Chatham Town vs Cray Wanderers – Kent Senior Cup 1st Round – Tuesday 24th September, 7.45 pm – Match Preview
Cray Wanderers play the first of three consecutive cup ties in different competitions this evening in the 1st Round of the Kent Senior Cup as the Wands visit Chatham Town. Kick off at the Bauvil Stadium, 7.45 pm. Please note should the tie be level after 90 minutes, the game will go straight to a penalty shootout.
After tonight, Cray then go into the FA Cup 3QR on Saturday at home to Hastings United and subject to an FA Cup replay the next fixture will be an FA Trophy tie at Brentwood Town on 5th October.
The Wands come into the game looking to bounce back from Saturday’s 1-3 defeat at Bognor Regis Town which despite Kenny Coker’s late goal couldn’t prevent a five game unbeaten run coming to an end. Tonight’s match sees a chance for some of the players who haven’t had so many minutes recently to get some game time and perhaps one or two new additions to add to Kayne Diedrick-Roberts, recently with Cheshunt who played the second half at Bognor Regis.
Both teams have big FA Cup ties on Saturday with the Chats, who have advanced past Westfield (2-0) and an impressive 1-0 win at National South Welling United with a Freddie Sears goal to set up a 3QR tie at home to Slough Town.
In the league, Kevin Hake’s side are 17th in the Isthmian Premier League table with eight points and on Saturday were beaten 1-3 at home to Canvey Island with Sam Richardson scoring in added on time. At home, Chatham have beaten Dulwich Hamlet (3-1) and drew with Billericay Town (1-1) and Hendon (2-2) and lost to Canvey Island. Away from home, Chatham won 2-0 at Bowers & Pitsea but were beaten at Lewes (0-2) and Dartford (1-3). In the FA Trophy 3QR, Chatham will host Wingate & Finchley on 5th October.
Last season Chatham Town looked to be on the verge of three successive promotions after a 2nd placed finish in the Isthmian Premier but were edged out by Enfield Town in the playoff final but certainly are a club on the up. The two league games between the sides saw Cray winning 5-1 at Chatham in September 2023 and it was a 2-2 draw at Chatham Town in March 2023.
The teams have met six times previously in the Kent Senior Cup with both teams having three wins each with the last meeting on 8th December 2004, Cray’s first Kent Senior Cup tie for a number of years after participating in the Kent Senior Trophy since the 1970’s with Cray winning 2-1 at Hayes Lane with goals from Drew Watkins and Jamie Kempster. Chatham are four times winners of the competition whilst Cray’s best performance has been two final appearances, the last in 2008-09.
With both teams looking to bounce back from league defeats on Saturday and between the FA Cup on Saturday this should be an entertaining contest under the lights and a good cup tie between clubs who had a big rivalry in the Kent League days.
DIRECTIONS TO CHATHAM TOWN FC
Address: The Bauvill Stadium, Maidstone Road, Chatham, Kent ME4 6LR
Admission: £12 adults, £8 concessions, £3 U16s on gate or online (+ £1 fee charge)
Tickets available:
https://chathamtownfc.ktckts.com/event/cttmksc01/chatham-town-v-cray-wanderers
By Road
Exit the M2 at junction 3 and follow directions for Chatham & Town Centre. You will pass a Homebase on your left. Continue straight over the roundabout and you will approach a split in the road – bear right for Chatham. You are now on Maidstone Road – continue straight over the crossroads where you will see a petrol station on the left. Bournville Road is opposite the petrol station. Entrance to the ground Car Park is first left on Bournville Road.
By Rail
Trains go from Bromley South or begin from London Victoria as well as fast speed services to and from St Pancras International. There are four trains an hour at 05, 27, 35 & 57 from Bromley South or from St. Mary Cray After the game there are trains at 22:02, 22:19, 22:35 and the last train is at 23:24 ack to Bromley at 02, 19 (stopping at St Mary Cray) and 34 mins past the hour.
Arriving at Chatham Station. Turn right on leaving the station and then right again – you are now on Maidstone Road. Continue up Maidstone Road until you pass the cemetery on your left – the Sports Ground is next on your left.
For those that like a pre or post match pint, there is usually a good selection at the ground. Otherwise there are many pubs in Chatham with perhaps the nearest, the Thomas Waghorn, Wetherspoon pub in Railway Street, where you will also find the Railway Hotel. There is also the Prince of Wales also on Railway Street, The White Lion (325 High Street) and the Command House (Dock Road) paying homage to the town’s naval past.
For Fish and Chip lovers, Chatham is a large place and you will find one somewhere. Frydays on Luton Road is recommended as is the Codfather, 35 Luton High Street, ME5 7LE.
For history lovers, Chatham on the Medway housed a Royal Dockyard from the mid 16th century and a major source of trade with the Thames being so close. It often came under attack from other sea faring nations so many forts were built to protect the area. The Dockyard thrived and employed thousands of people, made hundreds of warships over the next few centuries and HMS Victory was built there. In 1984 the Dockyard was closed and later divided up into a commercial port, another quarter saw homes built there (St Mary’s Island) and in 1989 came a museum or Historic Dockyard which attracts thousands of visitors a year.
Otherwise with time on your hands there is so much to do by the Medway. You have Rochester which is almost twinned with Chatham with its Dickensian feel and rather splendid castle. Across the river to the other side is Upnor with a castle which actually failed to protect the Medway from Dutch invaders. Gillingham is also close which also has nautical links to Chatham.
Many of you would probably have gone to Chatham at one time or another perhaps on a school day trip or with family. If you are just there to watch the football, the ground is a fair walk from the High Street so best not to leave it too late especially on a weeknight.
