Cray Wanderers return to league action this evening at Flamingo Park after a run of away games to begin October as the Wands welcome St Albans City for a first ever league meeting. Kick off, 7.45 pm.
The Wands come into the game unbeaten away from home in the league with five successive draws following the dramatic 3-3 draw at Chatham Town on Saturday which keeps Cray fourth in the Isthmian Premier League table with twenty one points from twelve games played.
Cray got off to a great start at Chatham Town with a first goal for the club for Kareem Isiaka in the eighth minute. The Wands had to knuckle down after trailing at half time and Alex Hernandez continued his good form in front of goal with his sixth of the season converting Lateef Adaja’s cross.
It looked like Cray’s away run was coming to an end when Chatham netted in the 88th minute but Cray fought back again and levelled in added time through Ashley Nzala for his second goal of the season.
The run of draws has been remarkable as Cray never drew any league games at all last season away from home but have had to show character in many games especially the win at Billericay in August but can look forward now to home comforts having won the last two at Flamingo Park.
St Albans City also come to the Wands in good form unbeaten in league and cup since 25th August and the 2-1 win at home to Welling United on Saturday moved them into 10th on fifteen points. City came from a goal down to win with goals from Leo Sery and Michael Bostwick. St Albans are managed by an ex-Spurs colleague of Tim O’Shea and Mark Stimson, Ian Culverhouse who went on to have a stellar career at Norwich City in the First Division and Premier League.
St Albans have a good tradition in reaching the first round of the FA Cup and have done so again after winning at Aylesbury Vale Dynamos (3-1), Hitchin Town (2-1), Woodford Town (1-0) and beat Banbury after a replay to set up a trip to League One Burton Albion on 1st November.
In the league, St Albans have won at Potters Bar Town (4-2) and drawn at Aveley (1-1) and Whitehawk (1-1). Their only defeats came at Brentwood Town (2-3) and Folkestone Invicta (1-2). At home St Albans have beaten Lewes (3-0) and Welling United (2-1), drawn with Chatham Town and were beaten by Cheshunt.
St Albans who returned to the Isthmian League for the first time since 2003-04 after relegation from the National South last season finishing 21st on forty five points, just a point behind Salisbury City. They had been in the league since 2014-15 following promotion and reached the playoff final as recently as 2022-23 losing to Oxford City in the Final. St Albans spent one season in the National League in 2006-07.
Our only previous meetings have been in cup ties with the last being in the FA Trophy in December 2020 in the Covid era with St Albans winning 3-0. St Albans also beat Cray in the FA Trophy in 2004-05 3-2 after extra-time at St Albans after a 2-2 draw at Hayes Lane. The only other meetings were in the London Senior Cup at Grassmeade in January 1968 with St Albans winning 7-0 and in the London Senior Cup at Oxford Road in November 1974 with Cray winning 2-0.
This will be another huge test for the Wands against a very strong side with National South and higher calibre players and should be a great game under the lights.
£15 adults, £10 concessions, £5 U16-U13s on the gate or online at www.cray-wanderers.com/tickets/
Printed Match Programme £3.
Pictures supplied by Steve Cullum.