Cray Wanderers are back on their travels today as the Wands make their first ever visit to Bowers & Pitsea in a clash between the Isthmian North and Isthmian South-East champions from last season.
Cray have made an unbeaten start to 2020 with four points from the two games played. A 4-3 win at Margate on New Year’s Day was followed by a 0-0 draw at home to Wingate & Finchley last Saturday.
Despite only drawing the Wingate & Finchley game Cray still remained 6th in the Isthmian Premier table and handily placed just outside the playoff places.
Perhaps the biggest bonus early on in the year has been the steady returns from injury for key players, Barney Williams and Tom Phipp. Skipper, Williams played just over 70 minutes in his first game since 30th November last Saturday. Meanwhile, Phipp who adds steel to the side played the first half at Margate and just under an hour against Wingate & Finchley and hopefully can complete more game time to keep the squad ticking over.
At the moment, Tom Carlse is the one major injury doubt with a toe injury but the team is slowly coming back to full fitness after injuries played havoc during November and December.
Joe Taylor continues to be top scorer with 20 in the league and 26 in all competitions and defensively the team have been playing well, while Lewis Carey made some fine saves in the Wingate & Finchley game so a keeper in top form.
Cray have two home games upcoming against Hornchurch and Lewes but before that make the journey to Pitsea to face a side that are sitting in 16th place in the table but had a good run of form through November and December and hold recent wins at home to Folkestone and away to Enfield to show they will be tough opponents.
Bowers & Pitsea followed up a 2-2 draw at Bishop’s Stortford last Saturday with a 3-1 win at Merstham on Tuesday night. After a goalless first half, three second half goals from Ben Surtain, an own goal and a Joe Gardner strike was enough to put Rob Small’s side on course for an important victory and they have 24 points from their 20 games.
The first ever meeting between the sides took place on 2nd October at Hayes Lane and Cray won 3-1 with a burst of three goals in 11 first half minutes winning the game for Cray with Andre Coker, Joe Taylor and Tom Carlse scoring before Bradley Warner pulled a goal back from the penalty spot in the second half for Bowers & Pitsea.
Like Cray, Bowers & Pitsea play on a 3G pitch and they seem to have played more games away from home so far but have only played 20 games so a bit behind other teams in the table.
At home, Bowers & Pitsea have beat Bishop’s Stortford (2-0) and Folkestone Invicta (3-1) and drawn against Wingate & Finchley (1-1). Their other games ended in defeat against Enfield Town (0-1), Bognor Regis Town (1-2), Margate (0-1), Worthing (1-2) and East Thurrock United (1-2) on New Year’s Day.
Away from home their record is good with wins at Brightlingsea Regent (4-2), Lewes (2-0), Potters Bar Town (2-0). Enfield Town (4-0) and Merstham (3-1). They drew at Kingstonian and Bishop’s Stortford and were beaten at East Thurrock United, Leatherhead, Cray Wanderers, Hornchurch and Horsham.
Bradley Warner is the leading scorer with 14 goals in all competitions with eight in the league. Bowers & Pitsea also had a decent run in the FA Cup reaching the 4th Qualifying Round beating Barkingside, Brentwood Town, Lewes & Canvey Island before losing at home to Chichester City.
Both sides have settled well in the Isthmian Premier this season and this should be a very good match between two championship winning teams