Cray Wanderers play the final home game of November on Saturday as the Wands welcome Burgess Hill Town for their first visit to Flamingo Park as 6th hosts 9th in the Isthmian Premier League table.
Cray will be looking to build on the momentum of last Saturday’s 2-0 win at Welling United which ended a six game run without a win with a professional performance which moved Cray up to sixth on 27 points from 18 games played.
The Wands were looking to bounce back from the heavy league defeat at Folkestone Invicta on 11th November and took the lead after four minutes when Harry Waldock crashed home his first goal for the club. This was followed half an hour later when Alex Hernandez netted his seventh of the season turning in Lateef Adaja’s cross and could even afford the luxury of having a penalty kick saved before half time.
The second half saw a fine defensive performance which restricted the home side too few if any chances and Josh Williams, Adaja and Chris Dickson could have added to the scoreline but in the end Cray had done enough to for the three points.
Cray will now try to get back to winning ways at Flamingo Park after three league matches without a win and two without a goal although two of those games have been draws.
The Wand will welcome Burgess Hill Town who achieved promotion last season from the Isthmian South-East via the playoffs and have had a solid start to the campaign and Gary Mansell’s side are unbeaten in their last four league and cup games. The Hillians stand 9th on 23 points from 16 games played.
Last Saturday, Burgess Hill earned a point from a 1-1 draw at home to Dulwich Hamlet with Glen Rea’s netting a 97th minute equaliser. On Tuesday night Burgess Hill edged AFC Whyteleafe 2-1 at home in the Velocity League Cup 3rd Round with goals from Ben Pope and Luke Gambin.
Burgess Hill last season finished 3rd in the Isthmian South-East and achieved promotion by beating Margate in the Semi-Final and Sittingbourne on penalties in the final to return to the Premier for the first time since 2018-19.
Due to a 3G pitch being laid at their home ground they played their first six league games away from home and picked up wins at Potters Bar Town (1-0), Cray Valley PM (2-1), Carshalton Athletic (2-0) and Welling United (2-1). The Hillians drew at Aveley (3-3), Cheshunt (1-1) and Dartford (3-3) and were beaten at Brentwood Town (1-2) and Lewes (0-3). At home Burgess Hill beat Hashtag United (2-0) and Cray Valley PM (1-0), drew with Dartford and were beaten by Folkestone Invicta, Carshalton Athletic and Canvey Island.
In the FA Cup Burgess Hill after winning at Wokingham were beaten at home by Farnham Town in the 2nd Qualifying Round and in the FA Trophy defeated Potters Bar Town on penalties before losing at home to Folkestone Invicta in the 1st Round. Leading scorer is Chris Whelpdale with nine goals.
Burgess Hill Town were Cray Wanderers first ever opponents in the Isthmian League on 14th August 2004 with Cray winning 2-1 with goals from Jamie Kempster and Leigh Bremner. This was also Burgess Hill Town’s first Isthmian League game.
The teams met in the Isthmian Division One and Division One South for five seasons meeting ten times with Cray winning seven, Burgess Hill two and one draw. The last league meeting at Cray was at Hayes Lane on 14th February 2009 with the Wands winning 3-0 with Lewis Wood scoring twice and Richmond Kissi also on target.
This will be a stern test for the Wands against a side that has found its feet in the Isthmian Premier but with both teams in the upper half of the table should be a good game to watch.
Admission £15 adults, £10 concessions, £5 U16s – U13s – on gate or online at www.cray-wanderers.com/tickets/
Printed Match Programme: £3 available on the turnstile, merchandise, Golden Goal tickets (£1), November 100 Club Draw, hot/cold food and drinks, bars.
Pictures supplied by Steve Cullum and Keith Gillard.