Cray Wanderers vs Sutton Common Rovers – The pre-match thoughts of Danny Kedwell
BROMLEY, ENGLAND – AUGUST 28: Cray Wanderers’s Manager, Danny Kedwell, walks onto the pitch before the Isthmian Premier League match between Cray Wanderers and Worthing at Hayes Lane on August 28, 2021 in Bromley, England . (Photo: © Jon Hilliger / HilligerPix)
Cray Wanderers begin their FA Cup campaign today with a first ever meeting with Sutton Common Rovers. The club from the London Borough of Sutton have already played a couple of cup ties to reach the 1st Qualifying Round and will be treated with respect. Here Danny Kedwell looks forward to his first FA Cup tie in charge of the Wands and looks back at two narrow Bank Holiday defeats to Worthing and Margate.
Let’s look back to the two Bank Holiday games with Worthing and Margate. Two defeats but Cray Wanderers played well and not a lot to choose in both games. What are your thoughts after those matches?
BROMLEY, ENGLAND – AUGUST 28: Cray Wanderers’s Manager, Danny Kedwell and Worthing’s Manager, Adam Hinshlewood, shake hands at the end of the Isthmian Premier League match between Cray Wanderers and Worthing at Hayes Lane on August 28, 2021 in Bromley, England . (Photo: © Jon Hilliger / HilligerPix)
I said to the lads after the Margate game that they had two shots and scored two goals and on Saturday vs Worthing they had three shots and scored two so obviously we know where the problem is, not concentrating for ninety minutes and switching off. You can’t do that in this league and they did towards the end of both games.
Margate’s first goal, I’m not really sure how that has happened. We were 1-0 up, cruising and playing well and we dominated the game session wise but they came away with the three points. Margate defended, they did their job and kept their concentration and that was what we needed to do. There was always going to be a goal somewhere and I thought would go our way but in the end Margate got it and that is football unfortunately.
Also against Margate your first goal for the club on your league debut. You got above the Margate skipper well and powered home a header.
That was good and it was a decent start from us to be fair and we were very good first half and it was frustrating as we went one-nil up and I could hear the home team arguing and moaning at each other so we had them where we wanted them and then Margate’s first goal which I thought we could have dealt better with especially closing down, the shot has swerved a little bit similar to the shot Lee Lewis had after which if perhaps a little lower would have been the same result. Jack is a top, top keeper in this league and I feel sorry for him for the goal as he feels he should have done better but it all stems from the back four, midfield and the team as well as him so more we could have done to prevent it.
It was an end to end game, they had more of the ball but thought we were better with it but in the end they got the three points and we didn’t so fair play to them.
I felt we ran Worthing who have been the best team in the league the last two seasons very close and it was a fine piece of finishing that won the game for them.
BROMLEY, ENGLAND – AUGUST 28: players look up at the incoming ball during the Isthmian Premier League match between Cray Wanderers and Worthing at Hayes Lane on August 28, 2021 in Bromley, England . (Photo: © Jon Hilliger / HilligerPix)
Yes, they had three chances and scored with two great finishes. I’ve watched the game back and we’ve had nine good chances. Fjordy’s header has just gone past the post, Anis came close with a flick at the end. That sort of luck isn’t going our way at the moment, if that was against us that would probably have flicked off one of our heads and gone in. Cameron has hit a shot which has skimmed the bar and post. We are a new team, we are getting there. I wanted them to play football how I want them to play this season, getting in the opposition half very quick. At the moment the finishing isn’t quite there but it will come and I have faith in the boys. We’ve got an FA Cup game today so time to regroup, we’ve had a good training session on Thursday to help get the boys ready for the match.
Onto Sutton Common Rovers in the FA Cup. The first time we’ve ever played them and they have already played two cup ties vs Steyning Town Community and are in a cup frame of mind. Do you know much about what threat they can pose?
I don’t know a great deal to be fair but I have had them watched to see what they are about. I’ve played in FA Cup games against lower teams when playing for higher league clubs and they make it tough for you. I’ve got to get the boys mindset right that it is not going to be a walkover because they are a league below. These are the hardest games as when you play higher teams you step your game up so we just need to be ready and prepared for a fight which will they provide and should be a good game.
