After a busy August with league matches September begins with FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round weekend where the Isthmian Premier League clubs enter the competition. Cray Wanderers in the first of three all Premier League ties travel to Lewes in a clash of in-form teams.
This will be the first ever FA Cup meeting between the sides and one team will at least advance after both teams exited the competition at this stage last season against Flackwell Heath and Hanwell Town respectively. If the game ends in a draw, replays are still part of the competition up to and including the 4th Qualifying Round and would take place on Tuesday 8th September.
Cray come into the game after back-to-back home wins against Eastbourne Borough and a particularly impressive 4-1-win vs Welling United on Monday. Cray who unfortunately couldn’t play their Saturday game at Maldon & Tiptree did well against a side with three straight wins to come from behind to win and move up to 13th in the league table. Rob Strachan levelled right on the stroke of half time for his first goal for the Wands.
With both teams reduced to ten men in the second half Cray finished stronger and in the 78th minute took the lead with an Ade Yusuff penalty for his third goal of the season. Two more goals in the latter stages from Ola Ogunwamide netting his first of the season was added to by Alex Hernandez scoring his third of the season from close range. Despite the red card for Henry Molyneux, he will be eligible to play in this tie.
Cray will travel to a Lewes side who similar to the last two campaigns have made an excellent start to the season and after an opening day defeat to league leaders Enfield Town and a point at Whitehawk have won their last four games conceding just one goal in the process. The run began with a 2-0 win at St Albans City on 15th August. Then wins against AFC Whyteleafe (3-1) at home was followed by another fine away display winning 2-0 at Aveley. On Monday, the Rooks won a tight East Sussex Derby beating Eastbourne Borough 1-0 at the Dripping Pan in front of over 2000 fans with Noel Fisher’s second half goal. The win puts Craig Nelson’s side third, on thirteen points, two behind Enfield and Carshalton Athletic.
Last season after a bright start Lewes struggled in the first part of 2026 and finished 17th, four points clear of Cray Valley and Hashtag United who were relegated. The two league meetings last season ended in a 2-2 draw at Lewes exactly a year ago coming from 0-2 down and a 3-0 win for Cray on 11th April at Flamingo Park with two goals from Alex Hernandez and a Dan Ajakaiye strike. The team are looking much more up the table and ex-Wand Danny Bassett has been amongst the goals and influential midfielder Ryan Gondoh has returned to the club from AFC Whyteleafe. The Wands do not have a great record at Lewes with the most recent win was ultimately null and voided, 3-2 in October 2019.
Both teams will be looking for better fortune in the competition although both did reach the 4th Qualfiying Round in recent years with Lewes in 2023-24 and Cray in 2024-25. Lewes have on two occasions reached the 1st Round proper in 2001-02 losing to Stoke City and 2005-06 losing to Mansfield Town.
The only previous cup meetings have been in the FA Amateur Cup on 30th November 1968 when after a 1-1 draw at Lewes the Wands won 5-2 at Grassmeade with goals from Norman Lawrence (3), Colin McGannon and Danny McDermott. Lewes were 2-1 winners in a FA Trophy 1st Qualifying Round tie on 22nd October 2011 with Tommy Whitnell scoring for Cray.
There is always something about trips to Lewes that supporters like and add an FA Cup tie to the mix it should be a great day out on the usually immaculate surface at the Dripping Pan.
Admission prices: Adults £15
Concessions £11
Under 16s GO FREE – Must be accompanied by an adult
Image courtesy of Natalie Stribbling