Cray Valley PM vs Cray Wanderers – Isthmian Premier, Tuesday 5th November, 7.45 pm – Match Preview
Cray Wanderers begin a run of four successive away league games on Guy Fawkes Night as the Wands, unbeaten in four league games visit near neighbours Cray Valley PM for the first time in the league. Kick off at the Artic Stadium, 7.45 pm
Cray Wanderers were boosted on Saturday with a fine and merited 3-0 win against Hashtag United at Flamingo Park which meant a first ever home league win at the Wands new home. This made it two successive wins and four consecutive clean sheets for Shaun Rowley taking his total this season to nine. The win also moved Cray out of the bottom four into 18th place and after a difficult first couple of months in the league perhaps things are starting to move in the right direction.
Charlie Edwards made it three goals in two matches on Saturday with a classy turn and shot and a textbook header in the first half and Tom Bonner’s arching header early in the second completed the win and set up nicely the visit to Cray Valley PM on what will be a tough test but one the players and supporters alike will relish.
Steve McKimm’s Cray Valley PM side are like Cray Wanderers in that both have won the Isthmian South-East title and the Millers have began their first ever season in the Isthmian Premier in impressive style and sit 4th in the table on 21 points following a gritty goalless draw at Dartford on Saturday.
When the sides met at Flamingo Park on 13th August in front of a crowd of 840, Cray Valley won 2-0 and after a tight encounter won the game with two goals in two minutes through Denzel Gayle and Freddie Parker, one of six ex-Wands who played in their last game along with Barney Williams, Tom Beere, Michael Ademiluyi, Adam Coombes and Andre Coker.
This will be Cray Valley’s first home game since October 12th with their last five games being away in league and cups. At home, Cray Valley have beaten Cheshunt (4-2), Carshalton Athletic (1-0) and Chichester City (2-1) and drawn with Billericay Town (1-1). Their only home loss came against Dartford (1-2) on the opening day of the season. At this stage, Cray Valley are only 5 points behind leaders Dover Athletic so do look like genuine promotion contenders.
Away from home, the Millers won at Cray Wanderers (2-0), Folkestone Invicta (1-0) and Bognor Regis Town (3-2) and drew at Canvey Island and Dartford with defeats at Whitehawk and Hendon. In the FA Cup, a competition where Cray Valley reached the 1st Round last season, a win at Badshot Lea was followed by a home defeat to Chesham. In the FA Trophy, Cray Valley won at Ramsgate before much like the Wands losing at Brentwood Town in the 1st Round. The Millers have advanced in the Isthmian League Cup after winning at Sevenoaks Town but their Kent Senior Cup hopes were ended at Dover last week after earlier winning at home to Ashford United. Leading scorer is Freddie Parker with 12 goals.
This should be a great evening under the lights with the crackle of fireworks in the air and a game many supporters of both sides have been long awaiting.
DIRECTIONS TO CRAY VALLEY PM
The Artic Stadium 24 Middle Park Avenue Eltham London SE9 5HP
Adults £12, concessions 65+, 16-17, Students (all with proof) £7.
Children 11-15 £5, U11s free –
Pay on gate advised. Just a quick note looking to buy tickets online from Cray Valley PM this evening there is an issue with their ticketing system and not working. It is advised that you pay at the gate where tickets will be available for the game.
Programme: Printed
The ground is really easy to find if you are coming by car. It is located just off the South Circular A205 at the Yorkshire Grey roundabout. If you are coming from the A2 (either north or south), head onto the South Circular s/p Catford. At the roundabout take the second exit into Middle Park Avenue. The entrance to the ground is on your right hand side.
If you are coming up the A20 then when you reach the Cliftons Roundabout (junction with A205 South Circular) go all the way around the roundabout and head back onto the A20 then turn left immediately before Goals 5-a-side centre into Eltham Palace Road. At the end turn left at the roundabout and the entrance to the ground is on your left hand side.
There is a car park at the ground with room for approximately 80 cars in the car park which operates on a first come basis. Free street parking is also available around the ground where there are no restrictions. Please be aware the ground is situated within the new ULEZ zone so certain vehicles could be subject to charge.
The nearest train station is Mottingham and if you find yourself there it is about a 15 minute walk away. Exit the station (from London turn left, from Sidcup/Dartford cross bridge then turn left) into Middle Park Avenue and follow this for about a mile. The ground is at the end of this road on your left hand side. A 124 bus from outside the station will take you halfway up Middle Park Avenue but if you alight at the Bingo Hall at Eltham Hill/Kingsground just walk down towards the Yorkshire Grey roundabout (about 10 minutes) and the first left before the roundabout is Middle Park Avenue and it is a minute walk up that road. You can also catch the 160 bus which stops pretty much outside the ground which goes from Sidcup, Chislehurst or New Eltham.
From Eltham High Street it is around a fifteen/twenty minute walk up to the High Street and then at the church cross over the zebra crossing and go down Eltham Hill which can test the legs at a fast past. Once you get to the Yorkshire Grey roundabout (there is a McDonalds there) take the second exit into Middle Park Avenue and it is a one minute walk up that road.
The nearest pubs to the ground are in Eltham High Street like The White Hart, The Draughts of Eltham, the Bankers Draft (Wetherspoon), the Rusty Bucket and the Rising Sun (Greene King, going a bit away from the ground though) there is also a Social Club on Eltham Hill. In Passey Place just off the High Street are the Eltham GPO, an old post office converted to a pub and the Park Tavern opposite the Community Hospital is very relaxed and pipes through classical music for the culture lovers amongst you. There is also the clubhouse at the ground (or Badgers Bar as I prefer) which is very good.
For a chippie I would recommend the Eltham Grill House in Chequers Parade near Argos that does fantastic chips, ideally open. ,
The ground lies in the LB Greenwich with its huge links to the Thames and British Maritime History and of course of being the main focal point of time from the Meridian. A bit out of the way I suppose but if you are in that area a nice stroll through Greenwich Park or a steep walk up to the Observatory and Meridian is recommended. Or perhaps a walk through the foot tunnel under the Thames (takes about five minutes) and from the other side you can see all of Greenwich in its splendour and enjoy the Island Gardens. The Cutty Sark vintage tea clipper is steeped in history and also the pier has plenty of eating establishments en route but can be a bit pricey. There are loads of pubs in Greenwich with many links to the Maritime past, The Gipsy Moth, The Trafalgar, The Yacht, The Cutty Sark, The Old Brewery at the Old Royal Naval College, The Admiral Hardy and its maritime heritage, The Gate Clock (Wetherspoon), and The Lost Hour.
Much nearer to the ground is Eltham Palace, the former home of Henry VIII when he was a Prince is worth a look round the impressive gardens. Mottingham and Eltham feature as part of Green Chain Walk a 50 mile stretch of green walkways over 12 sections across South East London which you can get to from Oxleas Wood and also covers Middle Park, Avery Hill Park and the Tarnwood Park which is a bird sanctuary and has an Ice Well and you could start your walk up Middle Park Avenue to the ground. From Mottingham Lane, the 8th and 9th sections take you to Beckenham Place Park. Also close is the Royal Blackheath Golf Club.
