Cray Wanderers vs Carshalton Athletic – Isthmian Premier – Saturday 30th November, 3 pm – Match Preview
Cray Wanderers bring November to a close on Saturday as the Wands return to league action at Flamingo Park after a three week absence as Carshalton Athletic are the visitors. Kick off: 3 pm
Cray will be looking to bounce back from last Saturday where on a blustery and wet day were beaten 0-2 at Canvey Island despite a good performance that deserved better than the end result and took the game to the home side despite conditions and had chances through Nathan Jeche, Nyren Clunis, Josh Williams amongst others to score. The Canvey goals came from a disputed penalty and a sucker punch near the end but after four successive away league games Cray will be hoping for home comforts and have been unbeaten in the last three home league matches.
The Wands dropped back into the bottom four after the midweek fixtures into 19th place but over November performances have deserved to yield more points than from the wins vs Hashtag United and Potters Bar Town.
Carshalton Athletic have had a very solid season so far and come into the match in 8th place on 25 points after 17 games and just two points off the playoff places. The Robins are unbeaten in their last six league and cup games and on Tuesday night drew 1-1 at Hastings United with ex-Wand David Smith scoring from the spot to earn a point to make it five goals in eight games.
Away from home Carshalton Athletic have won at Chichester City (3-1), Hashtag United (1-0) and drawn at Folkestone Invicta (1-1), Bognor Regis Town (1-1) and Hastings United (1-1). Their only defeats came at Cray Valley PM (0-1), Canvey Island (0-1) and Wingate & Finchley (1-2). At home Carshalton have beaten Wingate & Finchley (3-2), Folkestone Invicta (2-1), Billericay Town (4-3) and Potters Bar Town (2-1). Carshalton drew with Lewes, Dover, Hendon and Cheshunt with just the one defeat at home to Dartford. Carshalton had an excellent run in the FA Cup like the Wands and reached the 4th Qualifying Round after beating Haywards Heath Town, South Park (Reigate) and Melksham before losing at Boreham Wood. In the FA Trophy Carshalton were beaten at Hadley in the 3rd Qualifying Round but have won in the Surrey Senior Cup and Isthmian League Cup after wins against Epsom & Ewell and AFC Croydon respectively. Tommy Bradford is the leading scorer so far with 6 goals.
Carshalton finished 12th last season with 61 points and Cray’s record against them has been very good with the Wands winning the last three home games and five out of the last six meetings. Last season Cray did the double over the Robins winning 1-0 at Hayes Lane in November 2023 courtesy of an own goal and won 2-1 at Colston Avenue in February 2024 with a brace of goals from Ellis Brown and Joseph Bell scoring for Carshalton Athletic. The teams have met many times during the Isthmian League years and is always a great match.
With a busy December ahead for Cray Wanderers including games against Dover, Billiericay Town, Dartford and Hendon Saturday promises to be a key match with both sides looking for the three points at both ends of the table.
Admission £12 adults, £6 concesssions – on the gate or online at www.cray-wanderers.com/tickets/ – There is a special offer for Millwall Season Ticket Holders not going to the game at Oxford United for free entry and half price for members.
Printed Match Programme, £3, Golden Goal Tickets £1, + the first monthly Cray Wanderers Meat Raffle £1 or strip of 5 for £4, Cray Wanderers 100 Club Draw – Merchandise, hot food and drinks + bars available.
DIRECTIONS FOR NEWCOMERS TO FLAMINGO PARK
Cray Wanderers FC – Flamingo Park Sports & Leisure – Sidcup By-Pass, Chislehurst, Kent BR7 6HL
Flamingo Park lies on the A20 and is the new home of Cray Wanderers and used for the Men and Women’s First Team, U23s, Youth Team games, Academy side and the club house hosts live music and private events. For the 2024-25 season Bexley FC will also play their Kent County League Premier games at Flamingo Park.
By car
From Kent – Via M20 or A2
M20 – Follow the M20 for 16.8 miles then continue on to A20 for 3.6 miles then continue on to Sidcup By-Pass Road/A20 for 1.9 miles. Continue onto Sidcup By-Pass/A20 for 0.3 miles then take a left into the ground entrance and another left for the car park.
A2 – Get on the M2 from A229 for 5.1 miles. After merging onto the M2 after 5.5 miles continue onto Watling Street/A2 for 8.7 miles. Use the left lane to take the M25 (S) slip road to M23 for 0.7 miles. Merge onto the M25 for 2.4 miles then at junction 3, exit towards A20/London (SE)/Swanley for 0.3 miles. At the Swanley interchange, take the 5th exit onto the A20 slip road to London (SE)/Lewisham for 0.8 miles. Merge onto the A20 for 3.5 miles then continue onto Sidcup By-Pass Road/A20 for 1.9 miles. Continue onto Sidcup By-Pass/A20 for 0.3 miles then take a left into the ground entrance and another left for the car park.
