With ten league games to go Cray Wanderers begin their March fixtures on Saturday with their first home fixture for a month as Cheshunt are the visitors to Hayes Lane. Kick off 3pm
Cray will be looking to continue to climb away from the relegation places and Grant Basey’s side are 19th on 28 points level with Brightlingsea Regent and build on encouraging recent form. Last Saturday Cray picked up a point from a lively 2-2 draw at Horsham with goals from Chris Dickson, his eighth of the season and a second half leveller from Cameron Brodie.
Cray were without Freddy Barton and Jamie Yila with an injury for the trip to Horsham but there were encouraging debuts for Joe Wright in goal who made three fines saves during the game, forward Narcis-Florin Filip who was a livewire throughout and Denzel Williams as substitute was assured at the back. The only downside were injuries during the match for Ethan Kaiser and Kyel Reid and hopefully over the course of the week have been able to get back on the road to recovery.
BROMLEY, GREATER LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 05: Cray Wanderers’s Ethan Kaiser scores his team’s third goal with his head to make the score 3-0 during The Pitching In Isthmian Premier League match between Cray Wanderers and Merstham at Hayes Lane on February 05, 2022 in Bromley, Greater London, England . (Photo: © Jon Hilliger / HilligerPix)
BROMLEY, GREATER LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 05: Cray Wanderers’s Sam Wood looks for an option as Merstham’s Jack Haire closes him down during The Pitching In Isthmian Premier League match between Cray Wanderers and Merstham at Hayes Lane on February 05, 2022 in Bromley, Greater London, England . (Photo: © Jon Hilliger / HilligerPix)
With four games at home in March it is imperative for Cray to pick up as many points at Hayes Lane as possible but it will be a tough game against a durable Cheshunt side who lie 10th in the table on 46 points and do have a number of games in hand over teams in the playoff places and below. Craig Edwards side had an excellent run in the FA Trophy and were the last Isthmian League side left in the competition at the Last 16 stage after wins against Corinthian Casuals, Berkhamsted, Chelmsford City, Bishop’s Stortford and St Albans City before losing narrowly at National League Stockport County, 0-1 in February.
Cray will be hoping for a better afternoon than the last meeting on 23rd October when Cheshunt inflicted one of the heavier defeats of the season, 4-0 with goals from Reece Beckles-Richards (2), Amadou Kassarate and Mo Camara. The last time the sides met at Hayes Lane was on 9th November 2019 on an emotional afternoon following the passing of club legend Dave Jackson with Cray winning 6-1 with goals from Joel Rollinson, Joe Taylor (3) and Lee Lewis (2) with Ryan Moss scoring for Cheshunt.
Pic: Joel Rollinson scores after 38 seconds to put Cray Wanderers ahead in the last meeting at Hayes Lane on 9th November, 2019. Pic. Jon Hilliger
Cheshunt have been in and around the playoff places for most of the season and on Tuesday night drew 1-1 at home to Potters Bar Town with Beckles-Richards scoring in the second half. Their away form has been good and have won at league leaders Worthing and picked up wins at Potters Bar Town (3-1), Hornchurch (1-0), Horsham (2-0), Leatherhead (2-1), Worthing (2-1), Wingate & Finchley and (3-1) and drew at Lewes (2-2), Kingstonian (1-1) and Margate (2-2) with the only defeats at Enfield Town (0-1), Bishop’s Stortford (1-3) and Carshalton Athletic (1-2). At home Cheshunt beat East Thurrock United (3-0), Brightlingsea Regent (3-1), Cray Wanderers (4-0), Corinthian Casuals (5-1 ), Enfield Town (2-1), Leatherhead (1-0), Kingstonian (1-0) and drew with Margate, Folkestone Invicta, Haringey Borough and Potters Bar Town and were beaten by Merstham, Carshalton Athletic, Bognor Regis Town, Horsham and Bowers & Pitsea. In the FA Cup they reached the 3QR after wins against Brentwood and Hitchin but were beaten at AFC Sudbury. Leading scorer is Rowan Liburd with 14 goals.
Cr ay Wanderers home games have been very entertaining since the start of 2022 and the club will be joined by many of the clubs fantastic youth teams adding to the atmosphere and perhaps giving the Wands a 12th man for the first of 10 vital games.
Admission £10 adults, £5 concessions/U18s on the gate (cash only) or online at www.cray-wanderers.com/tickets
