Haringey Borough vs Cray Wanderers – Isthmian Premier, Saturday 22nd April, 3 pm – Match Preview
Pics: Ozay Booth, Ben Keyes, Jonas Lustosa
This Saturday sees the final day of the Isthmian Premier 2022-23 season and Cray Wanderers will be looking to claim a piece of club history by reaching the Playoffs for the first time. Firstly, the Wands will need to pass the challenge that Haringey Borough will pose to Neil Smith’s side. Kick off at Coles Park is 3 pm.
Cray Wanderers begin the game in 5th place and on 73 points and have already reached a treble of club records for the season. The highest ever league position, most points in an Isthmian Premier season and most goals scored and just need a playoff place to achieve a quadruple.
To set the scene in the promotion race, Bishop’s Stortford are promoted as champions. Hornchurch and Canvey Island are confirmed either 2nd or 3rd and will host the playoff semi-finals. Aveley are 4th on 75 points and confirmed a place on Tuesday night after drawing at Canvey Island but could finish 5th if Cray win and Aveley fail to beat Enfield Town on Saturday. There is one space up for grabs and the only other side who can reach the playoffs are Lewes who visit Canvey Island on Saturday and have 71 points. If Cray draw at Haringey and Lewes win the teams will be level on points with Cray having a slightly better goal difference.
Cray Wanderers come into the game in good form and the 2-0 home win against Kingstonian last Saturday made it eight games undefeated with seven wins. Goals early in each half from Harrison Sodje, his third in four games and Jalen Jones who scored in two successive games proved enough to beat the K’s and the clean sheet for player of the year Shaun Rowley was his 14th of the season. Dan Bassett with 14 goals is the club’s top scorer for the season at this point with a game to go.
Certainly whatever happens on Saturday it has been a remarkable turnaround season for Cray Wanderers who survived relegation on the final day of last season and aside from three defeats in February, since late November Cray have been one of the form sides and have been in and around the playoffs and briefly stood in 2nd place in January.
However, there is still plenty of work to be done and Haringey Borough are a proud club who will provide a stern test of resolve and go into the game 13th in the table with a half century of points. Although perhaps never really in contention for promotion they certainly well clear of any relegation problems so have had a solid season. They also have a cup final upcoming after reaching the London Senior Cup Final after beating Glebe, Dartford and Wingate & Finchley and face the winners of the Charlton Athletic U23s or Hendon semi-final in the Final.
Last Saturday, Haringey were beaten 0-4 at Lewes who got off to an explosive start with three goals in seventeen minutes but Borough had been in good form and picked up a late point at Enfield Town on Easter Monday which proved vital in the playoff race and will need to be respected.
When the sides met at Hayes Lane on Sunday 11th December, Cray ran out 5-1 winners after being tied at half time with C Bassett, Jalen Jones, Anthony Cook (2) and Omari Hibbert scoring for Cray with Michael O’Donoghue scoring for Borough. The last visit to Haringey was on 9th October 2021 with the sides drawing 1-1 with a Jamie Yila goal cancelling out a Scott Mitchell strike.
Tony Loizou’s side at home this season have beaten Horsham (2-0), Bowers & Pitsea (4-2), Folkestone Invicta (3-0), Kingstonian (5-2), Carshalton Athletic (1-0), Hastings United (2-0), Brightlingsea Regent (6-1) and Margate (1-0). Haringey drew with Corinthian Casuals (2-2), Wingate & Finchley (0-0) and Hornchurch (1-1) and were beaten by Herne Bay (2-4), Billericay Town (0-3), Potters Bar Town (1-2), Lewes (1-2), Enfield Town (1-2), Bishop’s Stortford (0-3), Bognor Regis Town (2-5), Canvey Island (1-2) and Aveley (1-2). Away from home Haringey won at Carshalton Athletic (1-0), Bognor Regis Town (1-0), Corinthian Casuals (2-0), Herne Bay (1-0) and Kingstonian (3-0). They picked up a point at Canvey Island, Brightlingsea Regent, Margate, Hornchurch, Wingate & Finchley, Potters Bar Town, Horsham and Enfield Town and lost at Bishop’s Stortford, Aveley, Hastings United, Cray Wanderers, Folkestone Invicta, Billericay Town, Bowers & Pitsea and Lewes. Top scorer is Ben Allen with 9 goals.
You could argue that this is the most important league game in Cray Wanderers history with a chance to extend the season by a week when league matches turn into cup ties and a chance to enter the lottery to reach the National South for the first time.
Entry to the game is Free for all supporters but if you are driving please note it costs £1 an hour to park at Coles Park. Online match programme.
