On Wednesday evening, Cray Wanderers entertain Horsham in an Isthmian League Premier fixture.

Both teams will be looking to get off the mark having lost their respective openers.

Neil Smith’s Wands visited former manager Tony Russell’s Lewes and fell to an only goal defeat courtesy of a goal by Chris Whelpdale on the half hour mark.

Meanwhile, Horsham were beaten two-one at home to Hornchurch. The Urchins were two up through a Ryan Scott brace before Jack Brivio pulled one back with twelve minutes remaining but that proved to be too little too late.

There is a little extra rivalry between the two sides due to the battle for the Isthmian South East title in the 2018/19 season. The Wands ended as champions and Horsham were runners-up but both were promoted.

League matches between the two teams have taken place at Hayes Lane every season since 2016/17 other than the 2020/21 season when the season was curtailed due to Covid-19. The first of those games ended in a two-all draw but the Wands have won every home league game between the two clubs since then.

Last season’s meeting was a cracker. Nyren Clunis put the hosts ahead in the third minute but the Hornets levelled two minutes before half time through Lee Harding. Harrison Sodje restored Cray’s lead in first half stoppage time and they went into the break ahead.

Clunis added a third six minutes after the interval but Tom Day reduced the arrears ten minutes later. Freddie Carter again extended the Wands’ lead with thirteen minutes remaining but Daniel Ajakaiye pulled one back two minutes later. Dajon Golding ensured that the three points remained with Smith’s team when he completed the scoring with two minutes left for a five-three win.

Although another eight goal thriller cannot be guaranteed, a competitive game between two footballing teams can be expected.