Cray Wanderers vs Wingate & Finchley – FA Cup 2QR – Saturday 14th September, 1 pm – Match Preview
Cray Wanderers’ debut season at Flamingo Park sees a first Saturday home FA Cup tie as Wingate & Finchley are the visitors in the 2nd Qualifying Round. Please note the kick off is 1 pm.
Both teams will be looking to make new ground this season with a place in the 1st Round proper for the first time but before that three qualifying rounds need to be passed as the world’s greatest domestic cup competition still captures the imagination of fans and the footballing world as a whole. Should the game end in a draw the tie will go to a replay which will be on Tuesday 17th September at the Maurice Rebak Stadium, 7.45 pm.
Cray will be looking to build on the well earned point from the goalless draw with Horsham last Saturday and the durable and resolute performance helped restore some confidence after four consecutive league defeats.
The Wands have already attained a piece of history in the brief cup run so far with a record FA Cup win after an 8-0 win at home to Larkfield & New Hythe in the 1st QR Replay on 3rd September. Goals from Frankie Raymond, Nyren Clunis, Tom Bonner (2), Kenny Coker (2), Anthony Cook and an own goal saw Cray ease through after a 1-1 draw at Larkfield.
With respect to Larkfield & New Hythe this will be a much tougher assignment for Neil Smith’s side as Wingate & Finchley are a confident side who come into the game 14th in the Isthmian Premier league table on points from six games. The Blues reached the playoffs last season after a fourth placed finish only losing in the Semi-Final at Enfield Town.
Ahmet Rifat’s side produced a professional performance in the 1st QR to win 4-0 at Thame United with goals from Arthur Iontton, Oga Obi (2) and Andronicus Georgiou. Their league games have been entertaining with 27 goals in six matches and so far have beaten Dulwich Hamlet (3-2) at home and won 3-2 at Canvey Island. They drew 3-3 with Folkestone Invicta and were beaten at Carshalton Athletic (2-3), at home to Potters Bar Town (1-2) and last Saturday went down to defeat at Bognor Regis (1-2) with an injury time winner. Obi put the Blues ahead and has seven goals for the season.
Wingate & Finchley were formed as a merger of the Wingate & Finchley clubs in 1991 and this will be the first FA Cup meeting between the sides. The teams have met in the FA Trophy, in 2010 and a handful of meetings in the London Senior Cup with the last in the 2014-15 season. Cray did meet the original Wingate club back in the London Senior League days of the 1950’s and met in the League Cup four seasons in a row including the Final in 1956-57 won by Wingate while, the original Finchley club got to the FA Cup 3rd Round proper in 1952-53.
The two league meetings last season saw Cray complete a league double with a 3-1 win at Wingate & Finchley on 4th November, 2023 with Gary Lockyer, Frankie Raymond and Anthony Cook scoring with Ruben Carvalho on target for the home side. Cray also won 1-0 at Hayes Lane on 27th January with a spectacular Lockyer overhead kick.
There should be a great buzz around the ground for an FA Cup tie on Saturday and with both sides forward thinking this could be one of the games of the round.
Admission £10 adults, £5 concessions on gate or online at www.cray-wanderers.com/tickets/ , please note season tickets are not valid for this game. Match Programme: £3, golden goals £1, merchandise, hot food & drinks and bar available.
A NOTE FOR SUPPORTERS TRAVELLING BY TRAIN THAT FOR SERVICES TO NEW ELTHAM THERE IS A RAIL REPLACEMENT BUS SERVICE IN OPERATION DUE TO ENGINEERING WORKS BETWEEN LEWISHAM – SIDCUP. SERVICE STO DARTFORD BEGIN FROM SIDCUP. YOU CAN GET SERVICES FROM ELTHAM BUT A SHORT HIKE TO THE HIGH STREET TO CATCH THE 162 TO THE FIVEWAYS ROUNDABOUT OR 233 BUS TO THAXTED ROAD.
Cray Wanderers vs Wingate & Finchley – The Pre-Match thoughts of Neil Smith
This afternoon sees FA Cup action at Flamingo Park as Cray Wanderers face Wingate & Finchley in a battle between two sides who have reached the Isthmian Premier playoffs in the last couple of seasons. Here manager Neil Smith looks back to the goalless draw with Horsham last Saturday, the challenge of today and the excitement around the club in September.
Hello Neil. Good afternoon to you. Let’s look back to last Saturday’s goalless draw with a very good Horsham side. What are your thoughts on the game which was a decent one for a nil-nil and the point gained?
It was a good game. Going into it we had a terrific win on Tuesday night in the FA Cup so obviously the momentum was there. We knew we would be going into it a tough game with Horsham who reached the playoffs last year and are expected to be in and around them again this season and are a side that has been together for a few years now.
