Cray Wanderers return to league action on Wednesday night after the FA Trophy excitement of the last week in the first meeting of the season with Ramsgate.
Kick off at Hayes Lane is 7.45 pm.
The FA Trophy provided excitement for the supporters and some financial rewards for the club but despite a sterling effort for an hour Braintree Town proved too good on the day and now the Wands can concentrate on continuing their promotion push.
The defeat at Braintree brought a 16 game unbeaten run to an end but Cray are undefeated in their last ten league matches since the solitary defeat at Lewes back in September. After this weeks earlier midweek games, Cray lie sixth in the Bostik South seven points behind the leaders Lewes and Corinthian Casuals.
A look back through November has seen Cray pick up seven points from their three league matches this month and last time out in the league won 7-0 at East Grinstead Town to sound a little reminder of the team’s capabilities. Unusually perhaps for the his recent run of form, Michael Power didn’t score in that game but has 18 for the season with 9 of them in the Bostik South.
One of main strengths of the side this season has been the defence which has conceded just ten goals and just three away from home. They are also dangerous going forward and have added a new dimension to the side with Mitchell Nelson and Jay Leader all getting on the scoresheet this season.
With December almost upon us this is a busy time of the season with plenty of games and lots of twists and turns take place with crunch games against Carshalton Athletic and Hythe both currently above Cray to come in the next two weeks.
However, it would be foolhardy and disrespectful to look past Ramsgate who come into the game unbeaten in their last two games and although lying 20th in the league table could provide tough opposition.
Lloyd Blackman’s side have 22 points from their 20 games but more importantly with only one team going down have a fair points advantage over the bottom two and it would be a surprise if they were to struggle too much this season. Their away form has seen wins at Faversham Town and Thamesmead Town whilst they picked up points at Carshalton Athletic and Molesey last Saturday.
They were beaten in their other games at Hythe, Ashford United, Greenwich Borough, Phoenix Sports, Corinthian Casuals and VCD Athletic. It is perhaps home form where they have struggled most but did beat Whyteleafe 4-1 in their last home match. Otherwise they beat Faversham thereby completing a league double, Horsham and Ashford United. They drew with Walton Casuals and Guernsey and lost to Phoenix Sports, Hastings United, South Park and VCD Athletic. Their leading scorer is Rory Smith with ten goals but also Tom Chapman and Alfie Paxman have been prolific with eight goals apiece.
In the FA Cup they had a decent run to the 2nd Qualifying Round beating Hanwell Villa and Egham after a replay before losing at Chelmsford City. In the FA Trophy they were beaten at home by Bury Town and went out of the Isthmian League Cup at Sittingbourne.
Last season’s encounters were very lively affairs with both games finishing in 2-2 draws with the Wand coming back from two goals down to earn a point on New Years Eve 2016. Ramsgate finished the season 12th just one place behind Cray in the final table.
Kent derbies are always special especially under the lights at Hayes Lane and you feel with the cup run over Cray’s season really begins in earnest now with ten teams yet to be played including Ramsgate, Greenwich, Hythe, Carshalton and Walton amongst others. The Cray supporters are really enjoying the football this season with a renewed sense of optimism but every point gained this season will be well earned and Cray will have to turn out a top drawer performance to keep the league run going.