Hastings United vs Cray Wanderers – Isthmian Premier – Saturday 18th January, 3 pm – Match Preview
Pics: Ben Keyes & Dave Budden
Cray Wanderers look to continue an unbeaten start to 2025 on Saturday 18th January as the Wands with six wins in the last eight games head to Hastings United in the Isthmian Premier. Kick off 3pm.
All six of those wins have been carved out of granite with 1-0 score lines and last Saturday moved up to ninth in the table after victory against Potters Bar Town at Flamingo Park. Kenny Coker’s 7th minute goal proved decisive but overall Cray created the better openings but were indebted to Shaun Rowley who made a great one handed save deep into added time for his sixteenth clean sheet of the season.
It was another good team performance with the back four of Ike Orji, Tom Bonner, Remi Sutton and Darion Dowrich again outstanding but the hard work of the forwards, Coker, Josh Williams and Nathan Jeche also deserve credit. Without the suspended Lateef Adaja and Charlie Edwards whoj missed the match with injury George Penn produced another mature performance in midfield alongside the ever reliable Frankie Raymond and Nyren Clunis.
The Wands now end January with three successive away games with matches to follow at Whitehawk and Wingate & Finchley to end the month.
This will be the third meeting of the season with Hastings United who are 20th in the table on 23 points after the sides met in the FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round on 28th September with Cray winning 3-0 at Flamingo Park with goals from Toby King, Kenny Coker and David Smith. The teams met again in the league on 19th October and finished 0-0 mainly down to the excellence of United keeper Louis Rogers on the day. At that time Cray were in the bottom four on just five points but have picked up thirty points since then to move eleven points clear of the bottom four.
Cray will be seeking their first win at Hastings since January 2017 in a 2-1 victory with two Danny Haynes goals and have lost on the last three visits with the last a 0-3 defeat in August 2023.
Since our last meeting Hastings have changed managers with former Ebbsfleet United boss Danny Searle taking over in December and won the first match in charge at Chichester City on 9th December. However, home form seems to have been their main problem this season and have lost the last three at Pilot Field. Hastings last match was a 1-3 defeat at Folkestone Invicta on New Year’s Day with Freddie Legg the scorer in the second half.
At home Hastings have beaten Horsham (2-0), Chatham Town (3-2) and Whitehawk (3-0). They drew with Bognor Regis Town (2-2) and Carshalton Athletic (1-1) and were beaten by Folkestone Invicta (1-2), Cheshunt (2-3), Cray Valley PM (0-1), Dartford (0-3), Bowers & Pitsea (2-4) and Dover Athletic (0-2). Away from home Hastings have won at Whitehawk (1-0), Chichester City (3-2) and Bognor Regis Town (1-0), drew at Lewes, Cray Wanderers and Billericay Town and were beaten at Potters Bar Town, Hashtag United, Dulwich Hamlet, Wingate & Finchley, Hendon and Folkestone Invicta. In the FA Trophy, Hastings were beaten in the 1st Round at Hadley but are through to the Quarter Finals of the Isthmian League Cup after wins against Deal Town and Cray Valley PM and are at home to Binfield on Tuesday 21st January. Top scorer is David Rodari with 15 goals.
Cray head to East Sussex with plenty of confidence but this is always a good test and with both sides needing points at both ends of the table this should be a great game.
DIRECTIONS TO HASTINGS UNITED FC & ADMISSION
Hastings United FC. The Pilot Field, Elphinstone Road, Hastings, East Sussex TN34 2AX
Admission Prices: £13.00 adults, £9.00 concessions, U18s free (accompanied by adult) on the day. £12.00 online or £8.00 concessions at https://hufc.onlineticketseller.com/fixtures
Printed Programme: £3.00
The club will be running a coach to Hastings United for supporters leaving at 11 am. If you wish to book a seat please email craywanderersfc@gmail.com as spaces are limited.
By Car – From our neck of the woods best to go via the A21.
From Orpington take the Hewitts Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A21/M25 heading to Sevenoaks/A21 for 0.9 miles. At the roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the M25 slip road to M23/M4/M3/Gatwick Airport/Heathrow Airport/Hastings/Sevenoaks A21 for 0.3 miles. Keep right and merge onto A21/M25 for 4 miles and then continue onto the A21 for 11.8 miles. Continue onto Hastings Road/Pembury Bypass/A21 for 4.1 miles.
