Horsham vs Cray Wanderers – Isthmian Premier – Saturday 13th April, 3 pm – Match Preview
Cray Wanderers enter the final three weekends of the season on Saturday 13th April with a trip to playoff contenders Horsham. Kick off 3 pm.
Cray will be looking to finish the season well after five league games without a win and after Saturday have a London Senior Cup Quarter-Final at home to Dartford on Tuesday 16th April and then the final league game at Hayes Lane vs Bognor Regis Town on 20th April and finish at Dulwich Hamlet on 27th April.
On Tuesday night, Cray travelled to Hornchurch and despite a decent showing against the new Isthmian Premier champions were beaten 0-2 and have dropped down to 16th place in the league table on 47 points but have steered clear of relegation after the good run of form in February and early March. At Hornchurch the Wands were without the likes of Frankie Raymond and George Porter but Nyren Clunis made a welcome ten minute appearance off the bench for the first time since late November.
Horsham are one of nine sides with playoff ambitions and moved up to 5th on Tuesday night after a 1-0 win at Potters Bar Town with a Daniel Ajakaiye goal bouncing back from Saturday’s defeat at Folkestone Invicta. The Hornets have 67 points after 37 games and will still have four games to play after Saturday and are three points clear of Billericay Town who have played 39 games.
Dominic Di Paola’s side have also had a successful season in the cups making national headlines by reaching the 2nd Round of the FA Cup advancing past Barnsley before losing at Sutton United and also the 4th Round of the FA Trophy and have reached the Sussex Senior Cup Final where they face Hastings United on 8th May at the Amex Stadium.
It seems a long time ago since the sides met at Hayes Lane on 16th August with Horsham winning 3-1 with goals from Jack Strange, Bobby Price and Daniel Ajakaiye with Anthony Cook scoring for Cray. The last meeting at Horsham was a midweek match on 22nd November 2022 and finished in a 2-2 draw after goals from Lee Harding and Jack Mazzone for Horsham with Anthony Cook and Nyren Clunis scoring for Cray. All three previous meetings at the Camping World Community Stadium have finished in draws.
At home Horsham have beaten Dulwich Hamlet (3-2), Cheshunt (1-0), Margate (1-0), Canvey Island (2-1), Folkestone Invicta (2-1), Potters Bar Town (2-0), Haringey Borough (1-0), Kingstonian (3-1), Hastings United (2-1) and Bognor Regis Town (5-4). Horsham drew with Billericay Town (0-0), Chatham Town (2-2), Enfield Town (1-1) and Wingate & Finchley (1-1) and were beaten by Hornchurch (1-2), Hashtag United (0-2), Whitehawk (0-1), Lewes (1-3) and Carshalton Athletic (1-2). Away from home the Hornets won at Cray Wanderers (3-1), Haringey Borough (2-0), Carshalton Athletic (2-1), Kingstonian (2-1), Hashtag United (2-1), Hastings United (2-0), Billericay Town (2-1), Margate (3-1), Canvey Island (2-1) and Potters Bar Town (1-0), drew with Concord Rangers, Dulwich Hamlet and Hornchurch and lost at Whitehawk, Wingate & Finchley, Bognor Regis Town, Enfield Town and Folkestone Invicta. Daniel Ajakaiye is the leading scorer with 17 goals.
This will be a tough test for the Wands against a very good Horsham side but Cray have reserved some of the best performances of the season against playoff contenders and will be looking to put in a positive display as the season heads to its conclusion at the end of the month.
DIRECTIONS TO HORSHAM FC
The Camping World Community Stadium, Hop Oast, Worthing Road, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 0AX
ADMISSION PRICES
Adults: £13, Over 65’s: £8, U18s & Students: £8, U16s: £2
Pay on the gate or purchase tickets online at www.horshamfc.co.uk
*on day of match (proof of age may be required)
Arriving by car
Where possible, supporters travelling by car should arrange to share with others.
