WIngate & Finchley vs Cray Wanderers – FA Cup 2QR Replay – Tuesday 17th September, 7.45 pm – Match Preview & Directions
Pics: Ben Keyes
Cray Wanderers are in FA Cup 2QR replay action on Tuesday 17th September as Neil Smith’s side head to Wingate & Finchley after the sides drew 1-1 at Flamingo Park on Saturday. Kick off at the Maurice Rebak Stadium, 7.45 pm. The winners will be at home to Hastings United in the 3rd QR on Saturday 28th September.
Saturday’s tie was at times a tense affair with both sides hitting the woodwork in the first half but Cray had much more of the play in the second and came close to scoring through Nyren Clunis, Anthony Cook, Frankie Raymond, Adrian Owiredu-Gyamera and Kenny Coker before the deadlock was broken in the 75th minute. The Wands went ahead when Raymond’s corner was turned in by David Ijaha for his first goal of the season.
However, Wingate & Finchley who had three ex-Wands in their lineup in Charlie Grainger, Ben Frempah and Destiny Oladipo hung in the game and in the third minute of stoppage time were awarded a penalty when Zack Newton went down in the box and Ogo Obi scored from the spot for his eighth goal of the season.
This will be Cray’s second FA Cup replay of the season after requiring a second bite of the cherry after drawing at Larkfield & New Hythe in the previous round. Should the game be level after ninety minutes then extra time will be required and then penalties if still level.
Cray will be looking to reach the 3rd QR for the first time since the 2020-21 season but will have to be at their best to progress past Ahmet Rifat’s side who are always difficult to beat at home and advanced to this round with a professional 4-0 win at Thame United in the 1st QR.
Admission £12 adults, £8 concessions, £5 U18s, U10s free – Match Programme: Online.
DIRECTIONS TO WINGATE & FINCHLEY
Maurice Rebak Stadium, Summers Lane, Finchley, London N12 0PD
ADMISSION PRICES
£12 Adults, £8 Conc, U18s £5 U10 Free on gate or online at
https://www.wingatefinchley.com/first-team-match-tickets
Cash and card are accepted at all sales points at the stadium.
Programmes: Online
Supporting ID required for concessions or full price admission will be charged
Driving
The simplest way to get to the stadium is to get on to the A406 North Circular Road.
If coming from the West (e.g. via M1), go past Henlys Corner (taking the left fork after the traffic lights) and then drive for about 1 mile. The exit to take is the one immediately after a BP garage. Take the slip road and then turn right at the lights onto the A1000.
If coming from the East (eg via A10, M11) take the A1000 turn off. At the end of the slip road turn left at the lights. Go straight over the next set of lights, then after 100m pass through another set of lights. Then at the next set of lights turn right into Summers Lane. The Stadium is a few hundred metres down on the right hand side.
- Car Parking
Please be aware NOT to park in the Rugby Club next door, as they will close their gates and lock you in. There are plenty of nearby streets, although please note not to park on the kerbs and also some surrounding roads have yellow lines.
The Club car park on match days is available for Club Officials (Home & Away), Players, Staff and VIP guests only.
Blue Badge Parking: 4 free spaces are available on the front forecourt
TUBE
The nearest Underground station is West Finchley Station (Northern Line – High Barnet branch).
The station is a 10/15 minute walk away from the Ground. Alternatively go to East Finchley Station (also on the Northern Line, High Barnet branch) and get a 263 bus heading north towards Barnet. Get off at the bus stop just after the Summers Lane traffic lights
National Rail
The nearest station is New Southgate in Travelcard Zone 4, approximately 1.5 miles from the Abrahams Stadium. Trains are operated by First Capital Connect and can be picked up from Finsbury Park.
At the top of the station steps take the right hand gangway which brings you onto Station Road. Head left up Station Road towards the bus stop. The regular 382 service to Millbrook Park goes via Summers Lane and takes about 5-10 minutes. You will need to alight at the Woodgrange Avenue stop, which is a short walk to the ground.
Nearest Pubs: The nearest pubs are the Elephant Inn in North Finchley which is also a Thai Restaurant around 0.6 miles away with the Tally Ho (Wetherspoons) similarly located.
If coming into East Finchley then the Old White Lion and the Bald Faced Stag are a bit of a trek on foot but the 263 bus will take you from there close enough to the ground.
For a decent chippie The Two Brothers Fish restaurant in Finchley is worth a stop off. About 1.4 miles away or a 263 (south bound) bus will take you to the ground.
Finchley is an area of the LB of Barnet which has three town centres in East Finchley, North Finchley and Finchley Central (Church End) and developed from the late 1800’s with connections to the Great North Railway. The area is quite artistic and has been the site of a number of films and TV locations. Finchley was the home of the Goons’ Spike Milligan and there is a bronze statue in the Stephens House and Gardens in East End Road. It was also the constituency of Margaret Thatcher from 1959-1992 and former speaker of the house John Bercow. Also singer-songwriter George Michael was born in East Finchley and Spice Girl Emma Bunton was born in Finchley. The area has a large Jewish community and the original Wingate club who Cray Wanderers played in the 1950’s were formed in honour of an Israeli soldier Orde Wingate and to combat Anti-Semitism and the current set up was formed in 1991 as a merger of the Wingate and Finchley football clubs.
