There is a break from league action for Cray Wanderers on Sunday as the 3rd Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy finishes October with a first ever meeting with Kings Langley FC at Hayes Lane. Kick off is 3pm and please remember to put your clocks back an hour on Sunday morning. Please note that there are no replays in this season’s competition sponsored by Buildbase and after 90 minutes the game will go straight to penalties.
The FA Trophy break gives a chance for both sides to put aside league form with Cray Wanderers 17th in the Isthmian Premier and Kings Langley currently bottom of the Southern League Premier South but a good cup run can be beneficial for a return for better form in the league.
Cray’s mini revival in October came to an end at Cheshunt last Saturday as Cray who created the better chances for an hour were beaten 0-4 in the end and perhaps the break in fixtures didn’t help momentum. A friendly was arranged for last Wednesday against a nippy and skilful Charlton Athletic U23s team which Cray lost 1-2 but it was a workout that was beneficial for both sides.
Since the trip to Cheshunt two new signings have been made with centre half Richie Danquah and midfielder Jai Reason both playing against Charlton and add strength and experience to the team. Injuries have been a factor virtually all season and to add to the likes of Joey Taylor and Charlie Allen being absent with injuries, Cameron Brodie and Lee Lewis missed the trip to Cheshunt through Covid issues. Manager Danny Kedwell has mentioned the importance of playing a settled side and as Cray head into a busy November-December period it looks like he is pretty close to the team he feels will move Cray up the table.
BROMLEY, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 29: Cray Wanderers’s Adam Coombes has a close range shot as Wingate & Finchley’s Lewis Hobbs tries to block during the The Pitching In Isthmian Premier League match between Cray Wanderers and Wingate & Finchley at Hayes Lane on September 29, 2021 in Bromley, England . (Photo: © Jon Hilliger / HilligerPix)
We welcome Kings Langley to Hayes Lane and to Chris Cummins and his team. The Hertfordshire side have been an upwardly mobile club since the 2010’s and although they have struggled at the start of the season in cup ties they did beat Romford 3-2 in the 1QR of the FA Cup and took Leiston to a replay so can approach cup ties with confidence. Their last league outing last Saturday was a 1-1 draw at home to Merthyr Town with Roddy Collins header on the stroke of half time levelling the game. Away from home Kings Langley have picked up just a point from a draw at Chesham United while at home they have lost one of their last four matches.
The club were formed in 1886 and have spent most of their time in the Hertfordshire County league and spent 45 seasons from the mid 50’s in the League and much like Cray had to leave their home ground in 1980 and played at a number of grounds outside the village of Kings Langley before returning in 1997. In 2001-02 the club moved to the Spartan South Midlands League Division One. They were relegated to Division 2 in 2003-04 but were promoted in 2007-08. In 2013-14 Kings Langley earned the first of three successive promotions finishing second in the Spartan South Midlands Division One under Richie Hanlon and Paul Hughes and were champions of the Spartan South Midlands Premier in 2014-15 and then in their first ever season in the Southern League Division One South won that title too. The club have managed despite the occasional struggle to hold their own in the Southern League Premier South and finished sixth in 2018-19. The club were briefly relocated to the Central Division from 2019-20 and were lying 9th in the 2020-21 season before the season ended early. They have since returned back to the Premier Division South.
This should be a great Halloween treat and admission is £10 adults, £5 concessions either online at www.cray-wanderers.com/tickets or on the gate with programmes available priced £2.00. We also have as guests the Cray Wanderers Community Scheme as part of their Community Day events so should be terrific occasion.
