Cray Wanderers bring the curtain down on a busy January on Saturday with a trip to Brightlingsea Regent in a match with big significance at the bottom end of the Isthmian Premier table.
After Tuesday’s defeat at Lewes the Wands went back into the bottom three in 20th place while Brightlingsea Regent are one place and one point ahead of Cray in 19 th place on 24 points.
Despite the defeat at the Dripping Pan Cray were not by any means outclassed and perhaps just lacked a cutting edge that the home side had on the night and a bit of fortune with the first goal with the last kick of the half.
Youth loan signing Nazir Bakrin made a composed debut as centre-half alongside Tom Hanfrey and there were fine performances from Kasim Aidoo, Jacob Munting and Cameron Brodie amongst others. Grant Basey’s side can take heart from recent performances especially the remarkable comeback against Carshalton last Saturday and there are plenty of games still to go as we enter February.
Cray will be looking to improve an average record against sides near the foot of the table against a Brightlingsea side who after losing their first four games of 2022 are unbeaten in their last two games and showed good character to come back from 0-2 down to draw 2-2 at Lewes last Saturday with Aaron Blair’s late penalty earning a vital point.
When the two sides met at Hayes Lane on 25th September, Regent won 2-0 with two Ken Feyi goals despite being down to ten men after the first ten minutes which was their only win in 15 league games. This was a match where Freddy Barton and Kasim Aidoo made their Cray Wanderers debuts. Regent picked up good form in December with three wins out of four and Brett Munyard’s team will be tough opponents. Recent arrivals include defender Chris Gregan from Bishop’s Stortford and wide player Wyan Reid from Concord Rangers.
Brightlingsea at home have beaten Merstham (2-0), Leatherhead (1-0), East Thurrock United (2-1) and Potters Bar Town (2-0). Their other games ended in defeats against Bishop’s Stortford (1-4), Lewes (0-4), Bognor Regis Town (0-5), Wingate & Finchley (1-3), Horsham (0-6), Bowers & Pitsea (2-3), Worthing (0-3), Hornchurch (1-5) and Kingstonian (2-4).
Away from home Regent won at Cray Wanderers (2-0), Leathehead (2-0) and Merstham (1-0), drew at East Thurrock United, Corinthian Casuals and Lewes and their other games ended in defeat at Enfield Town, Kingstonian, Cheshunt, Folkestone Invicta, Margate, Carshalton Athletic, Haringey Borough and Bishop’s Stortford. In the FA Cup they were beaten at Leiston in the 1QR and in the FA Trophy at Staines Town in the Preliminary Round.
Cray’s record at Brightlingsea has been very good having won there on their previous three visits with the last a 2-0 win on 16 th November 2019 with two Joe Taylor goals. The away record is in contrast to Cray at home as Brightlingsea have won three times at Hayes Lane out of four previous games.
There is no doubt this is going to be a tense afternoon in North Essex and Cray will have to show similar resolve to the game at East Thurrock on New Year’s Day as Cray head into a pivotal month still with so much to play for.
Pics: Jon Hilliger – www.hilligerpix.com