Chatham Town vs Cray Wanderers – Saturday 8th February, 3 pm – Match Preview & Directions
Cray Wanderers head to Chatham Town on Saturday 8th February in the only away game of the month in match with both sides looking to arrest a winless league run. Kick off at the Bauvil Stadium, 3 pm.
The Wands and the Chats will come into the match squarely in mid table with Neil Smith’s side in 12th on 39 points and Chatham Town in 13th a point behind. Cray are three league matches without a win whilst Chatham have won one of the last six league games.
Despite having to be content with a point last Saturday at home to Bognor Regis Town attained by Michael Ihiedi’s stoppage time leveller but was more than the team merited after falling a goal behind sixteen minutes from time.
This was a game Bognor had to win to stop being cut adrift so put in a lot of effort to do so but Cray finished the game well on top like many of the Flamingo Park games and Ihiedi was in the right place at the right time to turn in a rebound to Nyren Clunis’ shot. Bearing in mind, the likes of Clunis, Nathan Jeche, Josh Williams all came close to scoring, Lateef Adaja should have had a penalty and an errant offside call against Clunis a draw was a right outcome.
Although there has been a slight dip in form performances have been decent enough in the away games at Whitehawk and Wingate & Finchley on difficult surfaces but from here on in it is 3 & 4G all the way to the end of the season so a truer surface for the Wands. Wands right back Ike Orji at one time played at Chatham Town while for Chatham Town, Kasim Aidoo and Jamie Yila were standout performers during the 2020-21 season for Cray.
The Wands are certainly in a considerably better position than when the sides met at Flamingo Park on 15th October, where Cray, three days after the FA Cup defeat to Tonbridge were put to the sword by Chatham captain Freddie Sears who scored a quick fire hat-trick in a 4-1 win. This was a tighter game for the first 35 minutes than the score would suggest but Sid Nelson’s opener and two Sears goals before half-time made it 3-0 and despite Stefan Ilic’ goal left too much to do after the break. Sears’ hat-trick was completed three minutes after half time and ended the game as a contest. Cray though have come a long way since that match. At that time, Cray had only 4 points but have picked up a solid 35 points since then and ten clean sheets.
Cray though can take heart from recent trips to Chatham Town and have won on the last three visits from 2017 to 2024 although there was a gap of a few years whilst Chatham spent some time in the SCEFL and Isthmian South-East. The last league visit was one of the most memorable results of the season as Cray, bottom of the league on zero points, beat a Chatham side on fifteen 5-1 with two Frankie Raymond penalties, Cameron Thompson, Nyren Clunis and Jamie Mascoll on target.
The Wands with a side including a handful of the U23s side, currently top of the SCEFL Development League West beat a much stronger Chatham team 2-1 in the 1st Round of the Kent Senior Cup with goals from David Smith and Anthony Cook with Jordy Mongoy for Chatham. It is bound to be a much stronger cast this time perhaps with a squad addition for Cray.
Chatham Town were highly touted as one of the pre-season title favourites after their first ever season in the Isthmian Premier finished in a 2nd placed finish and playoff place before losing to Enfield Town. Kevin Hakes’ side have perhaps paid for too many early home draws but did have a run of four successive home wins in the autumn bBut since the turn of the year have won just one league game, a 3-1 win at home to Wingate & Finchley on 11th January. Their last outing was a narrow 0-1 defeat at Canvey Island on 1st February.
Chatham at home have been pretty solid and have done well against some of the league’s big hitters. They have beaten Dulwich Hamlet (3-1), Horsham (2-0), Folkestone Invicta (4-1), Bowers & Pitsea (3-1) and Wingate & Finchley (3-1). They drew with Billericay Town (1-1), Hendon (2-2), Potters Bar Town (2-2), Lewes (1-1) and Dover Athletic (1-1) and were beaten by Canvey Island (1-3), Dartford (0-2) and Hashtag United (0-1). Away from home Chatham have collected three points at Bowers & Pitsea (2-0), Cray Wanderers (4-1), Bognor Regis Town (7-1) and Cheshunt (1-0) and drew at Billericay, Wingate & Finchley and Cray Valley PM. The other games ended in defeat at Lewes, Dartford, Hastings United, Carshalton Athletic, Chichester City, Potters Bar Town and Canvey Island. Since the last meeting Chatham reached the 2nd Round of the Trophy after beating Premier sides Wingate & Finchley & Bowers & Pitsea but were beaten on penalties at Slough Town.
