Cray Wanderers seek a piece of history on Saturday as they look to reach the 1st Round Proper of the FA Trophy for the first time. They have to do it the hard way as they travel to Vanarama South high flyers Braintree Town. Kick off at the Ironmongery Direct Stadium is 3 pm.
Cray only made it through to the tie as recently as Wednesday night as they defeated Moneyfields in the 2nd Qualifying Round replay making it the sixth time they have made it to the final Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy. The Wands are one of just two Bostik South clubs to make this round with Lewes the other representative.
The Moneyfields match was as good a game as you will see anywhere this week and despite the windy conditions and full commitment from both sides it was a real match to savour. Cray advanced with goals from Mitchell Nelson (two in two games), Michael Frieter (three in four games) and two penalties from ex-Iron Michael Power taking his tally to 18 for the season and 7 in the competition to date.
There is no doubt with Cray 16 games unbeaten that they will arrive at Braintree in great heart and Tony Russell and his coaching team will relish the team pitting their wits against a Step 2 side. There are two former Braintree players in the Cray side with Power making 16 appearances in the 2009-10 season and Barney Williams played for the Iron last season making 15 appearances in the National League.
Defensively Cray have been excellent this season but this will be a stern test of their resolve against a side which lie 2nd in the Vanarama South, level on points with leaders Dartford on 35 points.
Cray advanced with an incredible 8-0 home win against Horsham, then defeated Grays and Moneyfields after replays. Braintree enter the competition at this round.
Bradley Quinton’s Braintree side spent six seasons in the National League before relegation last season. The season before they finished 3rd and reached the Promotion playoffs losing to Grimsby Town over two legs so it shows how difficult the tie will be.
This season, Braintree’s home form has been very decent with wins against Chippenham, Hampton & Richmond, St. Albans City, Hungerford Town and Bognor Regis. They drew with Dartford, Welling United and Truro City on Tuesday night and have lost twice against Havant & Waterlooville and Weston-Super-Mare last Saturday. Away from home they won at Eastbourne Borough, Oxford City, Gloucester City and Poole Town and picked up points at Whitehawk and Bath City. Their only defeats have come at East Thurrock United and Hemel Hempstead. In the FA Cup they defeated Royston after a replay in the 2nd Qualifying Round before losing at Brackley in the next round. Leading scorer is Phil Roberts with 12 goals.
As draws go it couldn’t really get much tougher than this one but Cray have every reason to believe they can go to Braintree and show a National South side what they can do.