Cray Wanderers vs Folkestone Invicta – Isthmian Premier – Saturday 22nd February, 3 pm – Match Preview
Photos – Steve Cullum, Jon Hilliger & Mark Hunt
Cray Wanderers bring February’s fixtures to a close as Neil Smith’s side look to consolidate a decent run of form with Folkestone Invicta the visitors to Flamingo Park for the first time. Kick off: 3 pm
The match pits the sides in 9th and 10th in the Isthmian Premier League table with the Wands on 45 points after 31 matches with Invicta a point behind but have played a game less. The teams also have an identical goal difference of +1 so little to choose between the sides.
This game starts a run for Cray with three of the next four matches against sides vying for perhaps one, two at a push playoff places with away matches against 8th placed Chichester City next Saturday and 6th placed Carshalton Athletic on 15th March. Even with a win Cray will stay 9th as four points behind Chichester City but the meeting next Saturday will have added significance.
Last Saturday Cray made it three unbeaten in February with a deserved, come from behind victory at home to Cheshunt which gave Cray what many people believe on 45 points as the bare minimum needed to confirm safety for another season in the Isthmian Premier.
Some teams could have folded after ex-Wand Kenny Coker was gifted a goal in the 16th minute for Cheshunt but Cray fought back and Josh Williams’ deflected cross fell to Nyren Clunis whose first time shot took a slight bounce off the wet carpet and into the net.
The Wands in the first twenty five minutes after half time produced some power play football and Soul Kader, still perhaps looking to boost fitness could have scored a five minute hat-trick but for the woodwork and a header off the line. However, the Bromley loanee persevered and grabbed the winner from Williams’ electric break from the edge of the Wands box to put Cray in front and defended stoutly enough to clinch three points.
Cray will hope that the sickness bug which had an effect last week is a thing of the past as this will be a game that the full complement of the match day 16 could be needed to win which could be a tight encounter.
Ex-Wands Player-Assistant Manager, Andy Drury’s Folkestone side were one of the pre-season favourites to at least reach the playoffs but perhaps have been plagued a bit by inconsistency. In November, Invicta won four games in a row and then went on to lose four in a row in December and then three straight wins in January. Folkestone have lost their last two games both away narrowly at Dulwich Hamlet and then last Sunday were edged out of a eight goal thriller at in-form Hashtag United losing 3-5 but was a game evenly matched going into the last twenty minutes. Experienced goal-scorers Evans Kouassi with two and Ade Youssef were on target for Invicta but were undone by a Luke May-Parrott hat-trick for Hashtag with Josh Osude and Sakariya Hassan scoring for 7th placed United. They could still yet make that challenge but would probably have to win most of their last twelve games. Drury made 17 appearances for Cray during the 2020-21 season scoring once and until recently was joined on the bench by former Wands manager Danny Kedwell as coach but has now departed to become manager at AFC Croydon Athletic, joined by another ex-Wand in Dean Beckwith as Assistant.
Andy Drury centre of goal mouth for Cray Wanderers vs Worthing, August 2021)
When the teams met at Cheriton Road on 9th November, Folkestone edged a scrappy encounter 1-0 with top scorer Daniel Smith scoring before half time. Cray though were unfortunate not to get something from the game and saw a second half penalty saved but couldn’t force a leveller. Cray’s home record against Folkestone is in need of improvement especially during the Hayes Lane years as the last home win was in the Isthmian Division One South promotion year of 2008-09 with Cray winning 3-1 on 28th October 2008 with goals from Tommy Whitnell (2) and Jamie Kempster. Last season, Folkestone won a Sunday afternoon encounter 1-0 on 24th March, 2024 with David Smith’s first half strike settling a game that didn’t live long in the memory.
Folkestone’s away form was solid at the start of the season but have only won one of the last eight on the road. Invicta won at Dover Athletic (1-0), Hastings United (2-1), Canvey Island (1-0), Horsham (1-0) and Hendon (2-0). They drew at Wingate & Finchley (3-3), Lewes (0-0) and Bowers & Pitsea (2-2) and were beaten at Chichester City (1-2), Carshalton Athletic (1-2), Whitehawk (0-1), Potters Bar Town (2-3), Chatham Town (1-4), Dulwich Hamlet (1-2) and Hashtag United (3-5). Home form has been generally good and have won four of the last five at Cheriton Road. They beat Hendon (2-0), Cray Wanderers (1-0), Dulwich Hamlet (2-1), Bognor Regis Town (4-1), Wingate & Finchley (3-2), Hastings United (3-1), Canvey Island (4-2) and Horsham (3-0). They drew with Carshalton Athletic, Hashtag United and were beaten by Cray Valley PM, Billericay Town, Dover Athletic, Dartford and Cheshunt. Folkestone reached the 2nd Round of the FA Trophy after wins against Ascot United and Barton Rovers but were beaten at home by Hanwell Town. Top scorer is Daniel Smith with 17 goals.
Home matches have been a real treat of late albeit usually decided by the odd goal and this looks likely to be another game, possibly in unsettled conditions that could go right to the wire.
Admission £12 adults, £6 concessions/U16’-U13s on gate or online at www.cray-wanderers.com/tickets/
Printed Match Programme: £3 – Golden Goal tickets £1, Meat Raffle tickets £1/£4 strip with draw to be made at half time. February 100 Club Draw, merchandise, vintage programme, hot and cold food/drinks, bars – Everton v Man United & Aston Villa v Chelsea games screened live.