Chatham Town are still in the latter stages of the Velocity League Cup, a competition they won last season and have emerged through three rounds past Ascot United, Burgess Hill Town and Hashtag United. Top scorer is Freddie Sears with 18 goals.
This is a game whatever weather Mother Nature sends us tomorrow the supporters have had circled on their calendars since the beginning of the season and the guest of honour at the match tomorrow will be the online champions of non league football. Through The Turnstiles of Non League Football. With the Gills away up in Cumbria at Barrow this could be one of if not the biggest crowd of the day so should be a great occasion.
DIRECTIONS TO CHATHAM TOWN FC & DIRECTIONS
Address: The Bauvill Stadium, Maidstone Road, Chatham, Kent ME4 6LR
Admission: £12 adults, £8 concessions, £3 U16s on gate or online (+ £1 fee charge)
https://chathamtownfc.ktckts.com/brand/mens-tickets
By Road
Exit the M2 at junction 3 and follow directions for Chatham & Town Centre. You will pass a Homebase on your left. Continue straight over the roundabout and you will approach a split in the road – bear right for Chatham. You are now on Maidstone Road – continue straight over the crossroads where you will see a petrol station on the left. Bournville Road is opposite the petrol station. Entrance to the ground Car Park is first left on Bournville Road.
By Rail
Trains go from Bromley South or begin from London Victoria as well as fast speed services to and from St Pancras International. There are four trains an hour at 05, 27, 35 & 57 from Bromley South or from St. Mary Cray After the game there are trains at 02, 19 or 35 with the 19 stopping at St Mary Cray.
PLEASE NOTE IF YOU ARE TRAVELLING FROM THE THANET AREA THROUGH FAVERSHAM YOU WILL REQUIRE A RAIL REPLACEMENT BUS SERVICE FROM FAVERSHAM. PLEASE CHECK NATIONAL RAIL ENQUIRIES WEBSITE FOR DETAILS.
As the walk from the station to the ground can be quite steep, the 101 bus (Aviva) leave outside Chatham Railway Station and is four bus stops then alight at Chatham adj. Football Ground. Buses should be every 12 minutes leading up to 3 pm.
Arriving at Chatham Station. Turn right on leaving the station and then right again – you are now on Maidstone Road. Continue up Maidstone Road until you pass the cemetery on your left – the Sports Ground is next on your left. Please be aware though that this walk can be quite a climb as steep so pace yourself or perhaps grab the 101 bus especially if you planning on having a drink or two in town.
For those that like a pre or post match pint, there is usually a good selection at the ground. Otherwise there are many pubs in Chatham with perhaps the nearest, the Thomas Waghorn, Wetherspoon pub in Railway Street, where you will also find the Railway Hotel. There is also the Prince of Wales also on Railway Street, The White Lion (325 High Street) and the Command House (Dock Road) paying homage to the town’s naval past.
For Fish and Chip lovers, Chatham is a large place and you will find one somewhere. Frydays on Luton Road is recommended as is the Codfather, 35 Luton High Street, ME5 7LE.
For history lovers, Chatham on the Medway housed a Royal Dockyard from the mid 16th century and a major source of trade with the Thames being so close. It often came under attack from other sea faring nations so many forts were built to protect the area. The Dockyard thrived and employed thousands of people, made hundreds of warships over the next few centuries and HMS Victory was built there. In 1984 the Dockyard was closed and later divided up into a commercial port, another quarter saw homes built there (St Mary’s Island) and in 1989 came a museum or Historic Dockyard which attracts thousands of visitors a year.
Otherwise with time on your hands there is so much to do by the Medway. You have Rochester which is almost twinned with Chatham with its Dickensian feel and rather splendid castle. Across the river to the other side is Upnor with a castle which actually failed to protect the Medway from Dutch invaders. Gillingham is also close which also has nautical links to Chatham as well as being home to one of two Kent Football League clubs.
Many of you would probably have gone to Chatham at one time or another perhaps on a school day trip or with family. If you are just there to watch the football, the ground is a fair walk from the High Street so best not to leave it too late.
