Cray Wanderers continue the October road trip on Saturday as the Wands in 4^th place visit 2^nd placed Chatham Town in one of the games of the day in the Isthmian Premier.  Kick off at the Bauvill Stadium, 3 pm.

The match sees for the Wands the first of two successive league games against teams in the 1^st Round of the FA Cup with St Albans City to follow on Tuesday night.

Cray come into the game unbeaten away from home in the league having drawn the last four and on twenty points are two points behind Chatham Town who are unbeaten in ten league and cup games.

Last Saturday the Wands picked up a decent and well-earned point at fifth placed Dulwich Hamlet coming from an early goal down to level through Alex Hernandez’ fifth goal of the season.

Although not a game of many chances Cray perhaps in the second half had the clearest opportunities with Ashley Nzala, Chris Dickson, Kareem Isiaka and Josh Williams coming close but the Wand had to batten down the hatches in the last few minutes following Tom Bonner’s dismissal to take home a point.

With games coming up against St Albans City, Dartford and Cheshunt in the next couple of weeks certainly the intensity levels of the games will be rising but make this exciting times to be a Cray Wanderers fan in and amongst the play off places.

Chatham Town are definitely in a good place right now and on Tuesday night picked up another three points at Cray Valley PM with Reece Butler’s 85^th minute winner making if four league wins in a row and ten without defeat.

Kevin Hake’s side finished ninth last season, two points and a place above Cray but this season look better geared for a promotion push.  At home the Chats have beaten Ramsgate (4-2), Cheshunt (1-0), Cray Valley PM (3-1) and Carshalton Athletic (2-1) with just the one solitary defeat coming against Folkestone Invicta (1-2) on August Bank Holiday Monday.  Away from home, Chatham have won at Aveley (2-0), Wingate & Finchley (3-0) and Cray Valley (1-0) and picked up a point at St Albans City. 

The FA Cup sees a 1^st Round appearance for Chatham Town for the first time in ninety seven years and on 1^st November will travel to Derbyshire to visit National North Buxton for a place in the second round.  To reach the first round, Chatham have beaten Marlow (4-0), at Ashford United (3-0), at home to Deal Town (3-1) and last week were impressive 3-1 winners at National South Tonbridge Angels.  They are also through to the 1QR of the FA Trophy after winning at Needham Market on penalties and will visit Waltham Abbey next Saturday.  Leading scorer is Stanley Oldfield with eight goals.

Last season’s games saw a 4-1 away win each with Chatham winning at Flamingo Park in October 2024. Cray though won the last meeting on 8^th February with goals from Nyren Clunis, an own goal, Remi Sutton and Soul Kader with Sam Sene-Richardson netting for Chatham which made it four wins in a row in league and cup at the Bauvill Stadium.

The clubs have had a great rivalry going back many years especially since the 1960’s with matches in the Aetolian and Metropolitan Leagues and then in the 80’s and 90’s in the Kent League both vying for the title in 1979-80 and 1980-81. In the Isthmian League era the teams have met twelve times with Cray winning eight, Chatham Town three and one draw. 

The game sees both coming into it with confidence and likely to be a second consecutive away game in front of a four figure crowd and should be a great match.

Admission £15 adults, £10 concs, £5 U16s

Pics:   Steve Cullum & Ben Keyes