At Kippings Cross roundabout take the 2nd exit onto A21 and follow for 3.1 miles and then at Forstal Farm roundabout take the 2nd exit onto Lamberhurst Bypass/A21. After 1.5 miles at the roundabout take the 2nd exit onto A21 for 8.5 miles. At Northbridge Street roundabout take the 2nd exit onto Robertsbridge Bypass/A21 for 2.1 miles and then at John’s Cross roundabout take the 1st exit onto Vinehall Road/A21 for 5.9 miles. You should then be approaching Hastings. Take a slight right onto Maplehurst Road for 0.2 miles and then turn left onto the Ridge/A2101 and at the roundabout take the 1st exit onto the Ridge/B2093 for half a mile. At the roundabout take the 2nd exit to remain on the Ridge/B2093 for 1.2 miles and then turn right into Elphinstone Road and take a left for the ground.
Alternatively as you reach the northern outskirts of the town you will see a sign “Hastings & St Leonards, birthplace of television” on your left having passed Sainsburys on your right, go straight ahead at two mini roundabouts and turn left at the third onto the A2101 St Helens Road (The Pilot Field is signposted at this point). After approximately a mile and a quarter, take the fifth turning on the left into St Helens Park Road, which leads into Downs Road. At the end of this road, turn left and the ground is situated immediately on your right.
From the East on the A259 – Turn right at the traffic lights just past the Aldi supermarket onto the B2093 Old London Road, which leads into The Ridge. After approximately one mile, turn left opposite the main entrance to Hastings Crematorium into Elphinstone Road and the ground is situated down the hill on the left hand side, the second of two adjacent pitches.
Parking – Please note that there is no spectator parking available within the ground itself, but there are plenty of roads within close walking distance that have no parking restrictions. Please be sure to park legally though, as traffic wardens are known to patrol the area on matchdays.
By Public Transport – Bus Routes 21 and 21A from Stand A at Hastings Rail Station. These run every half hour on a Saturday (04 & 34) and take you to Elphinstone Road.
It is a fairly long walk from Hastings station, around 1.4 miles so leave yourself plenty of time if you choose this option. From Station approach, turn left onto Devonshire Road and then after 0.1 miles turn left onto South Terrace and then right into Braybrooke Road. For 0.2 miles continue to Bethune Way and then at the Queens Road Roundabout take the second exit onto Elphinstone Road, go over one more roundabout and Pilot Field should be on the right after about a mile and uphill.
You can also get there from Ore station (technically nearer) and is about 20 minutes away. Head down Beaconsfield Road to the roundabout and turn right into Elphinstone Road as above.
If you are going by train to Hastings and thinking of going from Orpington, on the 18th January there are no direct trains going to Hastings that day. You would need to get a train to Sevenoaks at 16 or 46 mins past the hour and then change for a train to Tonbridge from which the 12 or 42 mins past the hour train will take you to Hastings. This is the same for the return journey, Hastings to Tonbridge, then Sevenoaks at 31 and 50 mins past the hour.
If you wish to go to Ore from Orpington again you would need to travel to Sevenoaks, Tonbridge then a train to St Leonards Warrior Square and then another to Ore and for the return.
You can get there from London Bridge direct with trains at 12 & 42 past the hour taking around 2 hours. Returns at 21 or 47 past the hour or an hourly service at 26 minutes past.
There are no direct trains from Victoria. You would need to get the tube to St Pancras International, catch a train to Ashford International and then on to Hastings and would take you quite a while.
For train travel best to check National Rail Enquiries
Hastings is a place steeped in history and in particular the approach to Hastings and the town especially the old town which has many pubs and bars and eateries that must surely satisfy even the most hardest to please of people. The Dolphin Inn in the Old town (Rock-a-Nore Road) is highly recommended as is the Anchor in George Street. In All Saints Street is the Crown which is considered to be one of the best pubs in the country. There is also a recent addition with the Seadog on Station Road.
If you plan on staying the night the Carlisle in Pelham Street is well renowned as a live music venue particularly specialising in punk, rock and heavy metal music and traditionally a must for motorbike enthusiasts. There is also the Clown in Russell Street (close to Hastings or Ore Station). In St Leonards about a six minute drive to the ground is The Harrow (Shepherd Neame pub) where the Cray Massive may be heard. There is at the ground, the Elphinstone Social Club if you prefer something quieter. There are just too many chippies to recommend although the Life Boat Restaurant in the Parade is 4.5 star rated as is Maggie’s Fish Bar in Fishmarket Road.
Hastings is famous around the world for the Battle of Hastings of 1066 following William the Conqueror and his Norman army invading England and led to a bloody battle in which King Harold was killed by Willam’s army. Since those days the town has really thrived as a historical location, it was one of the Cinque ports strategically placed to prevent invasions and later as a very large fishing port.
It might be a touch chilly for the worldwide famous beach but also an aquarium but that is a bit of a hike from the football ground and there are legendary remains of Hastings Castle with its links to 1066. If you fancy a return maybe in the Spring/Easter time there is the Smugglers Adventure route which starts at Hastings Caves and finishes at the castle but will be closed in January.
