Cray Wanderers look to defend an unbeaten away league record in the Isthmian Premier this season on Tuesday evening as the Wands head to league leaders Folkestone Invicta.  Ko: 7.45pm.

The match sees the first of two Kent derbies this week with Cray travelling to Welling United on Saturday but the immediate attention must be to focus on the challenge of Folkestone who have impressively moved to the top of the league having won ten of their fourteen games and have amassed 33 points.

The Wands still are proving a hard side to beat but on Saturday had to be content with a point after a goalless draw with Chichester City at Flamingo Park, the ninth draw of the season but have now gone six without a win in the league but the first clean sheet since the win at Billericay in August.

There were some positives with the performance particularly defensively and the return of Frankie Morgan, signed from Folkestone in the summer from injury was a major plus making the team with the exception of keeper Harry Seaden almost near full strength for Tim O’Shea.

The Wands can take confidence from the performance against Folkestone at Flamingo Park on 12^th August with an entertaining game finishing 1-1 with Nods Bobomurodov’s clever lofted finish cancelled out by a Kweku Lucan strike but Cray hit the woodwork near the end and played well on the night. 

Jay Saunders’ Invicta side have after a short period away from Cheriton Road whilst a new 3G pitch was laid hit the road running and have won their last three league games. On Saturday Folkestone made it back to back 3-0 wins away from home at Potters Bar Town with Joe Pigott, Dean Rance and Ade Yussuf scoring to move Folkestone ahead of Brentwood Town at the top. 

Invicta also reached the 4th Qualifying Round of the FA Cup and are through to the 2^nd Round of the FA Trophy.

At home including a couple of games at Margate FC, Folkestone have beaten St Albans City (2-1), Whitehawk (4-1), Lewes (6-0) and Billericay Town (2-1) and drawn with Dulwich Hamlet (2-2). 

Away from home Invicta who have played more games away won at Canvey Island (2-0), Chatham Town (2-1), Aveley (5-2), Burgess Hill Town (3-2), Welling United (3-0) and Potters Bar Town (3-0). They drew at Chichester City and Cray Wanderers and the only defeat came at Hashtag United on 28^th October.

In the FA Cup, Folkestone beat Sevenoaks Town (3-0) and Maidstone United (2-0) and at Horsham (3-2) before bowing out at National League Southend United (1-4). In the Trophy, Folkestone have won at AFC Dunstable (3-1) and Burgess Hill Town (4-1) to set up a home tie with AFC Totton on Saturday in the 2^nd Round.  Joe Pigott most recently with Leyton Orient and AFC Wimbledon is the leading scorer with eight goals.   

This promises to be a tough challenge for Cray but the Wands have been durable and resilient away from home, three times scoring equalisers in added time and should be a cracking game under the lights and on the 3G surface.

Admission:  £15 adults, £12 Concessions, £8 Juniors/17-11s.

Pictures supplied by Steve Cullum.