Cheshunt vs Cray Wanderers – Isthmian Premier – Saturday 26th October, 3 pm – Match Preview & Directions
Following a steady flow of home matches Cray Wanderers are on the road on Saturday 26th October as Neil Smith’s side head to Cheshunt seeking a vital three points. Kick off 3 pm.
The Wands will be playing their first away league game since 21st September and come into the match after three consecutive home league matches and have drawn the last two games 0-0 vs Hastings United last Saturday and against Whitehawk on Tuesday night. Despite the goalless draws the Wands have created plenty of chances in the games and just haven’t had the luck in front of goal often down to good goalkeeping especially against Hastings but at least have been creating opportunities.
The Wands though have six points after ten games at the bottom of the table and without a league win since the opening day of the season. Defensively though, Cray have been pretty sound and unusual for a team at the bottom of the table to have kept four clean sheets in the league. Against Whitehawk in particular, fullbacks Ike Orji and Darion Dowrich were superb alongside Quade Taylor and Tom Bonner while Shaun Rowley has been his usual consistent self in the opening weeks of the season.
Cray will face a Cheshunt side in good form having won their last three games in league and cups after a difficult spell of seven league games without a win will face a Cheshunt side in good form having won their last three games in league and cups after a difficult spell of seven league games without a win which saw a change in manager following the departure of experienced Craig Edwards and recently announced the appointment of Mel Gwinnett. Cheshunt won back to back away games at Hastings United and Whitehawk last Saturday and on Tuesday night advanced in the Isthmian League Cup after a penalty shoot-out success at home to Potters Bar Town after a 1-1 draw. Cheshunt sit 17th in the league on 11 points after ten games.
At home so far Cheshunt have beaten Bognor Regis Town (3-2) and drawn with Billericay Town (1-1) with defeats against Chichester City (2-3), Hashtag United (3-4) and Potters Bar Town (0-1). Away from home the Ambers won at Hastings United (3-2) and Whitehawk (2-0), drew at Bowers & Pitsea and lost at Cray Valley PM and Hendon. In the FA Cup, Cheshunt reached the 2QR after a win at Great Yarmouth Town but were beaten at Kings Lynn Town and in the FA Trophy were beaten in the 3QR at Dover.
Returning after one season in the National South, Cheshunt finished 18th last season with 43 points, a place below Cray in the final table and finished four points clear of relegation. Last season’s games saw the Wands win both very close matches, 2-1 at Hayes Lane in September 2023 with goals from Jamie Mascoll and George Porter with Solomon Baugh scoring for Cheshunt while Cray won 1-0 at Cheshunt in February, 2024 with a late Yahya Bamba goal.
This will be the only game played in the Isthmian Premier on Saturday amidst an FA Trophy break and one of some importance for Cray who will surely have to start picking up three points and seek moving up the table.
DIRECTIONS TO CHESHUNT FC
Address:
The Stadium, Theobalds Lane, Cheshunt, Waltham Cross, Herts EN8 8RU
Adult: — £14.00 (£12.00 online)
Concessions: – £10.00 (£8.00 online)
Youth – (U13’s – U17’s) – £6 (£4.00 online)
U12s: – £ 2.00
https://cheshuntfc.ktckts.com/event/chn2425h05/cheshunt-vs-cray-wanderers
Programme: Printed
BY ROAD
From the M25 motorway exit at Junction 25 taking the A10 (Great Cambridge Road) north following signs for Hertford. At the first roundabout take the third exit following signs for Cheshunt/Waltham Cross A121 (Winston Churchill Way). At the next roundabout take the first exit following signs for Cheshunt B176 (High Street). Continue under the Railway Bridge and turn left at the next mini roundabout into Theobalds Lane. Cheshunt Stadium is 800 yards along on the right hand side. The ground has a car park with spaces for 200 vehicles.
PLEASE NOTE FOR ANY SUPPORTERS THAT THE DARTFORD CROSSING WILL BE CLOSED SATURDAY EVENING BETWEEN 10PM – 5 AM. ALSO DON’T FORGET TO PUT YOUR CLOCKS BACK EARLY SUNDAY MORNING.
By Rail:
Theobalds Grove Station is a 5 minute walk away on the corner of the High Street and Theobalds Lane and enjoys a half hourly service to Seven Sisters (Victoria Line) and Liverpool Street. Please note that Cheshunt Station is not the nearest station to the ground.
Trains leave Liverpool Street at 15 & 45 minutes past the hour and take 35 minutes to get there. Returns are at 05 & 35 minutes past the hour. Theobalds Grove is in Travel Card Zone 7.
From the station walk east on the Arches and at the roundabout take the 2nd exit onto High Street/B176. At the roundabout take the 1st exit onto Theobalds Lane for 0.5 miles then turn right onto Great Cambridge Road/A10 for 0.2 miles and to the ground.
By Bus:
Bus routes 310, 310a (Waltham Cross to Hertford) 242 (Waltham Cross to Potters Bar) and 251 (Waltham Abbey to Cheshunt) all stop at Theobalds Grove Station.
The nearest pubs to the ground are close to Theobalds Grove Station. The Vine, Coach & Horses and The Wheatsheaf are in Waltham Cross High Street and perhaps going the other way to the direction of the ground and good if you have plenty of time on your hands.
Cheshunt is a commuter town in the Hertfordshire borough of Broxbourne and is fairly close by rail links to London and is located in the Lea Valley. It is also home to Tesco’s head office and also the home headquarters of Lotus Cars and as the home of legendary singer, Cliff Richard. Queen Elizabeth I lived there as a young Princess.
If you have time on your hands Cedar Park, a short walk to the ground which includes the lavish Theobalds Palace which was a favourite residence of Kings James I is well worth a visit. It covers 19 acres and includes gardens, a maze, monuments and a mini zoo (the smallest in the UK). Many years ago it was the home of the Temple Bar Gate which has since been moved to London.
