All at Cray Wanderers wish the best of luck to the U18s this evening as Roy Brooke’s side head to Rusthall in the 2nd Qualifying Round of the FA Youth Cup. Kick off at the Jockey Farm Stadium is 7.30 pm.
The Wands will be looking to advance to the 3rd Qualifying Round for the second straight season and the fourth time since 2018-19 and reached this round having played the previous three rounds away from home.
In the Extra-Preliminary Round Cray won 3-0 at Sevenoaks Town which was followed up by a late winner in a 2-1 victory at Hollands & Blair. The Wands had their work cut out in a tough tie in the 1st Qualifying Round against Corinthian (in a tie played at Corinthian) which Cray won 2-1 with first half goals from Tommy Allen-Beattie and Michael Ihiedi.
This will be the first time Cray have met Rusthall in the FA Youth Cup and will be a tough game as Rusthall have won impressively at home vs Chatham Town (5-2) and Dover (2-1) in the last two rounds.
FA Youth Cup ties under the lights are always special occasions and this should be another with so much at stake with one more qualifying round to go.
Directions to Rusthall FC
Admission: Adults £5, Concessions £3 & U16s £2 (
Rusthall FC
The Jockey Farm Stadium, Nellington Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 8SH
Car – SatNav TN4 8SH
From St Mary Cray take Court Road/Orpington By-pass/A224 to M25 at Chelsfield. After 3.3 miles at Hewitts Roundabout take 2nd exit onto M25 heading to Sevenoaks/A21. After 0.8 miles at roundabout take 2nd exit onto the M25 slip road to M23/M3/M4/Gatwick/Heathrow Airport/Hastings/Sevenoaks/A21 for 0.4 miles and then merge onto M25 for 4.4 miles. Then keep right to continue on Sevenoaks bypass/A21. Continue to follow A21 for 9.2 miles.
Then use left lane to merge onto Quarry Hill Road/A26 via slip road to Southborough/Tunbridge Wells. Follow for 1 mile then turn right onto Bellborough Ridge/B2176. Follow B2176 for 1.7 miles then turn left onto Borden Road for 1.4 miles then turn right onto Speldhurst Hill. Then turn left onto Langton Road for 0.7 miles then a left onto Burnt House Lane for 0.4 miles then a sharp left onto Farnham Lane for 0.4 miles and the ground and destination should be on the left. Apparently if you miss the left turn this leads to a dead end at the end of the road.
By public transport the best bet to save what is around a three mile walk is via Tunbridge Wells Railway Station which can be reached via Orpington or by change at Sevenoaks and from Bus Stop U take the 281 to Rusthall and alight at Parsonage Close which is practically the last stop and head for Southwood Road which should take you to an alleyway which will take you to behind the goal and car park. A return cab might be the best option as an evening game
