Cray Wanderers complete the Bank Holiday weekend fixtures on Monday as Margate are the visitors to Hayes Lane. Kick off 3pm.
Pics: Ozay Booth & Jon Hilliger
Both teams come into the game in similar league positions with Cray 13th and Margate 12th and both on five points from their first four games.
Cray made it three unbeaten with a gutsy and deserved draw at Bishop’s Stortford on Friday evening. After going a goal down in the 15th minute, Cray hung in the game well and eleven minutes from time Mitch Chapman found space to score and a deserved reward for his consistent displays in midfield in the early weeks of the season. Dan Bassett was unlucky not to grab a winner near the end but a point was the least Cray deserved for the performance and effort on the night.
Right back, Roman Charles-Cook, signed on loan from Sutton United made a confident Wands debut while Jalen Jones and Harold Joseph at the back and later Sinn’kaye Christie when he came on were resolute enough to restrict a very good Bishop’s Stortford side to few chances. The return of Sam Wood for his first game of the season was also key and also Anthony Cook and Billy Crook came off the bench to good effect in the second half. At the other end Tom Derry worked hard once again while Bassett and Nyren Clunis both came close to scoring.
With games coming thick and fast in the early weeks there was at least an extra day to prepare for the challenge of Margate which will be considerable as Andy Drury’s side also picked up a good point at Friday at home to Horsham.
Margate began the season with a 1-1 draw at home to Kingstonian which was followed by a 2-0 win at Bowers & Pitsea on 16th August. Their next game on 20th August was a 1-2 defeat at Brightlingsea Regent before drawing 1-1 with Horsham on Friday night.
Drury, who was Assistant Player-Manager with Cray at the start of last season was appointed manager in the summer in place of Jay Saunders who moved on to Tonbridge Angels and has looked to rebuild the side. There is something of an ex Cray Wanderers look to the team with Freddy Barton and Cameron Brodie recently arrived along with striker Fjord Rogers who scored on Friday night signed from Whitstable Town while Harry Hudson had a two month loan spell with Cray during the 2019-20 season. Also goalkeeper Amadou Tangara arrived from Bognor Regis Town, midfielders Adeyinka Cole from Maldon & Tiptree and Montelle Deslandes from Whitstable Town and striker Harvey Smith from Ramsgate all arrived at the club in the summer.
Margate finished 8th last season and reached the final of the Isthmian League Cup and last season’s two encounters were won by Margate both by the odd goal with a 2-1 win at home 30th August, 2021 and 3-2 at Hayes Lane on 27th December with Kyel Reid and Chris Dickson scoring for Cray. Both sides now have a completely different look to that encounter and both have started the season well.
BROMLEY, GREATER LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 27: Players jump to reach a corner kick during The Pitching In Isthmian Premier League match between Cray Wanderers and Margate at Hayes Lane on December 27, 2021 in Bromley, Greater London, England . (Photo: © Jon Hilliger / HilligerPix)
TIckets available to pay at the gate or online at www.cray-wanderers.com/tickets, £12 adults, £6 concessions and should be a great way to enjoy your Bank Holiday and ahead of the break for the FA Cup next weekend.
