Cray Wanderers begin a busy December with the first of back to back away games as the Wands head to Folkestone Invicta on Saturday.

Kick off is at 3pm.

Cray head to Cheriton Road after two successive home matches which yielded two points from draws with Dulwich Hamlet and Whitehawk on Wednesday which leaves Neil Smith’s side in 17th place on 18 points, three ahead of the bottom four.  

On Wednesday, Cray had to come from an early goal down and a disallowed goal to go in front at half time.  Anthony Cook scored from his second free kick in the last four league games to put Cray level in the 41st minute. 

Then in first half stoppage time Gary Lockyer scored his eighth goal of the season and has now scored in seven of his last nine games. Cray came close to adding to the score in the second half through Yahya Bamba, Ellis Brown and George Porter but Whitehawk grabbed a point with a goal four minutes into stoppage time. 

Cray Wanderers introduced loanee substitute Sahid Nallo from Leyton Orient for the last ten minutes while Emmanuel Kwatchey has returned to the O’s.

Folkestone Invicta after a bright start to the season find themselves in 15th place on nineteen points and are under new management with former Wand Andy Drury taking over in November.  Last Saturday Invicta were beaten 0-1 at home to an early Bognor Regis Town goal.

Last season Folkestone finished 12th and Cray were 4-2 winners at Folkestone in September 2022 with goals from Tom Derry, Sinn’kaye Christie, Sam Wood and Dan Bassett and it finished 0-0 at Hayes Lane in February 2023.

So far at home Folkestone have beaten Margate (2-0), Cheshunt (2-1) and Billericay Town (1-0) and drawn with Whitehawk (1-1) and Haringey Borough (1-1). Invicta were beaten by Chatham Town (2-3), Enfield Town (1-2) and Bognor Regis Town (0-1). Away from home, Folkestone won at Wingate & Finchley (4-0) and Lewes (3-1), drew at Hashtag United and Potters Bar Town and were beaten at Concord Rangers, Kingstonian, Hornchurch, Carshalton Athletic and Dulwich Hamlet.

In the FA Cup, Folkestone reached the 2QR after beating Hartley Wintney but were beaten at home to Margate after a replay. In the FA Trophy, Folkestone were beaten at home by Haringey Borough on penalties in the Preliminary Round.  Top scorers so far are Ira Jackson and Ibrahim Olutade with eight goals.

It promises to be an important game for both sides on a very cold afternoon with both looking to move up the table in the last month of the year.

£12/£9/£3 for admission.

Pictures supplied by Ozay Booth.