Cheshunt vs Cray Wanderers – Isthmian Premier, Saturday 17th February, 3 pm – Match Preview
Cray Wanderers return to league action after a free midweek on Saturday with a trip to Hertfordshire to face Cheshunt in a match between sides in 16th and 18th in the Isthmian Premier League table. Kick off 3 pm.
Cray, in 16th place on 33 points have a ten point buffer over Cheshunt and are unbeaten in the last four league games. The Wands had to show battling qualities once again last Sunday to come from behind to draw 1-1 with Concord Rangers at Hayes Lane. Anthony Cook’s 77th minute penalty, his ninth goal of the season and his third in five games was the least Cray deserved from the game. Neil Smith’s side had come close especially in the second half through Gary Lockyer, Alfie Evans, Ellis Brown and Yahya Bamba and finished the game strongly.
Josh Hallard, on loan from AFC Wimbledon made a promising debut down the left hand side for the last half hour while Emmanuel Kwatchey continues to impress down the right with mature displays and defensively Cray have been much more solid in the last few games. Gary Lockyer remains leading scorer with ten goals with Anthony Cook on nine and Ellis Brown on eight not far behind.
The free midweek would have been welcome as Cray will go into a run of Saturday-Wednesday, Saturday-Tuesday games to end February with the Wands hoping that the likes of Nyren Clunis, Jack Holland and George Porter can soon return as we head into the last fourteen games of the season.
Cheshunt will provide stern opposition on Saturday and come into the game despite four league matches without a win buoyed by a battling 1-1 draw at in-form Bognor Regis Town last Saturday. Dejon Noel-Williams’ 84th minute equaliser earned a point for ten man Cheshunt who moved to 23 points after 29 games, a point clear of Margate. The two sides were due to meet at Cheshunt last Tuesday but like many games was called off due to a waterlogged pitch.
When the two sides met at Hayes Lane on 23rd September it was a lively contest which Cray won 2-1 with goals from Jamie Mascoll and George Porter with Solomon Baugh scoring for the Ambers. The last time the two sides met at Cheshunt was on 23rd October 2021 with the home side winning 4-0. Cray’s last win at Cheshunt was in April 2016 with James Duckworth’s goal giving Cray a 1-0 victory in the Isthmian North.
Craig Edwards’ side at home have beaten Bognor Regis Town (3-1), Dulwich Hamlet (2-1), Kingstonian (5-4) and Whitehawk (2-0) and drawn with Hashtag United (1-1). Cheshunt were beaten at home by Billericay Town (0-1), Chatham Town (1-2), Wingate & Finchley (0-1), Haringey Borough (0-2), Hornchurch (0-6), Enfield Town (1-2), Hastings United (2-3) and Potters Bar Town (2-4). Away from home Cheshunt picked up three points at Margate (2-1) and Carshalton Athletic (4-1), drawn at Hastings United, Potters Bar Town, Canvey Island and Bognor Regis Town and were beaten at Horsham, Cray Wanderers, Folkestone Invicta, Lewes, Wingate & Finchley, Chatham Town, Hornchurch and Whitehawk. Nnamdi Nwachuku is the leading scorer with 11 goals.
With both teams looking for points to pull away from the bottom four this should be a hard fought and an entertaining encounter as the Isthmian Premier enters the final quarter of the season.
DIRECTIONS TO CHESHUNT FC
Address:
The Stadium, Theobalds Lane, Cheshunt, Waltham Cross, Herts EN8 8RU
Adult: — £14.00 (£12.00 online)
Concessions: – £10.00 (£8.00 online)
Youth – (U13’s – U17’s) – £6 (£4.00 online)
U12s: – £ 2.00
https://cheshuntfc.ktckts.com/…/cheshunt-vs-cray-wanderers
Programme: Printed
BY ROAD
From the M25 motorway exit at Junction 25 taking the A10 (Great Cambridge Road) north following signs for Hertford. At the first roundabout take the third exit following signs for Cheshunt/Waltham Cross A121 (Winston Churchill Way). At the next roundabout take the first exit following signs for Cheshunt B176 (High Street). Continue under the Railway Bridge and turn left at the next mini roundabout into Theobalds Lane. Cheshunt Stadium is 800 yards along on the right hand side. The ground has a car park with spaces for 200 vehicles.
By Rail:
Theobalds Grove Station is a 5 minute walk away on the corner of the High Street and Theobalds Lane and enjoys a half hourly service to Seven Sisters (Victoria Line) and Liverpool Street. Please note that Cheshunt Station is not the nearest station to the ground.
Trains leave Liverpool Street at 15 & 45 minutes past the hour and take 35 minutes to get there. Returns are at 05 & 35 minutes past the hour. Theobalds Grove is in Travel Card Zone 7. Please note trains may be busy going and coming back with Tottenham at home to Wolves on Saturday.
From the station walk east on the Arches and at the roundabout take the 2nd exit onto High Street/B176. At the roundabout take the 1st exit onto Theobalds Lane for 0.5 miles then turn right onto Great Cambridge Road/A10 for 0.2 miles and to the ground.
By Bus:
Bus routes 310, 310a (Waltham Cross to Hertford) 242 (Waltham Cross to Potters Bar) and 251 (Waltham Abbey to Cheshunt) all stop at Theobalds Grove Station.
The nearest pubs to the ground are close to Theobalds Grove Station. The Vine, Coach & Horses and The Wheatsheaf are in Waltham Cross High Street and perhaps going the other way to the direction of the ground and good if you have plenty of time on your hands.
Cheshunt is a commuter town in the Hertfordshire borough of Broxbourne and is fairly close by rail links to London and is located in the Lea Valley. It is also home to Tesco’s head office and also the home headquarters of Lotus Cars and as the home of legendary singer, Cliff Richard. Queen Elizabeth I lived there as a young Princess.
If you have time on your hands Cedar Park, a short walk to the ground which includes the lavish Theobalds Palace which was a favourite residence of Kings James I is well worth a visit. It covers 19 acres and includes gardens, a maze, monuments and a mini zoo (the smallest in the UK). Many years ago it was the home of the Temple Bar Gate which has since been moved to London.
