first team experience but the extra professionalism of the Charlton side proved to be major difference between the sides.

After an even start, Jason Euell’s Charlton took the lead in the 18th minute when from a throw in down the left the ball came to Gabriel Almeida who played a clever pass through to Jordan Zemura who was upended in the box by Marcus Evans and a penalty kick was awarded.   Albie Morgan stepped up to confidently convert the spot kick.

Charlton dominated for the remainder of the half and almost scored a second five minutes later when Dan Birch’s cross from the right fell to Luke Carey whose close range header was pushed onto the crossbar brilliantly by Nick Blue and over for a corner.

In the 31st minute Charlton scored an excellent second goal when Morgan who was controlling the game in midfield found Brendan Sarpong-Wiredu down the left who found himself just outside the area and curled in a lofted shot which gave Blue no chance to save with a moment of genuine class.

Cray’s best chance of the half came before the break when Ralique Lawrence headed wide from Jerome Federico’s cross from the right to the far post.

Charlton went 3-0 up in the 52nd minute with a well taken when Morgan’s left wing cross was missed by Carey but arrived at the far post to Alfie Doughty who did well to place the ball into the bottom left corner of the net.

Cray hung in the game and got themselves back in the game with a penalty award of their own on the hour.  Nick Wybrow’s ball found Anthony Adesite down the right who turned into the area and was brought down by Ryan Blomberg.  Adesite stepped up to take the kick himself and scored his second goal of the season, both in the Kent Senior Cup

Just as thoughts turned to a dramatic Wands fightback for the second Wednesday night in a row, two minutes later Charlton restored their three goal advantage.  They were awarded a free kick down the right and Doughty’s ball to the far post found the head of Jo Cummings who cleverly diverted the ball wide of Blue to make it 4-1.

Cray kept going and Freddie Parker shot just over the bar and Adesite tested Charlton keeper Dillion Phillips twice before two minutes into stoppage time Charlton scored a fifth goal when Doughty’s ball across from the left to the far post found substitute George Lapslie who tapped the ball into the net to round off a good night for Charlton and a Semi Final place.

Cray Wanderers: Nick Blue, Ben Mundele (Charlie Foster, 55), Timi Osidobu (Nick Wybrow, H/T), Marcus Evans, Mitchell Nelson, Zak Henry, Dean Carpenter, Anthony Adesite, Freddie Parker, Jerome Federico, Ralique Lawrence (Kyrique Garvey-Williams, 72)

Att:  152