After a great week for Cray Wanderers the cup action continues on Saturday as the FA Trophy gets underway for the Isthmian Premier League clubs as the Wands head to Hertfordshire to face fellow Premier side Cheshunt.
Kick off 3 pm. Unlike the FA Cup there are no replays at all in the FA Trophy or extra time so will go to a penalty shoot-out if level after ninety minutes.
Cray will come into the game on a massive high after two exceptional performances and one of the greatest FA Cup results in the club’s long history after a 2-0 win at National South league leaders Maidstone United on Tuesday.
Following a fine display in the 1-1 draw at Flamingo Park the Wands headed to the Gallagher Stadium with no inferiority complex and were worthy of the 1-0 lead at half time given to them from a superb curling shot from Ola Ogunwamide in the 22nd minute.
Cray would have expected something of a United backlash in the second half but after a difficult first few minutes defended superbly and had the confidence late on to take the game to the hosts and with practically the last kick of the game substitute Ade Yusuff tucked home Tobi Tinibu’s cross at the far post for a famous
win and set up a clash at home to Chippenham Town on 3rd October. Credit to Tim O’Shea and all the team who finished both games strong and enjoyed the celebrations at the end with the special supporters who made the trip to Kent’s County town on a mild Tuesday night.
The important thing now is to get down to earth and the FA Trophy in reality offers the best chance for clubs in the Isthmian Premier to dream of Wembley and a place in the final on 16th May.
In a clash of amber Cheshunt will come into the game also on a high after their first win of the season last Saturday against Lewes which moved them to 17th in the table on eight points with Cray in 15th a point clear with a game in hand.
In the early weeks of the season Cheshunt were the draw specialists in the league with five from the first six games including a 0-0 draw at Flamingo Park on 11th August but after three successive away defeats in league and cup were 3-1 winners against the Rooks.
Goals from Raul Fernandes da Silva, Tommy Wood and Sam Granville helped Cheshunt on their way and maintained an unbeaten home record so far. At home Cheshunt drew with Stanway Rovers (0-0), Burgess Hill Town (1-1) and St Albans City (1-1).
Away from home Cheshunt drew twice at Flamingo Park, vs Cray Wanderers (0-0) and AFC Whyteleafe (2-2). They were beaten at Dulwich Hamlet (0-2), Eastbourne Borough (0-3) and Welling United (0-2) and were beaten at Aveley (2-4) in the FA Cup.
The sides have met only once before in the FA Trophy in the 1st Qualifying Round on 21st October, 2006 when Isthmian Division One South Cray Wanderers beat Southern League Premier Cheshunt 1-0 with a former FA Trophy winner, Colin Luckett scoring the winner.
Cray will be looking to advance after a couple of seasons at exiting at this stage. In the old format of round Cray reached the 3rd Qualifying Round on a few occasions but in recent years the best performance was the 3rd Round proper in 2021-22 where Cray beat Ebbsfleet United along the way before losing to Dartford.
Cheshunt had a good run last season reaching the 3rd round themselves before exiting at National League Wealdstone. The Ambers best run also came in the 2021-22 season where they reached the 5th Round (last 16) before losing narrowly at National League Stockport County in a season where they would end up being promoted.
With the shackles of the league off, a one off cup tie with no replay and with no Premier League or EFL due to the International break there is an anticipation of a decent crowd to enjoy what should be a competitive and enjoyable game.
Adult: — £16.00 (£14 online until 10 am on 26th September)
Concessions: – £10.00 (£9 online until 10 am on 26th September)
U17-U13s – £ 6.00 (£5 online until 10 am on 26th November)
Under 12 – £2.00
https://cheshuntfc.ktckts.com/event/fat2601/cheshunt-vs-cray-wanderers