Cray Wanderers vs Canvey Island – Isthmian Premier – Saturday 8th March, 3 pm – Match Preview
Pics: Tommy McMillan, Steve Cullum, Ben Keyes
Cray Wanderers play the first of three home matches in March on Saturday (8/3) with Canvey Island visiting Flamingo Park for the first time. Ko 3 pm.
The Wands will be looking to bounce back from last Saturday’s rather unlucky defeat at Chichester City and gain the three points needed to reach over the 50 points mark and beat the total gained last season with nine games still to play.
The defeat at Chichester left Cray still in 9th place, a position they will remain in even if Neil Smith’s side win on Saturday on 48 points and possibly means the playoff hopes remain distinctly faint but the club are in a much better position than when the Wands visited Canvey Island in late November when Cray were very much in a relegation scrap.
Soul Kader’s goal at Chichester made that five goals in his first four games back with Cray on loan from Bromley and looks to be getting even more sharper. For the record, we note Neil Missen, a forward who played for Cray during the 1990-91 season scored in his first seven games as a Wand so Soul still has a little way to go.
Cray will be reassured that Tom Bonner is available for selection again following suspension and Frankie Raymond was one of the star performers at Chichester was free to play after his red card in the Folkestone Invicta game was rescinded by the FA. The main injury absentee is ex-Canvey midfielder Charlie Edwards but most of the squad are available to play. Nyren Clunis made his 100th appearance against Chichester for the club whilst a young subs bench saw substitute appearances for George Penn, on loan from Bromley until the end of the season, Victor Damyanovs and Tom Borders with the latter two stars of the Wands U23s team this season.
Canvey Island will come into the game perhaps in greater need of a win than the Wands with Brad Wellman’s side in 18th place on 35 points, four clear of 19th placed Hendon with a game in hand. Canvey are four without a win including three without scoring but did pick up a point from a goalless draw at home to Dover Athletic last Saturday which certainly helped the teams chasing for the playoffs believe they still have a chance of catching 5th placed Dover.
Canvey Island though do have a cup final to look forward to later this month having reached the final of the BBC Essex Senior Cup where they play Hornchurch on 18th March at Colchester United’s JobServe Community Stadium having beaten Buckhurst Hill, Dagenham & Redbridge, Brightlingsea Regent and Chelmsford City en route to the final.
When the teams met at Canvey on 23rd November, the home side won a scrappy game played in blustery conditions 2-0 with Bradley Sach scoring twice including a penalty but the final score didn’t really do the Wands justice on the day.
After losing their first four games of the season, their form picked up during the autumn and away form was better than at home. Canvey have won at Hashtag United (3-1), Bowers & Pitsea (2-1), Chatham Town (3-1), Bognor Regis Town (2-1), Cheshunt (1-0) and Hendon (1-0). They lost their other fixtures at Chichester City (1-2), Dartford (0-2), Cray Valley PM (0-2), Folkestone Invicta (2-4), Whitehawk (0-4), Dover Athletic (2-3), Lewes (1-2) and Billericay Town (0-3).
Home form for Canvey has been surprisingly disappointing as they always seem to do well at home with wins against Bowers & Pitsea (2-0), Chatham Town (1-0), Carshalton Athletic (1-0), Whitehawk (2-1) and Cray Wanderers (2-0). They drew with Cray Valley and Dover Athletic but lost to Hashtag United, Dartford, Dulwich Hamlet, Bognor Regis Town, Folkestone Invicta, Cheshunt, Chichester City, Horsham, Dartford and Potters Bar Town. Top scorer is Chris Harris with 8 goals and next host Lewes next Saturday.
This will be a poignant day with Cray paying tribute to the club’s Life President Peter Jackson who passed away last Saturday and the club will hope to give Peter an occasion to remember on and off the pitch.
Admission: £12 adults, £6 concession/U16-13s – on gate or online at www.cray-wanderers.com/tickets – Match Programme £3, merchandise, Monthly Meat Raffle draw (£1 ticket or £4 a strip, hot and cold food and bars available.
A TRIBUTE TO PETE JACKSON FROM PROGRAMME EDITOR – PHIL BABBS
THE PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS/PROGRAMME NOTES OF NEIL SMITH
Hello Neil. Let’s start by looking back to the game at Chichester City on 1st March which ended in a defeat but one where perhaps we deserved to get something out of the game and unfortunate to come home with nothing.
Absolutely, I thought first half we probably started a bit lacklustre and obviously after the first fifteen minutes they got the first goal. After that though I thought we matched them and more. Obviously we get an equaliser and then Chichester get a second goal but after that we dominated without scoring and it was rather harsh on the boys to have to come away with no points. We wanted to get a win or at get at least a draw but it was a tough one to take coming away with nothing.
Taking a look back to Soul Kader’s goal on Saturday. That made it 5 goals in just 4 games and we’ve had our historians looking through the records to find a player that has a similar record. Neil Missen back in 1990 scored in his first seven games so Soul still has a little way to go but heading in the right direction at least.
Yes, Soul has been brilliant since he’s come in. We knew him obviously we had him before when we first arrived on loan from Bromley and also because he was training with the first team at Bromley when I was there. He was amazing at that time and then picked up a nasty injury but since coming to us for the remainder of the season he has been superb and he is only going to get sharper and fitter. What Soul gives you is if he gets a chance he will take it.
Looking back to our last home game on 22nd February, a 3-2 win against Folkestone Invicta. We had to show an incredible amount of resilience seeing as we were down to ten men for a large chunk of the game.
Yes, I thought we began the match very strong getting an early goal through Soul. We then rather gifted them a goal and they had the impetus going into half time. Then we lost Frankie Raymond to a red card but the boys pulled together and made that extra man up and Soul scored again. Then we go 3-1 up through Josh Williams which was a goal worthy of winning any game.
We have a great team spirit despite not having a big squad and with kids on the bench we are all pulling together to get that result and it was well deserved I thought.
Let’s take it to today and the visit of Canvey Island. They are in need of three points as close to the bottom four going into today but picked up a useful point at home to Dover Athletic on Saturday which helped the sides chasing the playoffs. Traditionally Canvey are a hard side to play against and you never quite know what side of the bed the team are getting out of as can be unpredictable.
What you get from a Canvey Island side is a real battle. When we played there in November, we missed a penalty and should have probably got a draw in difficult conditions. I know though that their manager Bradley Wellman will have them fired up as they are fighting for their lives and it will be a very tough game for us. We know what we can expect from them but it us up to us to demonstrate our style of play and get another run going after a defeat last Saturday. We want to get a win as quickly as we can and at home as well and just see where we are at the end of the season.
Finally Neil in the programme and before and during the game today we will be remembering Peter Jackson, our life President who passed away aged 71 just before kick off on Saturday. Peter lived a life through football especially with Cray Wanderers having a 50+ year’s association but also knew nearly everyone in non league football and football needs those characters.
Obviously it is a very sad loss for the club. I did know Peter and during my time at the club was always very supportive whether we won, drew or lost. With the history of the club and how important he was when the club were based at Oxford Road and what he did for us since, anyone who has been at a club like Cray Wanderers that long deserves an incredible day on Saturday and hopefully we can do him proud and get a result.
DIRECTIONS TO FLAMINGO PARK
Cray Wanderers FC
Flamingo Park – Directions
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.
