Cray Wanderers vs Sutton Common Rovers – FA Cup 1QR – Saturday 4th September, 3pm – Match Preview
Cray Wanderers take a break from league action on Saturday as the 1st Qualifying Round of the FA Cup sees a first as Sutton Common Rovers meet the Wands for the first time. This is also a landmark game for Cray Wanderers as the 150th FA Cup tie in the club’s long history. Kick off at Hayes Lane is 3pm.
Cray who reached the 4QR for the second time last season will be looking in the 150th Anniversary year of the greatest cup competition in the world to break new ground and make the 1st Round proper for the very first time.
After the first four games of the league season Danny Kedwell’s team have a par score with two wins and two defeats over the Bank Holiday weekend but both games were very close against Worthing and Margate and Cray played well in both and only top drawer finishing decided each match.
BROMLEY, ENGLAND – AUGUST 28: Players attack the ball in the Worthing area during the Isthmian Premier League match between Cray Wanderers and Worthing at Hayes Lane on August 28, 2021 in Bromley, England . (Photo: © Jon Hilliger / HilligerPix)
At Margate on Bank Holiday Monday, Kedwell marked his debut with a trademark headed goal after 8 minutes and although the home side fought back to win late on, there were plusses with the performances of Freddie Cray, Lee Lewis, Joey Taylor and Harvey Brand while Jack Turner has made great saves in every match so far and a reliable presence in goal. Cray will be hoping that Adam Coombes who missed the two recent matches following injury and Cameron Brodie who missed the trip to Margate for the visit of Sutton Common Rovers with possible injury doubts over Charlie Allen who went off early in the second half on Monday. Otherwise Jack Hanson is the main longer term injury but is hoped not too much longer.
BROMLEY, ENGLAND – August 14: ***NAME*** during the Isthmian Premier League match between Cray Wanderers and Lewes at Hayes Lane on August 14, 2021 in Bromley, England . (Photo: © Jon Hilliger / HilligerPix)
Sutton Common Rovers are enjoying life as an Isthmian League club for the first time in their short history following promotion to the South-Central from the Combined Counties League Premier on Points per game after two consistent campaigns. The Commoners were top of the league last season before it was curtailed early and were 8th in 2019-20.
Darren Salmon’s side have already had a taste of FA Cup action and in the Preliminary Round after drawing 0-0 at Steyning Town Community won the replay impressively 4-0 with two goals from Tyrell Butler and strikes from Kyle Henry and Kiyo Brown, all in the first half. So far they have only played three league matches all away while Gander Green Lane which they share with now Football League Sutton United had to revert back to a grass surface. They were beaten at Uxbridge (0-2) and Bracknell Town (1-2) in their first two games but did pick up their first point at Tooting & Mitcham United on Tuesday night (1-1) with a Danny Fernandes goal.
Sutton Common Rovers were originally formed in 1978 under a number of guises but in 2004-05 became a Saturday side and after leaving the Surrey South Eastern Combination joined the Middlesex County League Premier for 2007-08 and finished 3rd and were promoted to Combined Counties League Division One. They played in Leatherhead and changed their name to Mole Valley SCR in 2009-10 and won promotion to the Premier and made their FA Cup debut. After two seasons they were relegated back to Division One but in 2012-13 finished 2nd and promoted once again. The club managed for the next two seasons to stave off relegation but did win their first FA Cup tie vs Chichester City in 2014-15.
The club returned to the London Borough of Sutton in 2015-16 and reverted back to Sutton Common Rovers and reached the 4th Round of the Vase and continued to survive in the Premier and won the Southern Combination Cup in 2017-18. In 2018-19 Sutton Common Rovers finished 2nd in the Premier and made it to the 5th Round of the FA Vase. Following the disruption to the last two seasons the club learned they would be promoted to the Isthmian South-Central and the culmination of a dream for Chairman and founder Alan Salmon and to reach the highest level in their history.
The FA Cup is a very special competition and after two seasons where in the main supporters have not been able to enjoy these big occasions in person this is a chance to give the competition the shot in the arm it needs and live the dream once again.
Admission costs are £10.00 adults, £5.00 concs/U18s with tickets available to purchase online at www.cray-wanderers.com/tickets or pay on the gate. Should the game end in a draw please listen out at the game or check here/social media for any replay information.
