Larkfield & New Hythe vs Cray Wanderers – FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round – Saturday 31st August, 3 pm
Cray Wanderers take a break from league action on Saturday 31st August as the FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round sees a first as the Wands head to Larkfield & New Hythe for the first time. Kick off 3 pm. Please note at this stage of the competition a replay will be required if the game ends in a draw after 90 minutes expected to take place on Tuesday 3rd September.
Cray will be looking to get back to winning ways after four league defeats including the two Bank Holiday fixtures at home to league leaders Lewes and at Dulwich Hamlet on Monday.
The performance at Dulwich offered encouragement especially in the first half where Tom Bonner capped a fine display with his first goal of the season to level the scores but Dulwich won with a goal seven minutes from time to leave Cray in 19th place in the league table. With a week break in league fixtures Neil Smith’s side will be looking for a confidence boost ahead of Saturday’s league game with Horsham and have signed striker Imran Kayani from Whitehawk in a bid to find more firepower up front but will have to respect Larkfield & New Hythe on what will be a big afternoon for the Kent club.
Cray will be looking to avoid an upset against Larkfield & New Hythe who are making their FA Cup debut this season so have reached the 1st Qualifying Round for the first time with wins both at home vs Kennington (2-1) and Lingfield (3-1) with goals from Jack Clark, Chibueze Innocent and Bryan Zepo. The Larks are managed by an ex-Wand in Danny Lye and also assisted by Michael Phillips with both at the club during the 2014-15 season.
Larkfield & New Hythe were promoted to the SCEFL Premier for the first time last season and finishing 2nd and victories against Lewisham Borough and Staplehurst Monarchs in front of a crowd of 835 saw them gain promotion. They have begun well in the league and are 9th unbeaten after three games on 7 points after wins at Rusthall (2-1) and at home to Glebe (2-0) and drew 1-1 at Punjab United. In midweek they made the trip down to Selsey in the FA Vase and were unfortunate to go out on penalties after a 1-1 draw with Bryan Zepo scoring.
The club were formed in 1961 as Larkfield & New Hythe Wanderers and played in the Maidstone & District Saturday League with Larkfield Youth formed in 1976. The two clubs merged in 2012. The club moved into the Kent County League Division 2 East in 1996 and were Maidstone District Cup Winners in 2015 and the Les Leckie Cup Winners the following year. They were promoted to Division One in 2020 and in 2021-22 were accepted into the SCEFL Division One after successful ground improvements. They finished 3rd in their first season losing to Sutton Athletic in the playoff final and the following season finished 5th. Last season after a 2nd placed finish and playoff success the club who plan to move to a new ground in the next two years now can aim higher in the SCEFL Premier.
This should be a great day out just off the M20 and a new ground for many Wands supporters as the magic of the greatest cup competition in the world comes around again for Cray Wanderers.
DIRECTIONS TO LARKFIELD & NEW HYTHE FC
251 New Hythe Lane,
Larkfield,
Ditton,
Aylesford, Kent ME20 6PU
Entry into the Ground is from 1pm
SPECTATOR ENTRY: £8 (* concessions available)
GETTING TO THE GROUND
Post code ME20 6PU
By Car 5 minutes’ drive off Junction 4 of the M20
Directions to Larkfield
From Flamingo Park take the A20 to M20 in Swanley. Turn left onto Sidcup By-Pass/A20 and follow for 0.8 miles. Take a sharp right onto Southwood Road for 0.2 miles and then right onto Larchwood Road for 0.2 miles and then a left onto Sidcup By-Pass/A20 and follow for 6.4 miles.
Take A20 to M20 in Swanley. Keep right to continue on to the M20 following signs for Dover/Channel Tunnel/Maidstone for 13.4 miles. Then take the exit towards Castle Way/A228 for 0.2 miles and at the roundabout take the 1st exit onto Castle Way/A228 for 0.3 miles. Then turn right onto Leybourne Way for 0.9 miles. At the roundabout take the 3rd exit onto New Hythe Lane going through one roundabout for 0.4 miles and then turn right to stay on New Hythe Lane for 0.1 mile and the ground will be on the right.
Parking There is limited car parking at the ground reserved for players and officials.
Alternative car parking is available nearby at Larkfield Village Hall, along Sheldon Way, 14 New Hythe Lane, Tesco Lunsford Park and Larkfield Leisure Centre
By Train 25 minute walk from New Hythe and Aylesford train stations
Nearest Station – New Hythe (0.9miles)
Train services require a couple of changes along the way. If going from Orpington, change at Sevenoaks and then Paddock Wood for a train to New Hythe or Aylesford. From Bromley South you would need to change at Rochester and then Strood. Or catch a train that heads to Maidstone stations or Maidstone Barracks. If you should choose to go to Aylesford Station please give yourself extra time as it is quite a walk from there. Please check www.nationalrail.co.uk for times and journey back.
Please take caution if walking to the ground from the station. Exit New Hythe Station and toward New Hythe Lane via the steps. Turn left onto New Hythe Lane go through three roundabouts and then turn right to stay on New Hythe Lane and the ground will be on the right.
Nearest Pub: The clubhouse at the ground looks a very good and enticing option but if you come in by train, the Bricklayers Arms is 0.6 miles to the ground, walk south-west onto New Hythe Lane towards Bellingham Way for 0.5 miles and then turn right to stay on New Hythe Lane and the ground will be on the right.
By Bus Bus routes 570, 572, 576, 71, 72, T11, T13, T15 and 215 all stop off in Larkfield
