Cray Wanderers start 2024 on New Years Day with a third consecutive home fixture as Hastings United are the visitors to Hayes Lane. KO: 3 pm
The Wands will be looking to build on four points gained over Christmas and moved up to 16th in the league table after a deserved 2-0 victory against Enfield Town on 29th December and onto 23 points
Despite an early injury to captain Jack Holland and with the likes of Yahya Bamba, George Porter, Anthony Cook and Nyren Clunis unavailable put in a resilient performance topped off with a debut goal for striker Tayo Oyebola signed from Hastings United. A second half goal from Ellis Brown and a stoic defensive performance saw Cray pick up a morale boosting victory and meant the Wands have beaten three of the top five in the league after wins earlier in the season against Chatham Town and Wingate & Finchley.
Aside from the good performances at the back there were also glimpses of some fine young players in Alfie Evans and George Brooke who both came on and showed plenty of confidence and ability going forward and we could be hearing a lot about these two players in the years to come.
As well as the Wands playing three successive home games, Hastings United come to Hayes Lane for their third away game over the holidays and have also picked up four points from a 5-0 win at Folkestone Invicta on Boxing Day and on Saturday came from 3-1 down late on to draw 3-3 at Concord Rangers. David Rodari who scored a hat-trick at Folkestone added another two to his tally of 15 for the season with a brace and Tommie Fagg scored a 90th minute equaliser to keep Hastings in 7th place in the table on 34 points, one behind fifth placed Billericay Town.
Hastings United beat Cray quite comfortably on August Bank Holiday Monday 3-0 with goals from Rodari, a Femi Akinwande penalty and an own goal but after a blip in September-October with five straight league defeats, Chris Agutter returned as manager and United have been pretty solid since then and are unbeaten in their last six games and won at Chatham Town on 9th December.
Away from home Hastings have won at Dulwich Hamlet (2-1), Margate (2-1), Hashtag United (2-1), Chatham Town (2-1) and Folkestone Invicta (5-0). They drew at Whitehawk (0-0) and Concord Rangers (3-3) and were beaten at Lewes (1-3), Hornchurch (1-4), Billericay Town (0-2) and Enfield Town (1-3). At home Hastings beat Concord Rangers (3-0), Cray Wanderers (3-0), Haringey Borough (2-1), Kingstonian (3-2), Carshalton Athletic (4-0), drew with Cheshunt and Bognor Regis Town and were beaten by Potters Bar Town, Wingate & Finchley and Canvey Island. In the FA Cup, Hastings were beaten at Dover in the 2nd QR after earlier beating Erith & Belvedere after a replay and in the FA Trophy lost at home to Kingstonian in the 3QR. They have advanced past two rounds of the Isthmian League Cup after away wins at Chichester City and Folkestone Invicta and are very much part of the promotion picture this season.
It has been a great 2023 overall for Cray Wanderers on and off the pitch and 2024 promises to be even more historic for the supporters and this should be a great way to begin the year.
Admission £12/£6 on the gate (cash only) or online at www.cray-wanderers.com/tickets. Programme £2, Golden Goal £1.