Cray Wanderers vs Cheshunt – Isthmian Premier – Saturday 15th February, 3 pm – Match Preview & Directions for newcomers
Cray Wanderers play the first of back to back Saturday home games on 15th February as Cheshunt are welcomed to Flamingo Park for the first time. Kick off 3 pm.
Both teams will come into the game in pretty decent nick with both teams unbeaten in two matches but over a longer period Cray have only lost three of the last fourteen games and Cheshunt two defeats in ten.
The Wands moved up to 11th in the table last Saturday with an exceptionally professional 4-1 win at Chatham Town who were one of the early season promotion favorites and reversed the score at Flamingo Park back in October.
Cray silenced a four figure crowd at Chatham with two goals in the first twenty minutes. Firstly Josh Williams supplied the first of two assists firstly for Nyren Clunis taking his total to six making him top scorer so far. Williams’ then provided another great cross which led to an own goal.
The impressive Remi Sutton who played for Cheshunt when the teams met in October glanced in a free kick to make it 3-0 before half time for his maiden Wands goal. Finally, the returning loanee Soul Kader made it 4-0 four minutes into the second half and although Cray conceded a goal a minute later 4-1 never flattered Cray in the slightest.
Cray have a really tough run in the final stretch of the season but to move on to 42 points after only having only six on 22nd October and maybe one more win in a season where many sides below have to play each other could be enough to preserve safety.
Cheshunt like Cray made a sticky start to the season but have picked up points certainly since the turn of the year to move up to 15th on 37 points following a hard fought 2-1 win at home to Hastings United last Saturday. The signing of ex-Wand Kenny Coker, has made a difference already and scored the winner on Saturday and also scored in the 2-2 draw vs Hendon on 4th February taking his total to three. Hastings were ahead at half time but goals from Jack Munns just before the hour and Coker two minutes into added time helped give the Ambers some breathing space from the relegation places.
When the sides met on 26th October at Cheshunt, Cray desperately needed a win and a piece of luck and got it when a clearance went into the net off Charlie Edwards for a 1-0 win which began the clime away from danger.
Prior to the game Cheshunt came under a change of manager after a poor run of form through September – October and Mel Gwinnett was appointed and has made Cheshunt tough to beat especially away from home where they have won four of the last six games.
Cheshunt have won away at Hastings United (3-2), Whitehawk (2-0), Bognor Regis Town (4-0), Wingate & Finchley (1-0), Folkestone Invicta (4-0), Potters Bar Town (2-1) and Canvey Island (1-0). They drew at Bowers & Pitsea (1-1), Carshalton Athletic (1-1), Lewes (2-2) and lost at Cray Valley (2-4), Hendon (0-2), Dartford (1-2), Horsham (1-3) and Hashtag United (0-1). At home, the Ambers beat Bognor Regis Town (3-2), Bowers & Pitsea (1-0) and Hasting United (2-1). Cheshunt drew with Billericay Town, Dulwich Hamlet, Cray Valley and Hendon and lost to Chichester City, Hashtag United, Potters Bar Town, Cray Wanderers, Canvey Island, Chatham Town, Dover Athletic and Whitehawk. Leading scorer is Vas Vasiliou with 13 goals.
This promises to be a real mid February hard as nails contest and one that the winners will need to carve from granite to achieve and should be another great occasion.
Cray Wanderers play the first of back to back home games to end February as we welcome Cheshunt to Flamingo Park for the first time. Here Neil Smith looks back to the last two matches which yielded four points and ended with a fine 4-1 win at one of the pre-season promotion favourites Chatham Town.
Hello Neil. Let’s begin with a recap of a great win at Chatham Town last Saturday. A fantastic win in front of a four figure crowd which takes on to 42 points after 30 games!
Yes, going into the Chatham game following the match with Bognor we knew we had to return to winning ways but it was always going to be a very difficult game against Kevin Hakes’ Town side who were still looking to reach the playoffs. With the players they have there like Freddie Sears we knew it was going to be difficult. So full credit to all the players they put in an incredible shift and fully deserved the win.
So to go in at half time 3-0 up was very pleasing. Soul Kader coming in from Bromley who I cannot thank enough for getting that deal across the line to help us out, scoring on his second debut was fantastic. Yet, being picky at the same time we were disappointed to concede a goal as this season the defence has been outstanding.
To go two nil up in twenty minutes in front of a large crowd I thought was impressive as that puts them on the back foot and allows then for the defence to step forward.
That’s right you don’t really want to give their crowd something to get behind them with and we had to feel them out a bit and remain compact and we knew we would get the chances. Josh Williams I felt was outstanding with his wing play and delivery into the box. With Nyren in the midfield, Eze and Frankie too where Chatham are strong in that area we more than matched them in that department. Then the back four being as sturdy as they have been all season from October onwards we kept their chances to a minimum and took ours.
Going back to our last home game vs Bognor Regis Town on 1st February, young Michael Ihiedi popped up with a late leveller to prevent three straight defeats but was merited as some of the refereeing decisions didn’t quite go our way.
That was good to get the point. Michael has been in and around the first team for around 18 months to a year now and we have been waiting to give him glimpses and chances and he has been earning it with Roy Brooke, manager of the U23s and U18s who I watched in their cup semi final at the weekend and there are some good young players coming through who in time we may be looking to integrate as well.
It was a strange game against Bognor because obviously we had a penalty decision go against us, a goal disallowed for offside which later showed it was onside and then they went 1-0 up. The boys have shown a real belief and desire to not throw the towel in and to go right into the depths of the game so for Michael coming on to score his first goal was testament to the players. The senior players were encouraging the young players who have come on and encouraging the senior players. So we want that squad ethic and we have it at the moment in abundance. With the young players coming through and the quality of the senior players that we have already got at the club we are integrating that pretty well I think.
Let’s move it on to today and a Cheshunt side who have been getting some results to move them on to 37 points and a bit of a buffer from the bottom four. We ground out a 1-0 win in our previous meeting in October which perhaps wasn’t pretty but it started our revival and began to move up the table.
Yes, we talked about it before that game. All we needed was a lucky break which we got with the ball going in off Charlie Edwards’ backside. Lo and behold we would take a win however we got it at the time and I don’t think we have looked back since. We have watched Cheshunt, they are a very strong side and direct and Kenny Coker is scoring goals for them as well and I believe they have gone a goal down in the last two games to score late for a draw and a win and a side you are going to have play for the full ninety and never give them a minutes rest. They are fighting to get out of a relegation fight and I believe we need one more win to get to the points total we think would be enough to keep us safe.
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.
The Car Park is free for supporters and there should be space between 400 cars on site. Please note bays in front of the main entrance are reserved for club officials.
By Train – Nearest BR Station – New Eltham – 1 mile. Trains from London Charing Cross/London Cannon Street/London Bridge or from Dartford/Gravesend. There are four trains an hour heading to New Eltham from London Charing Cross. For returns there are also four trains back to London.
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 162 bus which starts in Bromley stops on Slades Drive where you can access the public footpath opposite the bus stop and is around a ten minute walk to the ground. This bus also stops at New Eltham Station for your return journey.
TAXIS – 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
The Car Park is free for supporters and there should be space between 700-800 cars on site. Please note bays in front of the main entrance are reserved for club officials.
Close to New Eltham Station are the Beehive pub plus the Pope Street Bar & Kitchen and the Nest offers hot drinks/alcoholic drinks and live music. There are also places to eat and a wide range of takeaway outlets as well as Fish & Chip and a Pie & Mash shop. Alternatively if you travel from Sidcup there are a wide range of pubs to choose from.