The first half I was probably disappointed with our tempo and we were a bit too slow, stood off them and showed Horsham a little bit too much respect. Whereas the second half we upped the pace and imposed ourselves a lot more on them. I think overall it was a fair result, I don’t think either team tested the keepers that many times but a point against a good Horsham side is not a bad result.
I thought defensively both sides were very good, David Ijaha and Tom Bonner for the Wands helped by the full backs whilst Jack Brivio and Isaac Philpot starred for Horsham.
Absolutely, I think Brivio came from Dorking Wanderers who is a good player and skipper for them. I felt we kind of cancelled each other out, their strengths are going forward with the likes of Daniel Ajakaiye and Chris Dickson and we managed to keep them quiet likewise they also did a job on our wingers. From Tuesday night when it was free flowing, the midfield was managing to get on the ball, man to man in midfield as well and stopped us playing through and did a job but we knew it was going to be tough and it was never anything but that.
It did mean two clean sheets in a row and even the first Larkfield & New Hythe game the boys had to show a bit of character on a difficult pitch and windy day. It was a match where we couldn’t win as we were expected to as we were playing a team two steps below our level. So, we came through two big experiences and now we are onto another tough one this afternoon against Wingate & Finchley.
Let’s move onto this afternoon’s FA Cup tie. Although we beat WIngate & Finchley twice last season they were both really good games but they reached the playoffs and without being too patronising to them, they were the surprise package of last season.
Yes, I think they were a bit like us in 2022-23 when we reached the playoffs which no-one expected after just avoiding relegation the season before. Wingate & Finchley were a very good side last season, with good players in the forward line but seem to have lost them in the summer and needed to replace them. They will probably play to their usual style and it will be another tough game between two sides that like to get forward and after last season they will hope to be around the playoffs again.
Finally, we now have August out of the way which is always a busy month but now in September, we have the youth leagues starting again, the U23s have started with a couple of wins as have the Women’s team and the club is now alive with colour and activity which is great for us and the community.
Absolutely, the place is buzzing at the moment. I went to the last U23s game vs Corinthian on the Friday before the Horsham game looking at what they are trying to do and which players have a chance of training with the first team and they were exceptional. Also we train on the same pitch as the Women on Thursday nights and you get a chance to build a rapport with them too. With all the youth teams starting their season it adds to the expectancy and even on Saturday’s there are games taking place on the grass pitches and those players are coming over to watch the first team. We want them to stay and watch a game and for it to be a hub. If there is a game on, me, Tosh and Alfie are taking a look at the players and which have potential. It is a brilliant place to be and having your own place and home, you can’t help but feel proud and pleased for the players who are part of it.
DIRECTIONS TO FLAMINGO PARK
Cray Wanderers FC – Flamingo Park Sports & Leisure – Sidcup By-Pass, Chislehurst, Kent BR7 6HL
Flamingo Park lies on the A20 and is the new home of Cray Wanderers and used for the Men and Women’s First Team, U23s, Youth Team games, Academy side and the club house hosts live music and private events. For the 2024-25 season Bexley FC will also play their Kent County League Premier games at Flamingo Park.
By car
From Kent – Via M20 or A2
M20 – Follow the M20 for 16.8 miles then continue on to A20 for 3.6 miles then continue on to Sidcup By-Pass Road/A20 for 1.9 miles. Continue onto Sidcup By-Pass/A20 for 0.3 miles then take a left into the ground entrance and another left for the car park.
A2 – Get on the M2 from A229 for 5.1 miles. After merging onto the M2 after 5.5 miles continue onto Watling Street/A2 for 8.7 miles. Use the left lane to take the M25 (S) slip road to M23 for 0.7 miles. Merge onto the M25 for 2.4 miles then at junction 3, exit towards A20/London (SE)/Swanley for 0.3 miles. At the Swanley interchange, take the 5th exit onto the A20 slip road to London (SE)/Lewisham for 0.8 miles. Merge onto the A20 for 3.5 miles then continue onto Sidcup By-Pass Road/A20 for 1.9 miles. Continue onto Sidcup By-Pass/A20 for 0.3 miles then take a left into the ground entrance and another left for the car park.
