Cray Wanderers vs Carshalton Athletic, Isthmian Premier, Sat, 22nd January, 2022 – 3pm – Match Preview
Main pics – Jon Hilliger/www.hilligerpix.com
Cray Wanderers conclude their quadruple of consecutive home league games in January on Saturday 22nd January as Carshalton Athletic are the visitors to Hayes Lane for the first time since February 2018.
BROMLEY, GREATER LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 19: Cray Wanderers’s Jamie Yila gets onto an awkward ball to create a chance on goal during The Pitching In Isthmian Premier League match between Cray Wanderers and Leatherhead at Hayes Lane on January 19, 2022 in Bromley, Greater London, England . (Photo: © Jon Hilliger / HilligerPix)
Cray will be looking to complete a league double over the Robins this season while at the same time looking to ease their relegation worries with Cray in 20th place following Wednesday night’s goalless draw with Leatherhead. Of the four home games this looks on paper the toughest test for Grant Basey’s side as Carshalton have won their last three league games including a home win against league leaders Worthing and have lost only one of their last eight in the league.
BROMLEY, GREATER LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 19: Cray Wanderers’s Erald Desa gets ahead of Leatherhead’s captain, Aaron Lamont, to run in on goal during The Pitching In Isthmian Premier League match between Cray Wanderers and Leatherhead at Hayes Lane on January 19, 2022 in Bromley, Greater London, England . (Photo: © Jon Hilliger / HilligerPix)
Perhaps the big bonus on Wednesday was the Wands first clean sheet of the season and defensively looked a lot stronger but perhaps will be looking for a bit more luck and efficiency in front of goal having created some chances against Leatherhead with Erald Desa particularly unlucky which were either saved by the keeper or shots deflected wide of goal, off the woodwork or across goal. Despite the run of four games without a win there are still plenty more games to come and also against teams in or around the lower reaches of the table.
BROMLEY, GREATER LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 19: Cray Wanderers’s Tom Hanfrey looks for options from the wing during The Pitching In Isthmian Premier League match between Cray Wanderers and Leatherhead at Hayes Lane on January 19, 2022 in Bromley, Greater London, England . (Photo: © Jon Hilliger / HilligerPix)
Cray will be looking to replicate the win at Colston Avenue on 2nd October which at that time stopped a seven game losing run. Goals from Marvin McCoy, Dean Beckwith and Andy Drury secured a great win at a very wet Carshalton who replied through Daniel Bennett and had an early penalty saved.
Peter Adeniyi’s side are 8th in the league table and five points behind 5th placed Kingstonian on 39 points. Last Saturday Carshalton won 1-0 at Bowers & Pitsea with a second half goal from Tommy Bradford. Away form has been solid all season with wins at Leatherhead (3-0), Cheshunt (3-1), Potters Bar Town (2-1) and Bowers & Pitsea (1-0). They drew at Margate (0-0), Wingate & Finchley (1-1), Haringey Borough (1-1) and Bishop’s Stortford. Their only defeats came at Bognor Regis Town (0-1), Lewes (0-1) and Corinthian Casuals (1-2). At home Carshalton have beaten Bishop’s Stortford (2-0), East Thurrock United (4-1), Brightingsea Regent (6-1), Folkestone Invicta (5-0), Merstham (3-1), Worthing (2-1) and Kingstonian (1-0). Carshalton picked up a point against Bowers & Pitsea, and Leatherhead and were beaten by Enfield Town, Cray Wanderers and Horsham. In the FA Cup, Carshalton advanced past Kennington but were beaten at home by Ebbsfleet United in the 2QR. In the FA Trophy after winning at Horsham were beaten at Welwyn Garden City. Top scorer this season to date is Lewis White with 10 goals.
The last time the two sides met at Hayes Lane was in the old Isthmian League South on 17th February 2018 with Carshalton winning 2-1 after Aaron Rhule gave Cray the lead goals from Jordan Cheadle and Christie Pattison won the game for the Robins who were promoted as Champions that season. Since then Carshalton have been perennial playoff contenders and finished 2nd in 2018-19 in the Isthmian Premier and were in contention again in 2019-20 along with Cray and were due to meet on the final day of the season at Hayes Lane but the game never took place and was not one of the few games played last season.
Matches between the sides are always free flowing and plenty of good football played and with lots to play for at both ends of the table this could be a match well worth seeing. Admission £10.00 adults, £5.00 concessions/U16s or online at www.cray-wanderers.com/tickets/
