Cray Wanderers look to break new ground on Saturday as the Wands seek a place in the 3rd Round of the FA Trophy for the first time.
They may have to do it the hard way though as Ebbsfleet United, winners of the Trophy in 2007-08 and currently 2nd in the National South are the visitors to Hayes Lane. Kick off 3pm. Please note there are no replays in the competition this season and will go to penalties if a draw after 90 minutes.
Cray come into the game on the back of two very encouraging performances against teams currently in and around the playoffs and after a narrow defeat at Kingstonian last Saturday were perhaps unfortunate to draw with Folkestone Invicta on Wednesday night with the visitors levelling in the last minute. The Wands are 20th in the table but have looked a more settled side in recent weeks and have been in good form in the previous FA Trophy rounds.
Cray advanced to the 2nd Round stage for the second season in a row with home wins against Kings Langley (4-1) and a last gasp victory against Bedfont Sports in the last round (2-1) with Adam Coombes scoring twice including a stunning 30 yard lob in the last minute to set up a tie against one of Danny Kedwell’s former clubs.
Against Folkestone on Wednesday after a difficult start when Invicta went ahead Cray came back into it with another tremendous strike from Anthony Cook which was his eighth goal of the season. The Wands took the lead with Jai Reason’s composed finish and by the end of the game had some fine young players on the pitch, Freddy Barton, Kasim Aidoo, Tom Hanfrey, Cameron Brodie, Jack Hanson and Sam Skeffington. Cray were without Andy Drury who was injured in the Kingstonian game and Skeffington who was impressive on his loan debut will be ineligible with his parent club Bromley coming into the tournament in the 3rd Round.
Ebbsfleet United have had a fine start to the Vanarama National South season and lie 2nd in the table on 25 points three behind leaders Dartford with two games in hand. Dennis Kutrieb’s side had won six league games in a row before Tuesday night where they were beaten 2-3 at home to local rivals Maidstone United after twice taking the lead through Toby Adebayo-Rowling and Rakish Bingham.
Away form has been very good with league wins at Chippenham Town (5-2), Slough Town (3-1), Eastbourne Borough (1-0) and Hungerford Town (4-2). Ebbsfleet drew at Chelmsford City (0-0) and their only defeat was at Hampton & Richmond (0-3). At home the Fleet beat Tonbridge Angels (5-1), Hemel Hempstead (3-1), Braintree Town (2-0) and Welling United (6-0) with two defeats to Havant & Waterlooville and Maidstone United. Ebbsfleet made it through to the 1st Round of the FA Cup with wins against Carshalton Athletic, Aylesbury and Hampton & Richmond before a narrow defeat at League 2 Leyton Orient in the 1st Round. Top scorer is currently Dominic Poleon with nine goals.
There haven’t been too many meetings with Ebbsfleet United down the years. Perhaps the most notable were a tremendous FA Cup victory for Cray Wanderers at the then Southern League Gravesend and Northfleet in September 1968 winning 3-1. The sides met in the delayed final of the Kent Senior Cup of 2007/08 (played before the start of the 2008/09 season) with the now named Ebbsfleet winning 4-0 in the final played at Hayes Lane. Then in Cray’s 150 year centenary season, the sides met in the 2nd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup at Hayes Lane on 25th September 2010 and finished 2-2 with Ebbsfleet winning the replay 4-2 three nights later.
This should be a great occasion and a chance for the Wands to pit their wits against a top National South side. Ticket costs £10.00 adults, £5.00 concessions/U16s and can be purchased on www.cray-wanderers.com/tickets or pay at the gate (cash only payments).
Pics: Jon Hilliger – www.hilligerpix.com