In Cray Wanderers 160th year the club look for a piece of history on Saturday as Tony Russell’s side seek a place in the 1st Round of the FA Cup for the first time.
First though, they will need to pass the considerable challenge of Canvey Island in the 4th Qualifying Round and should be a tense and exciting afternoon in front of a sold out crowd of 400. The match will be decided on the day going straight to penalties if tied after 90 minutes.
Cray in their first 4QR tie since October 2005 have made it through after wins against Fisher 3-1 at home (Jason Banton (2), Freddie Parker), Moneyfields 6-2 away (Joe Taylor (3), Parker, Jay Leader and Charlie Allen) and a dramatic tie at Bristol Manor Farm on penalties after a 3-3 draw (Ben Mundele, Parker (2).
The Wands were without a game in midweek and last Saturday were impressive 3-1 winners at Haringey Borough, returning to winning ways in the league after two successive defeats. After falling behind in North London, goals from Bradley Pritchard and two second half strikes from two of the principle characters from the Bristol game, Ben Mundele and Rhys Murrell-Williamson. Defensively also Cray were resolute when Haringey pushed to get back into the game and showed that resilience that was a trademark of the unbeaten run at the start of the year.
The postponement of the game with Bognor Regis in midweek helped give a much needed breather after a hectic start to the season which will continue into November and Cray will hope with a first ever FA Cup 1st Round tie.
Canvey Island though will have their own ideas and have played four FA Cup ties to reach this round winning 2-0 at home to Ware in the Preliminary Round then 2-0 at Dereham Town, a penalty shoot-out victory at home to Biggleswade and then in the 3rd Qualifying Round a 2-0 win at Bedfont Sports with goals from Harrison Chatting and Michael Finnernan.
In the Isthmian North, Mark Bentley’s side are 12th in the table but have only played four league games. Canvey won 4-0 at Grays on 26th September, drew at home to Romford (0-0) and at Brentwood Town (1-1) with their only loss at home to Maldon & Tiptree (0-1) on 6th October. Their FA Trophy tie at Ramsgate last Saturday was forfeited due to a couple of players showing Covid-19 symptoms and their midweek game v Coggleshall, like Cray’s was permitted to be postponed through the Isthmian League so have been well rested since the 3rd QR.
This is the first ever FA Cup tie between the sides but the teams did meet in the FA Trophy in October 2018 with Canvey winning 2-0.
Canvey Island were founded in 1926 and have a good FA Cup record and reached the 1st Round in 1995-96 losing to Brighton after a replay. In 2000-01, a great year for the club they made it to the 2nd Round beating Port Vale after a replay before losing to Southend United. They also won the FA Trophy that season, the last Isthmian League club to win the trophy beating Forest Green Rovers in the final at Villa Park. The following season did even better getting to the 3rd Round after beating Wigan away and Northampton Town in a televised tie before losing at Burnley. They also reached the 1st Round in 2003-04 and 2004-05 losing to Southend United and Aldershot Town respectively. Canvey Island were 10th last season when the season came to an early end.
This is a game which means so much too both sides and promises to be a great occasion and one for Cray which could spell a place in history.
Please note all 400 tickets for the game have been sold out so please do not travel without a valid ticket which would have been issued online when purchased to download.
Pics: Jon Hilliger, www.hilligerpix.com