There’s a break from Bostik League action on Saturday as the FA Trophy Preliminary Round takes centre stage for the Step 4 clubs as Cray Wanderers are on their travels for a first ever FA Trophy tie at Canvey Island.  Kick off at the Frost Hire Stadium is 3pm.

This match is played on Non League Day, the annual celebration of the non-league game whilst the Premier League and Championship take a back seat for the international break.

Cray will be looking for a similar run in the FA Trophy as last season when Tony Russell’s side reached the 3^rd Qualifying Round beating Horsham, Grays Athletic and Moneyfields before bowing out to eventual National South playoff winners Braintree Town.

The Wands are six points clear at the top of the Bostik South-East after an unbeaten start of nine games and hit absolute top form last weekend against Faversham Town scoring seven goals with Freddie Parker grabbing a hat-trick, Junior Dadson scored twice with Barney Williams and Ben Mundele also getting on the scoresheet.  Confidence has been high despite the absence of Michael Power, Karl Dent and Aaron Rhule through injury but with a strong sense of perspective that it is a long season and no-one is getting carried away with the start.

It will be a tough test on Saturday as Cray travel to Canvey Island who have made a solid start to the Bostik North season lying in 6^th place after eight games played.  At the beginning of the month Mark Bentley was appointed as new manager with previous manager Danny Heale becoming Director of Football.

So far in their league games they have beaten Barking (1-0), Bury Town (2-0) at home and Maldon & Tiptree (2-1) away and drawn at Grays (1-1) and at home to Brentwood Town (2-2) and Tilbury (1-1) last Saturday.  Their other games ended in defeat, at Bowers & Pitsea (0-2) and at home to Great Wakering Rovers (0-1).

In the FA Cup they were knocked out at Cheshunt in the Preliminary Round (0-1) and at home to Enfield Town (0-1) in the Isthmian League Cup.  Their last game ended in a 0-4 defeat at a strong Braintree Town side in the Essex Senior Cup on Tuesday.  Joint top scorers are Frankie Merrifield, Joshua Hutchinson & Jordan Cox with 2 goals.

Last season saw Canvey Island return to the Isthmian North after a few seasons in the Premier and finished 6^th reaching the Playoff Final winning at Bowers & Pitsea (2-0) before losing at Haringey Borough (1-3) in the Final.