Cray Wanderers look to continue the momentum of an unbeaten start to 2022 as Grant Basey’s side head to Potters Bar Town on Saturday 8th January. Kick off 3pm. Please note we have been informed by Potters Bar Town after a 11am pitch inspection the game is ON.
BROMLEY, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 12: Cray Wanderers’s Ejiro Okosieme gets his head to the ball whilst surrounded by Potters Bar Town players during the The Pitching In Isthmian Premier League match between Cray Wanderers and Potters Bar Town at Hayes Lane on September 12, 2021 in Bromley, England . (Photo: © Jon Hilliger / HilligerPix)
The Wands who are 20th in the Isthmian Premier have started the year with a 3-1 win at East Thurrock United last Saturday. This was followed up by a remarkable 4-4 draw at home to Enfield Town on Monday. Cray will be looking to avenge an early season home defeat to Potters Bar Town whose game at home to Bishop’s Stortford on Monday was postponed.
BROMLEY, GREATER LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 03: Cray Wanderers’s Chris Dickson is beaten to the ball in the air by Enfield Town’s captain, Scott Thomas, during The Pitching In Isthmian Premier League match between Cray Wanderers and Enfield Town at Hayes Lane on January 03, 2022 in Bromley, Greater London, England . (Photo: © Jon Hilliger / HilligerPix)
Cray were able to field an unchanged side on Monday and got off to a flyer with a terrific header from Chris Dickson and after an Enfield equaliser, Jamie Yila scored his seventh goal of the season to put Cray back in front. After another leveller, Cameron Brodie made it 3-2 with the second goal of 2022 and an own goal put Cray 4-2 up before Enfield staged a late rally to grab a point.
There was much to commend the performance particularly going forward and can be encouraged by seven goals in two games to start the year. Considering Grant was only appointed at the end of December and had one training session ahead of two games, there was much to encourage supporters that good times are around the corner. Since Monday, Cray Wanderers have made the signing of midfielder Luca Albon to the club.
Lee O’Leary’s Potters Bar Town side are 16th in the table but although they lost their last three league games have picked up some very good results this season. When the two teams met at Hayes Lane on 12th September a Devonte Aransibia first half goal separated the sides in a match which saw both miss a penalty.
BROMLEY, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 12: Cray Wanderers’s Anthony Cook sees his shot blocked by Potters Bar Town’s Kieron Cathline and the balls goes wide during the The Pitching In Isthmian Premier League match between Cray Wanderers and Potters Bar Town at Hayes Lane on September 12, 2021 in Bromley, England . (Photo: © Jon Hilliger / HilligerPix)
Potters Bar Town’s home form this season has seen wins against Corinthian Casuals (3-1), East Thurrock United (3-0) and Bowers & Pitsea (2-0) and drew with Bognor Regis Town (2-2). They lost at home to Lewes (1-3), Cheshunt (1-3), Carshalton Athletic (1-2) & Leatherhead (3-4). Away from home the Scholars beat Cray Wanderers (1-0), Horsham (3-1), Wingate & Finchley (2-0) and Lewes (5-1). They picked up points at Folkestone Invicta and Haringey Borough and lost at Merstham, Hornchurch, Worthing, Corinthian Casuals and Enfield Town. In the FA Cup Potters Bar were beaten at Stowmarket in the 1QR and in the FA Trophy advanced past Haringey Borough and Bedford Town before losing at Braintree Town. Samson Esan and Ben Ward-Cochrane are the leading scorers with 10 goals each.
This will be only the third time the sides have met at Potters Bar Town and the home side won 3-0 last season with Ward-Cochrane scoring twice and Thomas Gogo on target on 6th October 2020. The other match at Potters Bar ended 1-1 in August 2019 with a Joe Taylor stoppage time goal. Potters Bar are in their fourth season in the Isthmian Premier and finished 16 in 2018-19 and lied 13th when the 2019-20 season ended in March 2020 and were 15th last season which also ended early.
With the four consecutive games at home to follow for Cray in January this will be the last away journey until 25th January and Potter Bar Town always provide tough opposition so should be a great game.
DIRECTIONS TO POTTERS BAR TOWN FC
The LA Construction Stadium,
Watkins Rise (off The Walk)
Potters Bar
Hertfordshire
EN6 1QB
Admission Prices: Adults: £12.00
Concessions: £8.00 (Over 65’s & students)
U16s/Juniors: £1.00
Travelling By Car
Directions from M25
Come off at Junction 24, take A111 exit (Southgate Road) towards Potters Bar. Continue to traffic lights then turn right at A1000 on to High Street. After passing BP garage on left and a pedestrian crossing turn left into the Walk after 200 metres turn right into Watkins Rise and the ground is to your right
Please do not park in Mayfair Lodge Care Home car park – as you may be clamped
Please use the Car Park adjacent to the ground. You may also park on one side of the entrance part to Watkins Rise, but ensure you allow access for Emergency vehicles.
Travelling By Train to Potters Bar Station
Trains go to Potters Bar via London Kings Cross station. Trains run half hourly midweek at 00 & 29 past the hour and takes 17 minutes to get there calling at Finsbury Park and then Potters Bar. Returns to Kings Cross are at 03 & 35 past the hour. Please check national rail enquiries online before travelling in case of any Covid restrictions which could be in force affecting train travel.
The ground is 10 minutes’ walk from Potters Bar Station. Exit the station and turn right and almost immediately right again into The Walk. Ground is around a mile on the left hand side.
For buses no’s 84, 298 or 313 will take you close to the ground.
Nearest Pubs/restaurants
As you are fairly close to the High Street there are a number of options available. There is the Cask and Stillage (19 High Street) and the Oakmere House Harvester, while fairly close and if time on your hands there’s the Old Manor and the Admiral Byng on Darkes Lane and going a bit out of your way are the Strafford and the Builders Arms. Also the Chequers on Coopers Lane if you really want to make a day of what is our first ever trip there.
On Barnet Road is the Fish & Chip Shop (no fancy name required) which is highly rated For Indian food there are the Pubali Tandoori in the High Street and Tamarind on Barnet Road but these won’t be open until after the match as will be the China Style restaurant also on Barnet Road.
Potters Bar is a commuter town in Hertfordshire about 13 miles from central London. It is situated on the Great North Road one of a couple of routes out of the City of London which will take you to the North of England. Much of the town was owned by the Byng family and own the Wrotham Park Estate between Potters Bar and Barnet.
Potters Bar was also the scene of a couple of serious railway incidents, in 1946 and a derailment in May 2002 cost the lives of seven people and injured another 11.
For Golf enthusiasts there is a Golf course in Potters Bar which was used by the great Tony Jacklin who hailed from the town as did clarinettist Acker Bilk who lived partly in Potters Bar and in Somerset. Also actor Martin Freeman comes from the town.
