Cray Wanderers vs Margate – Isthmian Premier, Boxing Day – 1 pm – Match Preview
Cray Wanderers play the first of three festive home matches on Boxing Day as Margate are the visitors to Hayes Lane in the now customary 26th December fixture. Please note the kick off time of 1 pm.
Both sides will come into the game looking to arrest winless runs with Cray despite just one league defeat in seven games are without a win in four Isthmian Premier games and lie 18th in the table on nineteen points. Margate meanwhile are without a league win in nine matches and are 16th and on twenty points having played two games more than Cray.
With four home matches in a row in the league followed by four straight away games, Neil Smith’s side will be looking to collect as many points as they can from the home games with games against promotion chasing Enfield Town and Hastings United to come over the Christmas/New Year break.
Last time out Cray were beaten narrowly at Hashtag United, 0-1 on 16th December while playing with ten men for over an hour and were perhaps unfortunate not to come away from Pitsea without at least a point for their efforts. The Wands will be without Tom Bonner through suspension over the festive games while Nyren Clunis and Cameron Thompson could hopefully soon return from injury. Gary Lockyer remains the leading scorer with 8 goals in league and cups with Nyren Clunis and Anthony Cook both on 6 goals.
Margate appointed former Thurrock and Hornchurch manager Mark Stimson earlier this month and in their last game drew 2-2 at home to Kingstonian with goals from former Wands legend Tyrone Sterling and Steve Cawley who has scored 13 this season. They have also added to their squad with midfielder Taner Dogan and forward Josh Tobin who both spent short spells with Cray Wanderers. Also defender Ellis Ashworth signed this week from Basildon United.
Away from home Margate have won at Concord Rangers (2-1) and drew at Dulwich Hamlet (2-2) and Bognor Regis Town (2-2). They were beaten at Hornchurch (1-4), Folkestone Invicta (0-2), Canvey Island (1-4), Wingate & Finchley (0-1), Horsham (0-1) and Enfield Town (0-2). At home Margate have beaten Whitehawk (2-1), Potters Bar Town (2-1), Chatham Town (2-0) and Lewes (2-0), drawn with Hashtag United, Haringey Borough and Kingstonian and were beaten by Cheshunt, Hastings United, Billericay Town and Carshalton Athletic. In the FA Cup, Margate reached the 3rd Qualifying Round after beating Hendon and Folkestone Invicta but were beaten at Chesham United, while in the FA Trophy Margate were beaten in the 3rd Qualifying Round at Harrow Borough. Margate were beaten at Whitehawk earlier this month in the Velocity League Cup.
Last season’s encounters saw Cray win 1-0 at Hayes Lane 28th August with a Danny Bassett goal and won 3-0 at Hartsdown Road also on Boxing Day with goals from Tom Derry, Anthony Cook and Josh Allen.
BROMLEY, GREATER LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 29: Margate’s goalkeeper, Amadou Tangara, takes out Cray Wanderers’s captain, Anthony Cook, during The Pitching In Isthmian Premier League match between Cray Wanderers and Margate at Hayes Lane on August 29, 2022 in Bromley, Greater London, England . (Photo: © Jon Hilliger / HilligerPix)
There is always a good buzz about games on Boxing Day and this should be no different to beat off those post Christmas Day blues.
Admission £12/£6, on gate (cash only) or online at www.cray-wanderers.com/tickets/. Match Programme £2.
A NOTE FOR SUPPORTERS THAT THE BROOMFIELDS BAR WILL NOT BE OPEN FOR THE THREE FESTIVE GAMES. THE RAVENS BAR CLOSE TO THE TURNSTILE WILL BE OPEN FOR ALL SUPPORTERS
