The usual quick midweek turnaround of fixtures on the opening week of the season sees Cray Wanderers at home for the first time this season this evening as Cheshunt make the trip down from Hertfordshire as both sides look to build from draws on the opening day of the season.
Kick off 7.45 pm.
Cray have a good recent home record against the Ambers having won the last three home meetings but the games are usually close and hard fought and this promises to be no different.
The Wands had to work extremely hard on a warm afternoon under a blazing sun at Wingate & Finchley on Saturday to grind out a point against a determined home side who played with ten men for just over an hour.
The match saw the return on loan for the fourth time of striker Soul Kader from Bromley until January and after Cray fell behind in the ninth minute came close to levelling and for the third time netting on his debut with a close range effort over the top.
Cray though deserved parity and came when Frankie Morgan who had a fine game put over a great cross down the left and met with a deft textbook header from Ade Yusuff to score on his league debut for the Wands with fourteen minutes left. Other players making their debuts in the league were Bayli Spencer-Adams and Rob Strachan at the back and both played well. Also
Alfie Payne in midfield and Mitchell Chapman marked his return to the club after a spell away through injury with a solid second half and also Shae Hutchinson made a difference down the left after he came on. Both teams could have won it at the end but overall a point away from home wasn’t a bad outcome.
Cheshunt under the management of James Elliott started the 2026-27 season at home to newly promoted and Isthmian Premier debutants Stanway Rovers. Cheshunt had the better of the first half forcing a couple of fine saves from the Rovers keeper and also hit the bar but Stanway held their own coming close to scoring. The second half saw both cancel each other out settle for a point from a goalless draw.
Cheshunt last season finished in a fairly comfortable 13th place with fifty points and although not always talked about with the main hitters in the league can still make it tough for any team on their day. New arrivals at the club include midfield players Cole DaSilva, Kaya Halil and Charlie Naylor. Ex Wands striker Kenny Coker provides pace and a cutting edge up front.
Last season’s encounters between the teams saw Cray draw 1-1 at Cheshunt on 1st November with Alex Gibson-Hammond’s goal for Cheshunt cancelled out by an injury time goal from Josh Williams for Cray.
The return game at Flamingo Park on 28th February saw Cray win 2-1 with goals from Max Fiddes and Alex Hernandez with Dequane Wilson-Braithwaite scoring for Cheshunt. Overall the teams have met for six seasons in the London League and Aetolian Leagues in the 50’s-60’s including some high scoring games and one FA Vase match up in 1980-81.
In the Isthmian League era the teams have met thirteen times (the teams met once in the 2019-20 season which never was completed) with Cray winning eight, Cheshunt twice and three draws.
It promises to be a balmy night under the lights and promises to be a really close and hard fought match as both teams look to get their first three points of the season.
Admision £15 adults, £10 concs, £5 U18s-17s and U16s free on the gate or online at www.cray-wanderers.com/tickets/ with a printed match programme, £3. Merchandise, golden goal tickets £1, hot and cold food/drinks, bars and large screen.
Pictures supplied by Natalie Stribbling.