Cray Wanderers vs Merstham – Isthmian Premier, Saturday 5th February, 3 pm – Match Preview
Pics: Jon Hilliger/www.hilligerpix.com
After three successive away league matches Cray Wanderers return home on Saturday with another crucial match in the Isthmian Premier as Merstham are the visitors to Hayes Lane. Kick off 3pm.
SURREY, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 09: Cray Wanderers’s Chris Dickson during the The Pitching In Isthmian Premier League match between Merstham and Cray Wanderers at The Whiskey Bible Stadium on November 09, 2021 in Surrey, England . (Photo: © Jon Hilliger / HilligerPix)
Cray will be looking to build on the momentum of a come from behind victory at Potters Bar Town on Tuesday night which helped to ease some relegation fears after two straight away defeats. It looked like being three as Potters Bar under new management went two nil up before the hour. However, inspired by the return of Cray Wanderers home grown legend Sam Wood pulled a goal back in the 61st minute after Wood’s shot was saved and Jamie Yila plundered his 11th goal of the season. Cray finished the game strongest and levelled when Anthony Cook’s corner brushed off Nazir Bakrin into the net for his first career goal in the 84th minute. In stoppage time Cray got a third via an own goal from a Wood corner to cap the comeback. Cook just needs one more goal for 100 career goals while Wood’s return is historic as he is the first Cray Wanderers player in the club’s history to go on to play in the Football League and eventually return to Cray.
SURREY, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 09: Cray Wanderers’s Jai Reason gets infront of the crowd to head on goal during the The Pitching In Isthmian Premier League match between Merstham and Cray Wanderers at The Whiskey Bible Stadium on November 09, 2021 in Surrey, England . (Photo: © Jon Hilliger / HilligerPix)
The win on Tuesday keeps Cray 20th in the table with 14 games remaining and 42 points still up for grabs. The Wands are seven points behind Merstham who lie 15th and in the middle of a run of just one defeat in the league in 2022. The Moatsiders drew 0-0 at home to Kingstonian last Saturday although they were narrowly beaten on Monday night by Carshalton Athletic, 0-1 in the Velocity League Cup. Frank Wilson’s side were more than worthy winners when the teams met at Merstham on 9th November winning 2-0 with goals from John Ufuah and a Korrey Henry penalty.
SURREY, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 09: Cray Wanderers’s Freddie Barton slides a pass past Merstham’s Chace Jacquart during the The Pitching In Isthmian Premier League match between Merstham and Cray Wanderers at The Whiskey Bible Stadium on November 09, 2021 in Surrey, England . (Photo: © Jon Hilliger / HilligerPix)
Away from home Merstham have picked up wins at Cheshunt (1-0), Corinthian Casuals (3-0), Leatherhead (3-2) and Bowers & Pitsea (1-0) and were beaten at Horsham (0-3), Kingstonian (1-4), Worthing (1-2), Hornchurch (0-1), Enfield Town (1-3), Carshalton Athletic (1-3), Folkestone Invicta (1-6) and Lewes (0-3). At home form has been decent with wins against Potters Bar Town (1-0), Haringey Borough (5-0), Bowers & Pitsea (4-0), Cray Wanderers (2-0) and Wingate & Finchley (3-1) and drew with East Thurrock United, Bishop’s Stortford and Kingstonian while losing to Folkestone Invicta, Lewes, Margate, Horsham and Brightlingsea Regent. Merstham had a decent run in the FA Cup reaching the 3rd QR beating Balham and Margate before losing at home to Hereford. In the FA Trophy Merstham were beaten at home by Welwyn Garden City in the 3rd QR while in the Surrey County Cup they advanced past South Park but were beaten at home by Walton Casuals in the 1st Round.
The last time the two sides met at Hayes Lane was the last league game played in the very short 2021-22 season on 28th October, 2020 with Cray winning 6-0 with two goals from Joe Taylor and Ben Mundele, Bradley Pritchard, Jay Leader and Rhys Murrell-Williamson on the scoresheet.
Games between the sides tend to be entertaining, end to end encounters and this could be no different despite so much being at stake. Admission £10 adults, £5 concessions/U16s on gate or online at www.cray-wanderers-com/tickets/