From London, North & West
Via A20 – If traveling from London take A3212, A302 and Westminster Bridge Road and at the roundabout take the 3rd exit onto St. George’s Circus/A201 and after 0.3 miles turn left onto New Kent Road/A201 for 0.5 miles. Then keep right staying on New Kent Road/A201 for 0.4 miles and then onto Old Kent Road/A2 for 2.6 miles. Take a slight right onto Amersham Road/A2/A20 then a left onto Amersham Road/A20 for 0.2 miles. Take a slight right onto Lewisham Way/A20 for 1.1 miles and then use the left 3 lanes to turn left onto Rennell Street/A20 for 1.9 miles. Use the right 2 lanes to turn slightly onto Sidcup Road/A20 for 0.3 miles then at the roundabout take the 2nd exit and stay on Sidcup Road/A20 for 3.7 miles. Then take the A222 towards Bromley/Chislehurst/Sidcup for 0.2 miles then at Frognal Corner Roundabout take the 4th exit onto the A20 slip road to C. London/Lewisham for 0.3 miles. Then merge onto the Sidcup By-Pass Road/A20 for 0.6 miles and then onto the Sidcup By-Pass for 0.3 miles. Then take a left into the entrance to the ground and another left into the car park.
From Essex/East Anglia
Via A13 – If traveling from Essex/East Anglia get onto the A13 for 11.6 miles. Use the left lane to take the M25 (N)/M25 (S) slip road to M11/M1/Stansted Airport/Dartford Crossing/A282 for 0.2 miles. At Mardyke Junction take the 1st exit for 0.3 miles and then use the right lane to take the A282 slip road to M25 (S)/Dartford Crossing then keep right at the fork to continue towards A282 for 3.8 miles. Use the right 3 lanes to stay on A282 then follow signs for M20/M23/Gatwick Airport /M25/Channel Tunnel/Dover for 0.6 miles. Continue onto M25 (signs for Dover/M20/Channel Tunnel/M23 for 3.3 miles. At junction 3 exit towards A20/London (SE)/Swanley for 0.3 miles and at Swanley Interchange take the 5th exit onto the A20 slip road to London (SE)/Lewisham for 0.8 miles. Then merge onto the A20 for 3.5 miles, continue onto Sidcup By-Pass Rd/A20 for 1.9 miles and then continue onto the Sidcup By-Pass for 0.3 miles then turn left into the entrance to the ground and then a left into the car park.
From: Sussex/South
If traveling from Sussex/South best get on Hastings Road/Pembury By-Pass/A21 in Kent from A267 and after 9.4 miles continue straight onto Sevenoaks Bypass/A21 for 3.8 miles and then keep right to continue onto M25. After 7.9 miles at junction 3 use the left 2 lanes to take the A20 exit to London/Lewisham/Channel Tunnel/Maidstone/M20 for 0.3 miles. At Swanley Interchange take the 2nd exit onto the A20 slip road to London (SE)/Lewisham for 0.5 miles. Merge onto the A20 for 3.5 miles, continue onto Sidcup By-Pass Rd/A20 for 1.9 miles and then continue onto the Sidcup By-Pass for 0.3 miles then turn left into the entrance to the ground and then a left into the car park.
The Car Park is free for supporters and there should be space between 700-800 cars on site. Please note bays in front of the main entrance are reserved for club officials.
By Train – Nearest BR Station – New Eltham – 1 mile. Trains from London Charing Cross/London Cannon Street/London Bridge or from Dartford/Gravesend.
From the station walk south-east onto Foots Cray Road/A211 for 0.3 miles then turn right onto Thaxted Road for 0.2 miles. Then turn left towards Sidcup Road/A20 and cross over the pedestrian footbridge and take a sharp and then a slight right towards Sidcup Road/A20 for 0.4 miles and then turn right and then a left into the entrance to the ground.
By Bus – The best bet is to get the 233 from Swanley, Sidcup, Eltham or New Eltham which stops on Thaxted Road but is around 0.8 miles to the ground. The 160 from Carlton Road, Sidcup stops at Montbelle Road as does the 162 which also stops at New Eltham Station and the Fiveways roundabout and is around a 22 minutes walk to the ground.
TAXIS – TAXIS – ALL DAY CARS – NEW ELTHAM – 020 8850 0032
Nearest Hotel: Premier Inn London Eltham
738 Sidcup Road, Eltham, London
SE9 3NS
Sat Nav Directions:SE9 3TJ
Directions:
From South Circular Road, take A20 Sidcup Bypass until you reach Fiveways, where Sidcup Road meets Green Lane Premier Inn Eltham is situated on the corner and the entrance to the car park is on Green Lane.
https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels/england/greater-london/london/london-eltham.html
The Car Park is free for supporters and there should be space between 300-400 cars on site. Please note bays in front of the main entrance are reserved for club officials.
Close to New Eltham Station are the Beehive pub plus the Pope Street Bar & Kitchen and the Nest offers hot drinks/alcoholic drinks and live music. There are also places to eat and a wide range of takeaway outlets as well as Fish & Chip and a Pie & Mash shop. Alternatively if you travel from Sidcup there are a wide range of pubs to choose from.
