Cray Wanderers vs Hashtag United – Isthmian Premier – Friday 5th April, 7.45 pm – Match Preview
Cray Wanderers play their penultimate home league game of the season on Friday 5th April with Hashtag United the visitors for the first time. Kick off 7.45 pm.
The Wands come into the game after picking up two points from draws in the Easter Kent derbies with Chatham Town and Margate which proved enough to confirm safety in the Isthmian Premier League for the 2024-25 season. Although at times it has proved to be a tough season after a poor start Cray have settled down and currently are 14th on 47 points.
On Monday, the Wands drew 1-1 at Margate with Enoch Muwonge capping a lively performance with an early goal and Cray finished the game strongly and could have won it courtesy of Gary Lockyer’s late header but was denied by a great save and this followed a deserved point against Chatham Town on Good Friday after goals from Jack Holland and Alfie Evans.
After Friday, Cray have four more league matches to play with three away from home against Hornchurch, Horsham and Dulwich Hamlet with the final league match at Hayes Lane against Bognor Regis Town to come on 20th April. A note for supporters that the London Senior Cup Quarter-Final at home to Dartford has had another change of date and will be played on Tuesday 16th April with the winners away to Hendon on 23rd February.
The Wands visitors Hashtag United have had a very satisfactory first season in the Isthmian Premier following promotion from the Isthmian North last season and are 10th on 55 points and although the playoffs may be slightly out of their reach have acquitted themselves well and after a bit of a blip at the start of the year have lost one of the last nine league games. Over Easter Hashtag won both games scoring 10 goals in the process and on Easter Monday beat Haringey Borough 5-0 at home with ex-Wand Alex Teniola and Toby Aromolaran scoring twice and a Camilo Restrepo strike. This followed a 5-3 win at Kingstonian last Saturday. Hashtag United are also in the final of the Isthmian League Cup after beating Concord Rangers, Brightlingsea Regent, Badshot Lea and Haringey Borough and will meet Chatham Town in the final on 17th April.
The match pits the oldest club in the Isthmian Premier against the youngest and when the sides met at the Len Salmon Stadium on 16th December, Hashtag won the match 1-0 with a Luke May-Parrott goal against a ten man Wands side for much of the game.
Away from home, Jay Devereux’s side have won at Concord Rangers (4-1), Carshalton Athletic (1-0), Horsham (2-0), Haringey Borough (4-1), Folkestone Invicta (3-1), Chatham Town (3-2), Billericay Town (4-2) and Kingstonian (5-3). Hashtag drew at Bognor Regis Town (0-0), Whitehawk (1-1), Margate (1-1), Cheshunt (1-1), Wingate & Finchley (0-0) and Canvey Island (2-2) and were beaten at Hornchurch (0-3), Enfield Town (3-6), Dulwich Hamlet (1-2), Potters Bar Town (0-5) and Hastings United (0-2). At home Hashtag have beaten Wingate & Finchley (2-0), Billericay Town (2-1), Canvey Island (3-1), Cray Wanderers (1-0), Margate (4-2) and Haringey Borough (5-0). They drew with Dulwich Hamlet, Folkestone Invicta, Kingstonian, Chatham Town, Enfield Town and Carshalton Athletic and were beaten by Hastings United, Hornchurch, Bognor Regis Town, Lewes, Horsham and Potters Bar Town. Top scorer is Luke May-Parrott with 13 goals.
This promises to be an entertaining match and a rare Friday night game as the season begins to wind down and both teams looking to finish on a high.
Admission £12/£6 on gate (cash only) or online at www.cray-wanderers.com/tickets/
