Manager Tim O’Shea is hoping his Cray Wanderers side can show their promotion credentials when Chatham Town visit on Saturday afternoon.

Behind Folkestone Invicta at the top of the Isthmian Premier, a log jam is beginning to form as sides jostle for the Play Off places – it’s a fight that really has turned up a notch in recent weeks and on Saturday at Flamingo Park, two Kent sides look to lay down a marker inside the division’s top five as Cray Wanderers host Chatham Town. 

KSN has been talking with Wands boss Tim O’Shea about the battle that his side find themselves in as they go into the weekend on the very edges of the post season places as with between twelve and fourteen games to go for teams, those as “low” as Lewes in fourteenth are still only nine points from the promised land of the Play Off places… 

“It is getting tight up there,” the Cray boss admitted.

“I have been saying it for a few weeks now that there are sides that are tenth, eleventh, twelfth down who still have got half an eye on sneaking into the Play Offs!”

“We played Ramsgate last Saturday for instance – Lee (Martin) has done well since he went in there, recruited some good players, and I am sure that he hasn’t given up hope of getting into the Play Offs.”

“It is tight in that respect – Folkestone are going to be the Champions – that seems more likely by the game now – but then anything can happen and anyone can beat one another and that’s the beauty of this League.” 

On Saturday it will be seventh against fourth as the Chats come calling to Flamingo Park with the Wands knowing that three home points will lift them above their visitors from Medway.

“I had Chatham down as one of the teams to go on and seriously challenge Folkestone,” O’Shea told us.

“Kev (Hake) has done an incredible job down there and they had a great run in the Trophy, but whether the Trophy run has got in the way of their League form a bit, I don’t know, but I still fancy them to go on and fight with Aveley for that second spot as Aveley haven’t lost for a while.”

“Then anyone of ten could get to post season, including ourselves!”

Cray face a tough couple of weekends as after Chatham, they make the short trip to Princes Park to face Ady Pennock’s Dartford on Saturday week with Dartford currently sixth. 

Cray have stuttered a bit at home in recent times and led O’Shea to admit, “Yes, our home form isn’t as strong as I had hoped it would be – we have drawn too many games. We tried Friday night football but lost both of them – we won’t be doing anymore Fridays!” the boss said through gritted teeth!

“Seriously though, our away form though is decent – top three or four in the League – but we have had far too many drawn games at home!”

“We have only lost five games in thirty games which is a great stat in itself and shows that we are a very difficult side to beat and we go into every game fancying our chances, but it’s the drawn games that have unfortunately become our Achillies heel!”