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THE MATCH DAY THOUGHTS OF NEIL SMITH
Cray Wanderers finish February with an intriguing Kent Derby as 9th placed Wands face 10th placed Folkestone at Flamingo Park in the first of three matches in four against playoff contending teams. Here Neil Smith looks back to the fine win vs Cheshunt on Saturday and ahead to the Invicta challenge.
Hello Neil. Let’s look back to an excellent win and performance against Cheshunt last Saturday. It was a tremendous game and the fans enjoyed it. How did it feel on the bench as we started the game on the front foot and Cheshunt went and scored with the first attack?
That’s right. We knew that Cheshunt would be a hard team to play against and to beat. We had worked on coming out, going at them and keeping the ball well. However, as you say they go in front but it wasn’t even a chance as it was given to them. Shaun who has been so safe all season but on this occasion his first touch was a bit too heavy and Kenny Coker of all people puts the ball into an open goal.
However, I thought the character the boy’s showed to come back so quickly was amazing and Nyren Clunis who has hit a purple patch of form and Josh Williams combined for the assist and this seemed to dampen Cheshunt’s spirits and lifted ours once again.
As you mentioned Josh, he of course had two assists against Chatham Town and although his cross was deflected off a defender, Nyren did superbly to place his first time shot into the net as it wasn’t an easy finish by any means so it was a great goal.
As a striker all you have to do is try to hit the ball and keep it down. Sometimes those that hit the ground so early sort of put the keeper off a bit for it to go in the net. We are at a stage where results are at a premium so for us to score like we did we will take it but Nyren was in the right place to score. Josh was disappointed that he hasn’t scored goals but is still contributing in a massive way for us even though he hasn’t been on the scoresheet.
The game went a bit from end to end after that before half time and Cheshunt had a good chance to go in front with the header wide but the first twenty minutes after half time we took the Bull by the horns and the pressure we put on was a bit like Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool and totally pushed them back we were very impressive. Also the second goal watching from the stand was possibly our goal of the season with Josh burning rubber on the break and could have gone all the way but unselfishly set up Soul for his second in two games.
I think credit goes to our front players because that is where we have been starting most of our defence from. You’ve got Josh, Soul Kader obviously has come back to us and you have Lateef on the other side. Then you have the two safety valves behind him in Frankie Raymond and Eze Ebouzeme and we just closed them down at every opportunity. We attacked in numbers, had plenty of bodies in the box so created the chances but unfortunately couldn’t put them away. Soul was unlucky when a cross went into the box, he stuck his leg out but put it wide, he had a header saved, hit the bar and one off the line but then managed to get the winning goal. Again the break from Josh was devastating, he outstripped the defender and then slipped Soul in and he did what Soul can do and tucked away his goal brilliantly.
You are right about the second goal, he did well to leave the defender behind but it is not all about Josh, it is about the team and as you say he could have gone on further and no-one could have blamed for having a go himself but he saw the defender coming over and Soul has tried to cut it back and got away with it a bit but his shot was precise and on target and was a goal worthy of winning any game even though we had opportunities to make it more easier. Lateef had one and also a couple of other near things which could have meant we would have enjoyed it a bit more. As I said to you before the game Cheshunt are renowned for scoring late goals whether they are equalisers or winners so you can never switch off right up to the end game.
We also have to remember Neil that Cheshunt probably needed the points more than us and their defenders were throwing their bodies on the line at times. Also the conditions on Saturday weather wise were quite poor and grizzly by the end but that is where the defence did their bit to secure the three points.
Absolutely, we had to try and shore the game out but again if you think about it aside from the goal and a header wide in the first half we managed to keep them at a distance and Shaun didn’t have too much to do. That has been the strength of our better run of form from the defensive side from the whole team. Josh is having to chase back as is Lateef and the midfield players are winning the second balls and Soul closing down from the front. So collectively we have been amazing and we are hoping that the 45 points we have and projected at the start of the season keeps us safe and now we want to collect as many points as we can.
Let’s look ahead to today’s Kent derby vs Folkestone Invicta. We are starting a run of games now where three of the next four games are against top 10 sides just a few points behind Dover in 5th place with Chichester City and Carshalton Athletic to follow. Also this is the first time we have played them at Flamingo Park and our record against them at Hayes Lane wasn’t too great so perhaps due a win.
Yes, we are all vying for possibly the one playoff place realistically up for grabs and Folkestone are one of those sides who believe they have a chance with the budget they have got and the players they have and it will be a tough game. I thought at their place it was a game of fine margins and we had the penalty which could have made it 1-1 and we would have been on top. They have some strong players in their team like the Ade Youseff’s and other quality players. We watched them against Dulwich Hamlet and Hamlet came out on top but it was a very close game.
As for our record against them, recent games have all been at Hayes Lane but now we are at our new home we can perhaps get a win but it is a case of us having enough fit players following the recent flu outbreak at the club but whoever I choose will be giving everything they’ve got.
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DIRECTIONS TO CRAY WANDERERS FOR NEWCOMERS
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 Sidcp 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 400 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. There are four trains an hour heading to New Eltham from London Charing Cross. For returns there are also four trains back to London.
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 162 bus which starts in Bromley stops on Slades Drive where you can access the public footpath opposite the bus stop and is around a ten minute walk to the ground. This bus also stops at New Eltham Station for your return journey.
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 700-800 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.
