Cray Wanderers begin their December Isthmian Premier Division fixtures on Saturday 4th December with the final away league game of 2021 at league leaders Worthing.
Kick off at the Crucial Environmental Stadium is 3pm.
The Wands are unbeaten in their last three games in league and cup and have been playing well and can go to Worthing in better heart than at the beginning of November. On Tuesday night Danny Kedwell’s side had to show patience and resilience to grab a point at Bowers & Pitsea with an injury time cracker from Anthony Cook which was his ninth goal of the season.
The FA Trophy tie with Ebbsfleet United last Saturday meant perhaps a leggy performance but as with the cup tie some of the young Wands players came of age especially Freddy Barton, Tom Hanfrey, Richie Danquah, Kasim Aidoo. Sam Skeffington and Fjord Rogers who showed his versatility by starring up front against Ebbsfleet and as centre back against Bowers & Pitsea and put in a great shift in both games.
Cray will hope to have the likes of Andy Drury, Adam Coombes and Dean Beckwith available all of whom didn’t feature at Bowers & Pitsea while Cameron Brodie is out with suspension. With the next three league games all at home the Wands will be looking to keep the points tally ticking over and start to climb the table and the team are certainly playing well and looking solid at the back.
It will certainly be a tough test on Saturday as Worthing have been without doubt the most consistent side in the Isthmian Premier over the last three seasons and were top in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons before they were declared null and void/curtailed and currently lead again by two points on 37 from Enfield Town having both played 16 matches.
Worthing will be the first opponents this season the Wands have already played with the Mackerelmen winning 2-1 at Hayes Lane on 28th August. Thomas Chalaye gave Worthing the lead before Ejiro Okosieme equalised for Cray in the first half. Worthing though won the match with a well taken goal from Dashonne Golding. Cray though did win the last time the sides played at Worthing on 8th February 2020 when goals from Joe Taylor and Joel Rollinson gave Cray a famous 2-1 win.
Once again Worthing have set the benchmark for the other teams in the league and after a slow start by their standards they went on a thirteen game unbeaten run in league and cup from September. Their run ended in their last league game, a 2-1 home defeat to playoff contenders Cheshunt on 20th November. Their last match was a 0-2 defeat at home to a very strong Dorking Wanderers side in the FA Trophy last Saturday.
At home, Worthing have beaten Bowers & Pitsea (4-1), East Thurrock United (3-2), Corinthian Casuals (1-0), Bishop’s Stortford (3-1), Lewes (5-4), Merstham (2-1) & Potters Bar Town (2-1). The only defeats were to Bognor Regis Town (0-2) and Cheshunt (1-2).
Away from home Worthing won at Cray Wanderers (2-1), Leatherhead (4-0), Kingstonian (4-3), Wingate & Finchley (3-1) and Hornchurch (3-1). Worthing drew at Enfield Town (2-2) with the only defeat at Folkestone Invicta on the opening day of the season.
Their FA Cup run ended in the 1st QR with a defeat at Corinthian Casuals after a replay while in the FA Trophy they beat Chertsey and Hayes & Yeading both away before losing to Dorking Wanderers. Worthing also beat Seaford Town in the Sussex Senior Cup and travel to Lewes in the next round on 18th December. Top scorer is Ollie Pearce with 15 in league and cup.
With the matches coming thick and fast and against quality opposition these are exciting times to be a Cray Wanderers fan. Admission on the day £12 adults, £8 concessions, £3 16 year olds, £1 6-12 year old and U6’s free.
Pics: Jon Hilliger – www.hilligerpix.com