Cray Wanderers play the second of three consecutive Kent Derbies on Valentine’s Day as two playoff contenders go head to head as the Wands host Chatham Town at Flamingo Park.

Kick off 3 pm.

The Wands after thirty games come into the match in 7^th place in the Isthmian Premier League table level on forty seven points with Dartford in 6^th.   

Chatham are 4^th on forty nine points but have played three games less.  With Folkestone Invicta leading the table by fourteen points (71 points) it looks at this stage like teams vying for the playoff places with Aveley in 2^nd place on 57, Brentwood Town in 3rd on 55 then Chatham Town and Billericay Town on 48 points making up the top 5. 

Burgess Hill Town are 8^th on 43 points from 29 games with Ramsgate 9^th on 41 points from 27 games. 

Cray come into the game four matches unbeaten but had to be content with a 1-1 draw last Saturday against Ramsgate at Flamingo Park.  The Wands put in a great performance against a side that had won five games in a row and were unfortunate but for a fine display in goal from Dillon Addai for Ramsgate, the Wands hit the woodwork through Frankie Raymond and had a debatable goal ruled out for offside.  

The Wands though did break through with a goal from a superb free kick from Alex Hernandez for his fourteenth goal of the season and continuing a rich vein of form and his third goal in two games. Cray though couldn’t quite see the game through and were pegged back in the fifth minute of added time before another quality free kick from Alfie Paxman meant the Wands just lot a little ground on the playoff places.  

Certainly though manager Tim O’Shea couldn’t have asked any more of his players on the day.

Chatham Town perhaps for the first time this season are having a bit of a blip with four straight home defeats in league and cup. Last Saturday Chatham were beaten 2-3 at home by Chichester City after going two nil through goals from Kian Moynes and Junior Dixon before the Sussex side fought back to win.

Away from home like Cray Chatham Town have been in good form and are unbeaten in six on the road and also like Cray their last defeat away came on 11^th November.  

Kevin Hake’s side have won at Aveley (2-0), Wingate & Finchley (3-0), Cray Valley PM (1-0), Hashtag United (6-0), Lewes (2-0), Welling United (1-0), Cheshunt (4-0), Folkestone Invicta (2-1) and Carshalton Athletic (4-0). Chatham drew at St Albans City (0-0) and Chichester City (2-2) with the only defeats at Billericay Town (1-2) and Ramsgate (0-1).  Leading scorer is Tope Fadahunsi with fourteen goals.

Chatham Town also have benefited from two fine national cup runs reaching the 1^st Round of the FA Cup after beating Marlow, Ashford United, Deal Town and Tonbridge Angels before going out at Buxton in the 1^st Round. 

Chatham also reached the last 16 of the FA Trophy making them the final Isthmian League representatives this season after beating Needham Market, Waltham Abbey, Wimborne Town, Plymouth Parkway and a huge win at home to National League Carlisle United before going out narrowly at home to Southend United.      

There have been many great battles with Chatham Town down the years in the Aetolian, Metropolitan and Kent Leagues but possibly this is in terms of league status and position the biggest the league game between the sides. 

It was a great match when the teams met at the Bauvill Stadium in 18^th October finishing in a 3-3 draw.  Cray took an early lead through Kareem Isiaka before Chatham Town went in front at the break through goals from Simon Cooper and Tope Fadahunsi. 

Cray levelled straight after half time through Alex Hernandez but Chatham regain the lead two minutes from time with Sam Sene-Richardson goal. However, not for the first time this season Cray showed their powers of recovery to level in added time through Ashley Nzala and overall a draw was a fair result after a great match. 

The only other previous meeting at Flamingo Park was on 15^th October 2024 with Chatham winning 4-1 with Freddie Sears scoring a hat-trick.  Cray’s last home win vs Chatham Town was on 2^nd January 2017 with a 3-0 victory with Lee Prescott scoring twice and a Karl Dent goal.  The teams moved in different circles for a few years before meeting again in the 2023-24 season.

This promises to be one of the games of the day in the league, preferably a bit drier than recent matches but definitely should be a great and exciting occasion between two upwardly mobile sides at the top end of the table.

Admission £15 adults on the gate or online at www.cray-wanderers.com/tickets/ £10 concessions, £5 U18s.  There is free entry for Premier League/EFL season ticket holders on presentation of ticket.