Cray Wanderers vs Dartford – The pre-game thoughts/programme notes of Danny Kedwell

Cray Wanderers vs Dartford- The Pre-game thoughts of Danny Kedwell

 

Pics:  Jon HIlliger – www.hilligerpix.com

This afternoon see’s a first for Cray Wands in the club’s first ever 3rd Round tie in the FA Trophy and the draw was a good one as Dartford, 2nd in the National South are the visitors to Hayes Lane. Here Danny Kedwell looks forward to the game and the challenge the Darts will provide. Danny also looks back on last Saturday’s game against Bishop’s Stortford.

 A big afternoon for us today Danny and Cray Wanderers first ever 3rd Round match in the FA Trophy. A tough but exciting draw for us against Dartford! What are your thoughts on the challenge that Steve King’s side will provide?

 Dartford are a very good side but haven’t been doing so well in the last month or so. They’ll be tough to play against rather like Ebbsfleet United in the last round. I think Ebbsfleet are more of a football playing team and Dartford play a bit different but they are very experienced. They’ve got some very good players and will be a good test for our boys against a very well managed side.  I had some great and enjoyable battles with Dartford in my playing days.

 It’s a game everyone is looking forward to and like the last round, a free hit for us. We are not expected to win but we weren’t against Ebbsfleet and the boys came out and did a great job and hopefully they can do that again.

 Let’s look back to last Saturday and the match against Bishop’s Stortford. I thought aside from the first fifteen minutes where Bishop’s made an electric start I felt we gave a very good account of ourselves against a very strong, quality team.

Yes, I definitely felt we deserved to get something out of the game and was a bit gutted for the boys again at the end. We dominated the whole of the second half. You are right, Bishop’s Stortford came out of the traps really quick but they had to really. It was a sloppy goal for us to concede from a set piece which is what they were aiming for most of the game as they are a big team that thrive from set pieces.

I thought overall we played well but perhaps didn’t really hurt them in the final third. We didn’t get many breaks in front of goal either and I’m not quite sure how their keeper got down so quickly to block Jamie Yila’s header.

 For those that perhaps went to the Horsham and Bishop’s Stortford games, we started Saturday with a new signing in goal, Bailey Vose after Jack Turner departed on Thursday.  Tell us a little about Bailey and the qualities he will bring in goal.

Bailey is a very good keeper and has had experience in goal for Billericay Town in the National South this season and played really well for them. I saw him play a few times when he was a youngster at Colchester United. He’s a very good shot stopper, he can play with his feet, comes for crosses and has a bit of everything and the height to be a great keeper. The more games he will play for us the more confident he will get and he will be a very good addition to our squad.

 Also a player I personally was impressed with in the cameo appearances he made was Erald Desa who looked very lively and keen when he came on late in the last two games. What can you tell us about Erald?  Also the Horsham game was the last of Sam Skeffington’s loan spell with Cray Wanderers. I think he looks like a tremendous prospect.

As you say Erald is very lively especially in and around the box which is something I think we have lacked at times this season. I think he will continue to do that and another exciting prospect we have brought into the club. I look forward to working with him and teaching him the ropes. It was a shame that the Corinthian game couldn’t take place as the likes of Erald, Fjordy, Tom Hanfrey, even Marvin McCoy who is getting back from illness would have played and got some valuable game time.

Sam is a good player with tremendous energy in midfield and I thought against Horsham he partnered well with Cameron Brodie and I think we perhaps missed him on Saturday.

 As our last game before Christmas, on behalf of myself, the club and fans we wish you, your management/coaching team and players a very Happy Christmas and we will see you again on 27th December.