The quickest route from St. Mary Cray: Take Court Road/Orpington by pass/A224 to M25 in Chelsfield. At Hewitts Roundabout take 2nd exit onto M25 heading to Sevenoaks/A21 for 0.8 miles. At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto M25 slip road to M23/M3/M4/Gatwick/Heathrow/Hastings/Sevenoaks/A21. After 0.4 miles merge onto M25 for 3 miles.
At junction 5, use left two lanes to take the M25 exit to M23/Gatwick/Heathrow/M4 for 0.8 miles. And continue onto M25 for 11.7 miles. At junction 7, use left 2 lanes to take M23 (S) exit to Brighton/Crawley/Gatwick for 1 mile then merge onto M23 for 13.2 miles. At junction 11, take the A264 exit to Horsham.
After 0.3 miles take at roundabout 3rd exit onto A264 then after 0.3 miles at Tollgate Hill roundabout take 2nd exit, staying on A264 for 1.4 miles. At the roundabout take 1st exit onto Horsham Road/A264 and follow for 0.6 miles. Then at Kilnwood Vale roundabout take 2nd exit onto Crawley Road/A264 for 1.3 miles and then at Moorhead roundabout take 2nd exit onto A264 for 0.7 miles.
Then at Rusper Road Roundabout take 2nd exit and stay on A264 for 1.30 miles then at Great Daux roundabout take 1st exit on to A24 for 0.6 miles. Then at Robin Hood roundabout take the 2nd exit and stay on A24 for 3 miles. Finally at Hop Oast roundabout take 1st exit onto Worthing Road/B2237. After 0.2 miles turn right and the ground will be on the left.
Please note that parking in the Stadium Car Park will be limited on matchdays to Players, Match Officials, Home and Visiting Club Officials and Invited Guests. There are a small number of reserved spaces for drivers displaying Blue Parking Badges which are subject to availability. Any supporters who have limited mobility should contact the club office on 01403 458854 or email admin@horshamfc.co.uk at least 72 hours in advance to reserve a place in the car park (subject to availablity).
All supporters arriving by car will be directed to the Hop Oast Park & Ride, which is located opposite the access lane to the Stadium. The Post Code is RH13 0AR. It is five minutes’ walk to the Stadium and qualified marshals will be on hand to assist you across the main road. When big attendances are expected, information will be published on additional parking arrangements nearby with a free shuttle service to the Stadium.and
There is strictly NO MATCHDAY PARKING in Worthing Road, Denne Park, Salisbury Road, Horsham Golf & Fitness or the access lane to the Stadium.
**Please note that, where big crowds are anticipated, supporters are requested to use the RSPCA car park from where there will be regular shuttle busses to the ground
By Rail
Horsham Railway Station is served by frequent trains from London, Gatwick, Crawley and the South Coast. There are up to five Metrobus services an hour to the Stadium from Bus Stop L (see information above).
Trains to Horsham go from London Victoria and leave at 05, 35 and 41 past the hour. Trains at 41 past the hour stop at more stations en route and takes 1 hr 21 mins. Best to check National Rail enquiries before travelling. Returns back to Victoria are at 20 and 50 minutes past the hour. The 25 minutes past train requires a change at Gatwick Airport as does the 23.27 train.
You can also get there from London Bridge with trains at 00 and 30 past the hour.
By Bus
The most convenient means of travel to the Stadium is by bus.
Metrobus run up to four services an hour on Route 98 to the Stadium from Roffey, Southwater and Horsham Railway and Bus Stations, with more extensive hourly services on Route 23 from Crawley and Worthing. Travel time from Horsham Bus Station is five minutes. Subject to demand, the Stadium will be served by double-decker vehicles on matchdays.
Supporters should ask the driver for “Golf Club for Horsham FC.”
Nearest pub: If you have time on your hands then The Bear, 17 Market Square RH12 1EU about half a mile from Horsham station looks to be the best rated but plenty of choices elsewhere.
Horsham is a market town in West Sussex lying in the Weald between the North and South Downs. Any early visitors may wish to visit the Carfax which is an pedestrianised square which includes a war memorial, a bandstand and traditionally has a market on a Saturday.
