After beginning the league season with a win on Saturday Cray Wanderers continue the three match home start to the 2025-26 season with the visit of Folkestone Invicta to Flamingo Park.
Kick off: 7.45 pm. It is expected to be a muggy and balmy night but should be a terrific contest finishing under the lights with the season now officially underway and no turning back now.
The Wands began against Canvey Island on 9th August and after a predictably nervy opening half Tim O’Shea’s side who led through Chris Dickson’s predatory finish took more control in the second and netted a second fifteen minutes from time through Josh Williams and a clean sheet meant a satisfactory opening to the season.
Cray gave league debuts to Harry Seaden in goal, Prosper Keto and Frankie Morgan in defence, Tom Jackson and Luke Allen in midfield and Ashley Nzala up front as well as Nodirbek Bobomurodov off the bench and all made positive contributions towards the three points.
With Tom Bonner, Remi Sutton, Quade Taylor and Josh Williams all in business like mood it was in the end a professional performance and a good three points.
With home games against Wingate & Finchley on Saturday and another against Brentwood Town on Easter Monday certainly Cray will be looking to maintain a good home record in 2025 but will be well tested by Jay Saunders Folkestone side who began the season with a useful point from a 1-1 draw at Chichester City on Saturday.
One of seven debutants in the starting line-up, striker Jake Hutchinson, signed from Enfield Town gave Invicta the lead on the hour but the Sussex side levelled eight minutes later.
As well as Hutchinson, goalkeeper Ted Collins, defenders Josh Strouts, Montel McKenzie, Kevin Lokko and Liam Smith and midfielder Donnell Thomas all starting the game. A familiar face to Wands supporters, full back Emmanuel Kwatchey who played for Cray during the 2023-24 season signed for the club last Friday and made an appearance off the bench.
Folkestone are a side widely expected to do well and look to improve on last season’s 12th placed finish with Saunders announced as manager in April after a very positive few seasons at Tonbridge Angels in the National South.
With a new 3G surface being laid at Cheriton Road, Folkestone will play their opening three matches as away games with this fixture, originally scheduled to be away reversed to Flamingo Park with the alternate fixture on 11th November at Folkestone.
After a trip to Canvey Island on Saturday, Invicta will play one of a couple of home fixtures at Margate FC starting with St Albans City on 23rd August whilst the essential pitch settling in can take place but is expected to be available for October.
Last season’s encounters saw a win apiece both by the odd goal with Folkestone winning 1-0 at home with a Dan Smith goal on 9th November.
At Flamingo Park on 22nd February Cray won 3-2 despite being down to ten men with Soul Kader (2) and Josh Williams on target and Matthias Fanimo and Luke Allen now a Wand scoring for Folkestone.
In the Isthmian League era the teams have met 14 times including one game in each of the Covid hit seasons with Cray winning 5, Folkestone 5 and 4 draws.
This should be a fascinating match early in the season and one of the games of the night in the Isthmian League.
Admission £15 adults, £10 concessions, £5 U16-U13s, U12s free available on the gate or online at www.cray-wanderers.com/tickets/ – Printed Match Programme: £3 – Merchandise, hot and cold food/drinks and bars available and big outside TV screen.
Pictures supplied by Steve Cullum.