Pics: Jon Hilliger – @www.HilligerPix.com
A busy October begins for Cray Wanderers on Saturday as the FA Cup adventure takes Tony Russell’s side on the road to Portsmouth to face Moneyfields FC. Kick off is 3pm.
Cray come into the game in good heart lying 2nd in the Isthmian Premier table after 3 games and unbeaten in 2020 despite not being totally at full strength in the opening weeks. The unbeaten run continued on Tuesday night with a 3-1 win at Folkestone Invicta with goals from Joe Taylor, his 50th for the club, and lethal second half strikes from Charlie Allen and Rhys Murrell-Williamson.
Cray have this week added to the squad with the arrival primarily as cover of winger Herson Rodrigues Alves who has played for Brentford and Maidenhead United in recent seasons and adds balance on the wings. Jason Banton and Bradley Pritchard are unlikely to make the trip with injury but the return of Tom Phipp and Charlie Allen after pre-season injuries has been a real bonus and Lee Lewis could return after missing Tuesday night and Ben Mundele continues to progress after hamstring problems in the summer.
The Wands cup road began on 23rd September with a 3-1 home win vs Fisher with goals from Jason Banton (2) & Freddie Parker and will face a tough challenge from a Moneyfields side with two rounds of the Cup advanced past already.
Dave Carter’s side beat Camberley Town 4-2 at home in the Preliminary Round and then showed courage to advance past Aylesbury United on a penalty shoot out after a 2-2 draw. Steve Hutchings scored both goals on the night and will relish the challenge of the Wands at home.
Moneyfields play in the Southern League Division One South (Step 4) and have began their league season with two defeats, 1-2 at Cinderford Town on 19th September and on Tuesday night lost 0-2 at home to Melksham. Last season they were 18th in the division when football came to an early end in March.
The sides have met in cup competition before as recently as 2017 in the FA Trophy 2nd Qualifying Round. Two sides at the top of their divisions at the time fought out a 1-1 draw at Moneyfields on 14th November, Michael Power scoring and Cray won the replay the following week 4-1, Mitchell Nelson, Michael Frieter and two Power penalties seeing the Wands through.
Moneyfields were formed in 1987 as Portsmouth Civil Service and from local leagues they joined the Hampshire League becoming Moneyfields in 1994. They later were promoted to the Wessex League and in 2016-17 came second in the Premier Division and were promoted to the Southern League East Division and now known as the South Division.
Cray Wanderers don’t play Southern League teams that often so should be a great cup occasion on the South Coast with the weather conditions possibly a leveller and Cray will be looking to avoid a potential banana skin and continue their FA Cup run.
DIRECTIONS TO MONEYFIELDS FC
Address: Moneyfields FC, 1 Moneyfield Avenue, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO3 6LA
Admission £8.00 adults £5.00 concs – Pay on the gate – Capacity 400
If you can please email your name and mobile no to Moneyfields FC before 9am for track and trace and save time on the day.
moneyfieldstrackandtrace@hotmail.com
There is also a Bar App available to help with table service in the club house. Details on arrival.
The club is running a coach to the game for players and fans and leaves Flamingo Park at 11am. Please check here before departure due to the wet weather in the South as any status on the match will be posted here ASAP
From our neck of the woods the quickest route is via the M25 and A3. Once on the M25 drive for 28.4 miles and then at junction 10 use the left lane to take the A3 exit to London (SW)/C London/Portsmouth/Guildford. After 0.3 miles at the roundabout take the 1st exit onto the A3 slip road to Portsmouth/Guildford/Effingham. After 0.4 miles keep right and merge onto Portsmouth Road/A3.
Follow the A3 for 28.9 miles At Ham Barn Roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Liphook – Petersfield Bypass/A3 continuing on the A3 for 11.2 miles. Continue onto A3 (M) signs for Portsmouth/Hayling Island for 6 miles and then use the left lane to merge onto Havant Bypass/A27 for 0.7 miles. Take the A2030 exit towards Portsmouth (E)/Central Southsea/Seafront for 0.4 miles. Then At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Eastern Rd/A2030. Continue on the Eastern Road and at the fourth set of traffic lights, turn right into Tangiers Road. Continue along this road until you pass the school and shops on your left and take the next right into Folkestone Road, continuing on through to Martins Road and the Moneyfields Sports and Social Club is directly in front of you.
If you are travelling by train your best bet is from Waterloo station to Portsmouth & Southsea station. Possibly Fratton if your train stops there. According to Google Maps, Hilsea is the nearest station but may be on a local line. From Portsmouth & Southsea the no 2 or 21 bus will take you to within walking distance of the ground.