DIRECTIONS TO HARINGEY BOROUGH FC
CVS Van Hire Stadium
Coles Park, White Hart Lane
Tottenham
LONDON N17 7JP
ADMISSION PRICES
ALL ADMISSION ON THE DAY IS FREE!!!
Match Programme: Online
PLEASE NOTE THERE IS A £1 AN HOUR CHARGE FOR PARKING AT THE GROUND.
The quickest journey from our neck of the woods should be about 35 miles.
From St. Mary Cray head onto the A2018 and then on to the A2 for 2.1 miles then left lane to take M25 slip road to M20/Dover/Gatwick/Dartford Crossing/Channel Tunnel for 0.3 miles. At Darenth interchange take the 1st exit then for 0.8 miles at Princes Road interchange take 2nd exit onto A282 for 0.9 miles and then keep left staying on A282. After 2.9 miles take the exit towards Dagenham/Rainham/Thurrock/A13/West Thurrock/A126 for 0.4 miles then at Mar Dyke Interchange take 2nd exit onto A13 slip road to London (E&C)/Barking/Docklands/Dagenham/Rainham for 0.2 miles then merge onto A13 for 7.1 miles. Continue straight on to Ripple Road/A13 and follow for 2.1 miles using the left lane to take A406/A1020 slip road to M11/A12/N Circular.
At the roundabout take 3rd exit onto N Circular/A406 heading to A12/M11/Ilford/Barking for 4.6 miles. Continue straight to stay on N Circular RoadA406 for 6.4 miles. Slight left on A10 onto slip road to C London/Dalston/Heathrow/Enfield/M25/Potters Bar/A11 for 0.9 miles. Then at roundabout take 1st exit at Great Cambridge Road/A10 for 0.7 miles then turn right onto White Hart Lane, then a left, then a right and the ground will be on the left opposite a builders merchants between the junctions of Fenton Road and Rivulet Road.
Public Transport:
Your best bet is by tube and bus, with the nearest tube station Wood Green (Piccadilly line). There are no planned engineering works affecting the Piccadilly line this weekend.
From Wood Green Tube station, bus W3 (going to Northumberland Park) from Bus Stop B just a short walk up from the station runs fairly regularly on a Saturday afternoon and takes a little over 15 minutes for the journey.
Alight at Haringey Borough Bus Stop (WX), cross over the road towards the ground. Unless time is on your hands it is probably best for this option as a reasonable hike up to the ground if you choose to walk it. The best starting option if going by train is via Victoria from Bromley South/St Mary Cray or on the Dartford-Sidcup line with trains going to London Charing Cross. The Bexleyheath line requires a change at Lewisham as all trains go to Cannon Street. You can also get there by British Rail to White Hart Lane from Liverpool Street Station. Liverpool Street can be reached now via the Elizabeth Line from Abbey Wood or Woolwich.
There are not too many pubs around the ground but if you’ve time on your hands, in Wood Green there is the Prince on Finsbury Road, a fairly modest looking pub but has a wide selection of ales and may be your best choice. The Liquid Bar on Wood Green High Road might appeal for the more modern tastes. If you want to make a day of it and take advantage of Spurs not being at home in Tottenham itself there is the Antwerp Arms on Church Road, opposite a park and is considered to be a Community Pub. On Tottenham High Road there is the Bricklayers which might appeal to a Tottenham enthusiast as adorned with pennants, scarves and memorabilia. Otherwise the club house at the ground should satisfy you enough.
If you are looking for a chippy then probably the nearest is the Dolphin Fish Bar on Great Cambridge Road or nearer Wood Green station there is John’s Fish Bar on Lordship Lane. For an Indian Restaurant there is the Paramount Tandoori on Wood Green High Road.
Haringey is a North London borough which as well as Tottenham Hotspur being a major part of the Borough’s culture, Haringey is also the home of the London Scholars Rugby League team who play just down the road from Coles Park and our esteemed programme editor, Ms. Mandi Babbs will be able to regale you with many stories of their fortunes as a big supporter of the club and a regular watcher. If you are making a whole day of it, the borough is also home of Alexandra Palace, the swish residential tower blocks, Highpoint I & II, designed by Berthold Lubitkin. There is Bruce Castle which is more of a Manor House than an actual castle which is on Lordship Lane in Tottenham, and close by are Muswell Hill, Crouch End and Highgate. The borough of Haringey was formed in 1965 following the merger of three municipal boroughs, Wood Green, Hornsey and Tottenham.
If you like classical culture on Archway Road is Jacksons Lane Arts Centre, a converted Methodist church which is an iconic theatrical location and many up and coming acts in comedy, acting and dance have started out there. Tottenham is also the home of one of the most successful British singer-songwriters of modern times, Adele and perhaps the most famous band to come from Tottenham were the Dave Clark Five who reached no 1 in 1964 with Glad All Over.
