Cray Wanderers return to league action after a free weekend with a trip to Metropolitan Police FC, the home for one night only of Corinthian Casuals.

The game is played at Imber Court whilst repairs to the King George’s Field ground take place. Kick off 7.45 pm.

Cray who are 10th in the Isthmian Premier League table will be looking to return to winning ways after three league games without a win and four in all competitions but performances have been decent especially in the last league game at Hornchurch where Cray were unlucky not to grab a point.

A couple of new arrivals in the last couple of weeks have shown promise, Freddie Carter from Gillingham in defence at Hornchurch made a composed debut while Tom Stagg, a striker from Colchester United’s Academy played well in the Kent Senior Cup tie at Sheppey United last Tuesday.

Going into the game on Wednesday, Dan Bassett has been sharp with four goals in the last five league games and at Hornchurch, Billy Crook, Mitch Chapman, David Ijaha and Ben Krauhaus were impressive in midfield.

Injuries haven’t helped Neil Smith in September to Nyren Clunis, Sinn’kaye Christie and Harold Joseph who at this time is the most long term absentee and hopefully Clunis and Christie will return soon.

October is an interesting month for the Wands with matches against the league leaders Potters Bar Town and both Enfield Town and Horsham who have been in good form early in the season. Cray though have beaten Canvey Island and Folkestone and drawn with Bishop’s Stortford so have proved themselves against good sides in the first couple of months of the season.

Corinthian Casuals come into the game 21st in the table and without a win in seven league games but are always tough opponents and hard to break down so Cray will have to be at their best on Wednesday night.

Casuals got off to a flying start to the season with a 4-1 home win vs Bowers & Pitsea and at home drew with Lewes (1-1) and lost to Aveley (1-2).

Unfortunately last month damage to the dressing rooms at the ground has meant a postponement of the match with Folkestone and the need to look elsewhere until repairs are made. So for this match the game will be played at Met Police FC’s Imber Court ground where many Wands fans would have been to in the past.

Away form has seen a draw at Haringey Borough (2-2) and defeats at Horsham (0-5), Hornchurch (0-5) and Enfield Town (0-2) last Friday. In the FA Cup like Cray, Corinthian Casuals exited in the 1st Qualifying Round at home to Burgess Hill Town. Leading scorer so far is Benjamin Cheklit with 5 goals for Tony Reid’s side.

Reid took over as manager of Corinthian Casuals in the summer after James Bracken after six seasons at the helm moved on.

Corinthian Casuals had much the better of the two league meetings last season winning 4-0 at home in September 2021 with a Warren Mfula hat-trick and an Emmanuel Mensah goal. At Hayes Lane in January 2022 an Oliver Sitch brace helped Casuals win 2-1 after Jamie Yila had put Cray ahead.

Corinthian Casuals finished 14th in the final table with 49 points.

Two clubs rich with in history and tradition, the amber and black of Cray and the pink and chocolate shirts of Casuals coupled with a sharing of how the game should be played promises to be a cracking game and on the usually impressive playing surface at Imber Court.

Admission Prices: Adults: £12.00, concessions £8.00

U18s/Students: £5, U12s: £1

Pictures supplied by Jon Hilliger.