Cray Wanderers begin their March fixtures with the first of two consecutive home games on Sunday as Merstham are the visitors to Hayes Lane. 

Cray will be looking to maintain their promotion push which has seen Tony Russell’s side unbeaten in 2020 and taken the Wands up to 4^th in the table on 58 points, and going into Saturday’s fixtures just three points behind second placed Folkestone Invicta and level on points with third placed Hornchurch.   

The run continued last Saturday with a hard fought 1-0 win at East Thurrock United which was won by a tremendous free-kick strike from Rhys Murrell-Williamson to make it five consecutive away wins in the Isthmian Premier for the first time.

Defensively, Cray were excellent with Mitchell Nelson and Geofrey Okonkwo winning many headers and tackles while the midfield won the key battles with Bradley Pritchard and Charlie Allen outstanding. 

As Tony Russell has stated during the run all scenarios have been thrown at the team, injuries during games, going behind against Bowers & Pitsea, Hornchurch, Enfield Town and Worthing to win, down to 10 men for 80 minutes against Horsham to win and also some blustery conditions to combat too. 

Hopefully with the season down to the last 11 matches, the injury situation will cease with Jay Leader who missed the last two games following the gashed head he suffered at Worthing and Tom Phipp who hasn’t played since the Horsham game a month ago will soon return to give the luxury of a full team to choose from for the run-in.

Merstham though will be a tough barrier to break down for the run to continue and Frank Wilson’s side had been on a six game unbeaten run until last Saturday where they were beaten 1-4 at home to Enfield Town with Shola Ayoola’s goal coming late in the first half. 

The Moatsiders are involved in a tight battle at the other end of the league table and just six points separates 16^th placed Bishop’s Stortford to bottom placed Corinthian Casuals.  League position is no gauge on what happens on the day as Wingate & Finchley proved last weekend by winning at Folkestone Invicta.

Merstham going into the weekend games are one of four teams on 24 points and stand 20^th in the table level with Wingate & Finchley, Brightlingsea Regent and Cheshunt. Merstham though are a good footballing side and had picked up form since January beating Horsham and Margate in recent weeks and picked up a point at promotion chasing Hornchurch with a 2-2 draw two weeks ago.

When the two teams met at Merstham on 15^th October, Cray not for the first time this season went a goal down after Yannick Monga’s early strike but the Wands battled back and won the game through goals from Taylor and Pritchard. 

Away form has seen Merstham pick up wins at Corinthian Casuals (1-0) & Wingate & Finchley (4-0) and drew at Brightlingsea Regent (0-0), Carshalton Athletic (1-1), Leatherhead (0-0), Bowers & Pitsea (1-1) and Hornchurch (2-2). Their other games ended in defeat at Folkestone Invicta (1-3), Enfield Town (0-2), Horsham (0-4), Margate (1-2), Bognor Regis Town (1-2), Potters Bar Town (1-2), Cheshunt (0-3), Kingstonian (0-4) and Worthing (1-6).  

At home Merstham have beaten East Thurrock United (2-1), Haringey Borough (1-0), Horsham (1-0) and Margate (1-0). They drew with Bishop’s Storford and were beaten by Hornchurch, Kingstonian, Worthing, Leatherhead, Cray Wanderers, Lewes, Folkestone Invicta, Potters Bar Town, Bowers & Pitsea and Enfield Town.  Leading scorer is Omar Folkes with 7 goals.

This will be the first meeting at Hayes Lane between the teams since August 2008 when Cray won 3-0 with goals from Colin Luckett (penalty), Tommy Whitnell and Jamie Kempster on target in an Isthmian South clash. The two other league matches ended in a 2-1 win for Cray and a 1-1 draw. The only other meetings came in the FA Vase in 1992-93 with Cray winning 1-0 at Oxford Road while two seasons later Merstham won 2-1 in a replay after a 1-1 draw.

There are just five more home games for the Wands this season and it has certainly been an exciting one but you feel there is more drama and excitement still to come and despite both teams at opposite ends of the table the game will be nothing other than competitive.

Admission costs are £10.00 adults, £5.00 concessions/U16s although season ticket holders of Premier League/EFL/National League clubs who may not have a game on Sunday can gain admission for £5.00 on presentation of a valid ticket.  Programme: £2.00, Golden Goal £1.00.