This match played on an extremely warm August summers evening did not pan out the way I thought it would. I expected Cray to field a strong first team and just old man a very young Phoenix team out of the game.

I paid my fiver to get in and 2 quid for my program. Another quid on a can of coke and for those of you who can count that was 8 quid well spent.

It has been some years since I played here and the club have built up very slowly and very solidly. The club now boast turnstiles, a seated stand and floodlights. It looks a good set up at Phoenix and I hope they do well this season.

Cray fielded a very young side and anybody in the know at this level of the game will know that Phoenix have just brought there u18 side through into men's football after the previous manager left for the Holmesdale job taking the vast majority of the team with him!!!

This is where my old team mate Del Oldfield, now Phoenix manager has clearly done a fantastic job working with his young side.

No hoofball each player was comfortable on the ball and the emphasis is clearly on playing the beautiful game.

The game kicked off and the early exchanges looked promising. Both sets of players looking to get the ball down and play. ( does any keeper kick it long anymore?)

After the first 15 minutes you could see that Phoenix were getting on top mainly due to the midfield duo of James Fitzgerald and Eddie Allsopp.

Both the polar opposite of each other Fitzgerald a tall 6 footer with a neat touch who keeps it simple.

And Allsopp a willow the wisp small midfield playmaker who on the night was excellent off of both feet. A shock of Afro hair and kit hanging off of him. Everything he did was composed playing way beyond his years I found out after the game from Del Oldfield that young Eddie is just 16!!!

As Phoenix ramped it up a notch the first goal was only a matter of time and when it came it was a howitzer from fully 20 yards from the right foot of James Fitzgerald. Although the keeper got a hand to it he could only help it into the top right hand corner. 1-0

After the goal Cray put up a fight and a lot of there best play came through the right back Connor Dobson who despite his lack of pace got himself up and down all night and used the ball very well. Despite getting beat 5-0 I was impressed with his never say die attitude.

Just before half time number 9 Liam Murray swooped in at the far post with a diving header after some loose play in midfield let Connor McCormack skip down the left and swing in a decent cross. 2-0

Half time 2-0

Crays team talk went up in smoke 5 minutes into the second half as firstly a mistake from cray 6 Ben Joselyn was robbed by allsopp 20 yards out who them drove at goal and slotted it past the onrushing keeper to make it 3-0.

A couple of minutes later the game was over as a contest when allsopp at a free kick played a pass down the left hand side of the wall to Connor McCormack who peeled off and struck a cross shot into the keepers left hand corner. ( those old enough to remember Norwich pulling this free kick off in the early 90s) 4-0

Subs where being made at regular intervals and it was Phoenix sub who completed the scoring in the shape of Kameron Mendez who rifled his shot into the top right hand corner from inside the box. 5-0

As a neutral there was still time for the ref to wave away a stonewall penalty for cray late in the game after Martin grant came out to smoother the ball but instead smothered George palmer instead!!!

In summary all those on show tried to get on the ball and express themselves which is good to see.

My man of the match was Eddie Allsopp who at the tender age of 16 has the world at his feet. If he can keep on improving who knows how far he could go in the game. A star is born!!