From London, North & West
Via A20 – If traveling from London take A3212, A302 and Westminster Bridge Road and at the roundabout take the 3rd exit onto St. George’s Circus/A201 and after 0.3 miles turn left onto New Kent Road/A201 for 0.5 miles. Then keep right staying on New Kent Road/A201 for 0.4 miles and then onto Old Kent Road/A2 for 2.6 miles. Take a slight right onto Amersham Road/A2/A20 then a left onto Amersham Road/A20 for 0.2 miles. Take a slight right onto Lewisham Way/A20 for 1.1 miles and then use the left 3 lanes to turn left onto Rennell Street/A20 for 1.9 miles. Use the right 2 lanes to turn slightly onto Sidcup Road/A20 for 0.3 miles then at the roundabout take the 2nd exit and stay on Sidcup Road/A20 for 3.7 miles. Then take the A222 towards Bromley/Chislehurst/Sidcup for 0.2 miles then at Frognal Corner Roundabout take the 4th exit onto the A20 slip road to C. London/Lewisham for 0.3 miles. Then merge onto the Sidcup By-Pass Road/A20 for 0.6 miles and then onto the Sidcup By-Pass for 0.3 miles. Then take a left into the entrance to the ground and another left into the car park.
From Essex/East Anglia
Via A13 – If traveling from Essex/East Anglia get onto the A13 for 11.6 miles. Use the left lane to take the M25 (N)/M25 (S) slip road to M11/M1/Stansted Airport/Dartford Crossing/A282 for 0.2 miles. At Mardyke Junction take the 1st exit for 0.3 miles and then use the right lane to take the A282 slip road to M25 (S)/Dartford Crossing then keep right at the fork to continue towards A282 for 3.8 miles. Use the right 3 lanes to stay on A282 then follow signs for M20/M23/Gatwick Airport /M25/Channel Tunnel/Dover for 0.6 miles. Continue onto M25 (signs for Dover/M20/Channel Tunnel/M23 for 3.3 miles. At junction 3 exit towards A20/London (SE)/Swanley for 0.3 miles and at Swanley Interchange take the 5th exit onto the A20 slip road to London (SE)/Lewisham for 0.8 miles. Then merge onto the A20 for 3.5 miles, continue onto Sidcup By-Pass Rd/A20 for 1.9 miles and then continue onto the Sidcup By-Pass for 0.3 miles then turn left into the entrance to the ground and then a left into the car park.
From: Sussex/South
If traveling from Sussex/South best get on Hastings Road/Pembury By-Pass/A21 in Kent from A267 and after 9.4 miles continue straight onto Sevenoaks Bypass/A21 for 3.8 miles and then keep right to continue onto M25. After 7.9 miles at junction 3 use the left 2 lanes to take the A20 exit to London/Lewisham/Channel Tunnel/Maidstone/M20 for 0.3 miles. At Swanley Interchange take the 2nd exit onto the A20 slip road to London (SE)/Lewisham for 0.5 miles. Merge onto the A20 for 3.5 miles, continue onto Sidcup By-Pass Rd/A20 for 1.9 miles and then continue onto the Sidcup By-Pass for 0.3 miles then turn left into the entrance to the ground and then a left into the car park.
By Train – Nearest BR Station – New Eltham – 1 mile. Trains from London Charing Cross/London Cannon Street/London Bridge or from Dartford/Gravesend.
A NOTE FOR SUPPORTERS TRAVELLING BY TRAIN THAT FOR SERVICES TO NEW ELTHAM THERE IS A RAIL REPLACEMENT BUS SERVICE IN OPERATION DUE TO ENGINEERING WORKS BETWEEN LEWISHAM – SIDCUP. SERVICE STO DARTFORD BEGIN FROM SIDCUP. YOU CAN GET SERVICES FROM ELTHAM BUT A SHORT HIKE TO THE HIGH STREET TO CATCH THE 162.
From the station walk south-east onto Foots Cray Road/A211 for 0.3 miles then turn right onto Thaxted Road for 0.2 miles. Then turn left towards Sidcup Road/A20 and cross over the pedestrian footbridge and take a sharp and then a slight right towards Sidcup Road/A20 for 0.4 miles and then turn right and then a left into the entrance to the ground.
By Bus – The best bet is to get the 233 from Swanley, Sidcup, Eltham or New Eltham which stops on Thaxted Road but is around 0.8 miles to the ground. The 160 from Carlton Road, Sidcup stops at Montbelle Road as does the 162 which also stops at New Eltham Station and the Fiveways roundabout and is around a 22 minutes walk to the ground.
TAXIS – ALL DAY CARS – NEW ELTHAM – 020 8850 0032
Nearest Hotel: Premier Inn London Eltham
738 Sidcup Road, Eltham, London
SE9 3NS
Sat Nav Directions:SE9 3TJ
Directions:
From South Circular Road, take A20 Sidcup Bypass until you reach Fiveways, where Sidcup Road meets Green Lane Premier Inn Eltham is situated on the corner and the entrance to the car park is on Green Lane.
https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels/england/greater-london/london/london-eltham.html
