After a run of four successive home games over Christmas and New Year, Cray Wanderers hit the road for the first of four away league games this evening as Neil Smith’s side head to Bognor Regis Town.
Kick off at the MKM Arena, 7.45 pm.
Cray were unbeaten in those four Hayes Lane games and just one league defeat in ten and on Saturday drew 1-1 with Lewes which kept the Wands in 15th place on 25 points. Cray are trying to inch away from the bottom four and are playing well but will just be looking to turn some of the recent run of draws into wins.
On Saturday, Cray led through Tayo Oyebola’s second goal for the Wands in just three games and after three successive clean sheets defended resolutely once more but were finally breached five minutes from time from a free kick after another outstanding goalkeeping performance from Shaun Rowley.
Defensively, David Ijaha and ex-Rock Cameron Black have formed a fine partnership since the injury to Jack Holland against Enfield Town. Other solid performers of late include Ellis Brown, Frankie Raymond, Jamie Mascoll, Emmanuel Kwatchey and Gary Lockyer but the team as a whole have worked hard to become tougher to beat since the opening weeks of the season.
Tom Beere has been added to the squad and the former AFC Wimbledon, Tonbridge Angels and Carshalton Athletic midfielder made his debut against Lewes.
Certainly, Cray’s first away challenge will be a tough one as Bognor Regis Town are unbeaten at home in the league and on Saturday beat promotion chasing Chatham Town, 2-1 with early goals from Jasper Mather and Dan Smith. Robbie Blake’s side are 12th in the Isthmian Premier League table on 30 points from 22 games and have lost one of the last nine league games.
At home, Bognor Regis Town have beaten Kingstonian (2-0), Concord Rangers (2-0), Haringey Borough (3-0), Horsham (2-0) and Chatham Town (2-1). The Rocks drew with Carshalton Athletic (3-3), Hashtag United (0-0), Lewes (3-3), Margate (2-2) and Canvey Island (1-1). Their only home loss came in the FA Trophy 2QR against South Park.
Away from home, Bognor Regis have won at Folkestone Invicta (1-0), drew at Potters Bar Town, Dulwich Hamlet and Hastings United and were beaten at Chatham Town, Cheshunt, Hornchurch, Whitehawk, Billericay Town and Lewes. Leading scorer is Dan Gifford with 12 goals.
Last season saw the teams meet four times in league and FA Cup and the last encounter came on 7th December, 2022 and finished in a 2-2 draw with Cameron Black and Gifford scoring for Bognor and Sam Skeffington and Anthony Cook for Cray Wanderers.
With Cray to follow up Tuesday night with January visits to Billericay Town, Folkestone Invicta and Whitehawk this will be another good test of resolve for the Wands and an exciting challenge.
Admission Prices
Adults, £13 terrace + £1 for seating
Senior citizen (over 65) £10 + 1 for seating
U18s (and students with ID) £5