Pics: Hilligerpix.com
The FA Trophy has reached the 1st Round stage with Cray Wanderers at this stage for the first time and make the trip to Uxbridge for their first competitive game since 31st October. The tie is played on Tuesday 8th December, 7.45 ko. Official permitted capacity for the game is 400. Please note if the game is tied after 90 minutes the match will be decided on a penalty shoot-out.
In uncertain and unusual times for football from Step 3 downwards, the non-league game at this level was on hold throughout lockdown 2 from 5th November – 2nd December and now with the tier system imposed since, the Isthmian League along with sister leagues, Northern Premier and Southern Leagues continues a fixture pause possibly until the new year. So this looks likely to be the last game for a few weeks for the losers of the tie on Tuesday. The 2nd Round of the competition takes place the following midweek and then the 3rd Round proper where the National League clubs enter will be played on the weekend of 19/20th December.
Cray warmed up for the game with a friendly game at Flamingo Park on Saturday in a 3-2 defeat to Basildon United with Rhys Murrell-Williamson and Freddie Parker scoring. This gave a chance for many of the team to get some minutes under their belts and also Karl Dent played the last half hour for his first taste of football this season.
The Wands before the November lockdown were just starting to put together a good run following the Canvey Island FA Cup defeat and beat Merstham 6-0 at Hayes Lane on 28th October and three days later started their FA Trophy campaign with a professional performance with a 3-0 win at Whitehawk on 31st October. In what could have been a tricky tie first half goals from Murrell-Williamson and Charlie Allen put Cray in command before the break and a terrific finish from Freddie Parker, his eighth goal of the season.
Joe Taylor didn’t score at Whitehawk but was involved in all three goals and scored twice in the Merstham victory to take his tally to 11 and also back to back clean sheets was another positive leading up to the lockdown.
Uxbridge will be tough opponents and the Isthmian South-Central side have already played two matches in the FA Trophy to make this round. In the 2nd Qualifying Round, Uxbridge came from behind to beat Waltham Abbey 2-1 at home and in the 3rd Qualifying Round had an impressive 2-1 home win against Hayes & Yeading United on 3rd November. Goals from Lonit Talla and an 88th minute winner from Callum Bunting helped set up a first ever trip to Uxbridge for Cray. They warmed up for the game with a 2-2 draw in a home friendly with Harrow Borough on Saturday.
Danny Edwards side like so many have only played a handful of league games to date and currently sit 17th in the league table with 5 points after 6 matches. Uxbridge have won 2-1 at Ware and drawn at home to Bracknell 2-2 and Ashford Town Middx 0-0. Their other games ended in defeat, 0-1 at Chertsey, 1-3 at home to Chipstead and 0-4 at Marlow on 27th October. Their FA Cup interest ended at Sheppey United 1-4 back in August.
Uxbridge much like Cray last season were perhaps unfortunate that the season ended prematurely as they stood third in the Isthmian South-Central table and very much in contention for a playoff place. The sides have only ever met once competitively in the London Senior Cup at Hayes Lane on 11th December 2002 which Uxbridge won 2-1.
The club were formed in 1871 and reached the FA Amateur Cup Final in 1897-98 and after spells in the Corinthian and Athenian Leagues until 1982-83 when they moved into the Isthmian League where they stayed for just over 20 years before moving onto the Southern League. They returned to the new Isthmian South-Central Division in 2018-19 where they finished 15th before their 3rd placed position last season before being null and voided.
There have been a number of dramatic cup ties this season for Cray Wanderers and this promises to be no different and should be a cracking, competitive tie to help beat those post lockdown blues.
Admission prices: £10.00 adults, £5.00 concessions and U16s free. Capacity 400
DIRECTIONS TO UXBRIDGE FC
Honeycroft
Horton Road
West Drayton
Middlesex
UB7 8HX
Admission prices: £10 adults, £5 concs, U16s free
Permitted attendance: 400 , pay at the gate. Please adhere to the social distancing regulations at Uxbridge FC
Programme: Online only
https://www.uxbridgefc.com/d/documents.html?group_id=15825
Bar will not be open, tea and refreshments available
By Road
Exit M4 at junction 4 (Heathrow) and take the A408 (Stockley Road) towards
Uxbridge for approximately 1 mile and then take the slip road and turn left
into Horton Road. Continue on Horton Road for approximately 500 yards going
past the warehouses at Prologis Park West London and turn right into a Private
Road (Signposted Uxbridge Football Club) opposite the Space Station Self
Storage Unit. Follow the Private Road and you will arrive in the Football Club
Car Park.
By Rail
Alight at West Drayton Station and Honeycroft is approximately a 1 mile walk (20 minutes) along West Drayton High Street and Horton Road, Alternatively take the 350 bus from West Drayton Station to the bus stop called Horton Close and walk the remainder.
Trains to West Drayton go from Paddington and leave at 13, 28, 43 & 58 mins past the hour. Returns to Paddington at 21:54 , 22:24, 22:40 and 22:54 after the game.
By Tube
Alight at Uxbridge Tube Station on the Metropolitan Line and turn right once through the ticket barrier to enter the Bus Station. From the Station you can either take the U5 or A10 to the bus stop called Iron Bridge Road in Horton Road and walk the remaining 1/2 mile (10 minutes) to the ground.
As the bar will not be open, the nearest pub to the ground would be the Six Bells (125 Station Road) and about 0.5 miles away. Also close are The Railway Arms (1 Station Road) and The Hut (Old Orchard Close) both of which serve real ale. Please adhere to social distancing regulations.
There should be plenty of eating establishments if coming in by West Drayton or Uxbridge.
