Cray Wanderers vs Haringey Borough – Isthmian Premier, Weds 9th March, 7.45pm – Match Preview
Pics: Jon Hilliger/www.hilligerpix.com & Scott Tweed Photography
Cray Wanderers make a quick fire return to Hayes Lane after Saturday as the Wands take on Haringey Borough on Wednesday 9th March, 7.45pm looking to maintain a four game unbeaten run at home.
Grant Basey’s Wands side picked up a point from a 1-1 draw against a tough Cheshunt side on Saturday with Anthony Cook’s 100th career goal giving Cray the lead before half time. Despite being down to ten men, Cheshunt fought back for a point but overall it was a good Wands performance with Joe Wright in goal outstanding and also young players like Freddy Barton, Kasim Aidoo and Narcis-Florin Filip shone with Cook and Sam Wood pulling strings well in midfield.
Cray sit 19th in the Isthmian Premier League table on 29 points , a point ahead of Brightlingsea Regent’s following Tuesday night’s results. Cray have three home games in March and the importance of getting points in those games could be key in Cray picking up enough to fend off relegation.
For the visit of Haringey Borough, Cray await injury updates on Kyel Reid and Ethan Kaiser while Nazir Bakrin should be available after missing Saturday due to Charlton Athletic U23s commitments. Cray have also signed Bromley U23s striker Soul Kader on a month loan.
BROMLEY, GREATER LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 05: Cray Wanderers’s Nazir Bakrin warms up before 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)
This game was originally due to be played on 19th February but was postponed due to Storm Eunice damage and the rescheduled game brought back from 23rd March due to Haringey’s cup commitments.
Haringey Borough currently lie 15th in the table with 35 points and on Saturday were beaten 0-3 at Carshalton Athletic. When the sides met at Haringey on 9th October Cray picked up a decent point from a 1-1 draw after Scott Mitchell put Haringey ahead early on Jamie Yila levelled in the second half. It was also 1-1 the last time the sides met at Hayes Lane in September 2019 when a Joe Taylor penalty cancelled out a Dimirti Froxylias strike for Haringey.
Away from home Haringey have won at Bognor Regis Town (2-1), Wingate & Finchley (2-1) and East Thurrock United (3-1) and picked up points at Leatherhead (0-0), Bishop’s Stortford (1-1) and Cheshunt (1-1). They were beaten at Kingstonian (0-1), Enfield Town (0-1), Merstham (0-5), Hornchurch (0-3) , Lewes (2-4), Bowers & Pitsea (1-2), Folkestone Invicta (0-5), Potters Bar Town (0-1 and Carshalton Athletic, 0-3 ). They had a decent home record until after the new year and have beaten Horsham (3-1), Wingate & Finchley (4-1), East Thurrock United (5-1), Brightlingsea Regent (3-0) and Merstham (1-0) and drawn with Potters Bar Town, Cray Wanderers, Carshalton Athletic, Margate, Bognor Regis Town, Worthing, Enfield Town and Hornchurch. Their only home defeats came to Corinthian Casuals, Leatherhead, Kingstonian and Bishop’s Stortford. In the FA Cup, Haringey were beaten at Peterborough Sports in the 1QR and in the FA Trophy lost to Potters Bar Town in the 3QR. They have done well in the London Senior Cup and have beaten AFC Wimbledon, Tooting & Mitcham United and Erith & Belvedere. They have also advanced in the Isthmian League Cup after winning at Brightlingsea Regent. David Olufemi is their current top scorer with 8 goals
This is an important game for Cray Wanderers in their attempts to get away from the relegation places and could be an exciting if tense evening. Admission £10/£5 on gate (cash only) or online at www.cray-wanderers.com/tickets and for all remaining home matches.
