Cray Wanderers finish their November fixtures with a second Sunday game of the month as Ramsgate are the visitors to Hayes Lane. 
Matches at Hayes Lane on a Sunday are usually excellent occasions and although it has been a bit grey and cold lately this could be a good way of beating those early winter blues. Kick off is 3pm
The Wands continued their unbeaten start to the season last weekend with a hard fought victory at Guernsey making it twelve wins out of thirteen played and seven away wins out of seven. This is already a record start to a season for Cray in the Isthmian League era and the first time since 2003-04 since Cray began with 13 unbeaten before going on to win the Kent League title.
Many of those wins have been extremely close games with the last four all being by the odd goal so it is not if this run has been achieved without having to dig in and scrap for the points. This is also being without top scorer Michael Power for the last eight games and Aaron Rhule since the game with Hythe in September due to injury.
The result in Guernsey could well be the best result of the season as a two hour flight delay restricted preparation time meaning Cray had to take a little while to find their feet and after Bradley Pritchard’s early second half goal was cancelled out, Archie Johnson struck his first goal for Cray six minutes from the end to win the game.
The league table now has a new look with those teams that gained points against Thamesmead Town now deducted so Cray at the start of the weekend have a ten point lead over Hastings United at the top but who do now have two games in hand. No-one at Cray though are overconfident or patting themselves too much on the back as there is so much football to play and a number of very good teams in the Bostik South-East capable of putting a run together themselves.
Ramsgate are one of those sides that have been playing well and Lloyd Blackman’s side are seven unbeaten in the league and had a good run to the 3rd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup so will pose a considerable challenge for Cray to keep their run going. They’ve also picked up points against Hythe Town and Phoenix Sports in recent weeks and last weekend won a close game 3-2 at home to East Grinstead Town and lie 12th in the league table. Top league scorer is Rory Smith with 8 goals.
Away form has seen them win at Sittingbourne (1-0) and Greenwich Borough (2-1), and picked up points at Whyteleafe (1-1) and Phoenix Sports (1-1). They were beaten at VCD Athletic (1-2) and Guernsey (1-2). At home they beat Whitstable Town (4-1) and East Grinstead (3-2) while drawing with Horsham (0-0) and Hythe Town (1-1). They lost at home twice to Hastings United and Herne Bay. Their good run in the FA Cup started in the Preliminary Round with victory at home to Chatham Town then beat Sevenoaks Town after a replay and then did well to win at Gosport Borough in 2nd Qualifying Round. Their run ended at National South side Hemel Hempstead Town. In the FA Trophy, they beat Phoenix Sports after a replay before losing at AFC Hornchurch.
The two sides have already met this season in the 1st Round of the Kent Senior Cup with Cray winning 2-1 with a couple of goals from Freddie Parker after Aaron Millbank gave Ramsgate the lead with a penalty.
Last season’s encounters saw Cray win 5-1 at Hayes Lane almost a year ago with Michael Power scoring a hat-trick along with goals from Aaron Rhule and Mitchell Nelson. The Wands won 2-1 in the corresponding game at Ramsgate in February with Power again on target with Brandon Scott scoring the second.
This has the makings of a high quality contest between in-form sides and could be well worth a watch on a Sunday afternoon.