Valley’s four goal demolition of Hythe Town on Tuesday night, along with Ashford United’s stunning second half onslaught at Hastings United – reversing a one goal half-time deficit with three goals in the last 20 minutes -, sets us up for a mouth-watering “first v third” encounter at The Artic Stadium on Saturday.
While The Millers lead the way in the Division’s scoring charts, it’s The Nuts and Bolts who boast the second “most miserly” defensive record with just seven goals conceded in their ten matches to date.
The recruitment from Whyteleafe of stopper Tyler McCarthy has no doubt been instrumental in that, while Thomas Fagg leads the way up front with eight goals following a first day hat-trick against Burgess Hill Town, although he missed the victory at Hastings through injury.
Manager Tommy Warrilow recently added to his attacking options with the recruitment of former Dover man Roberto Ratti from Guildford along with Ellis Cormack from Epsom & Ewell to supplement the experienced Jay May – Ratti breaking his duck in the win at Hastings.
Defeat at second placed Haywards Heath Town in mid-September was the launch-pad for a four match unbeaten run, which includes victories in their last three league fixtures.
The Club adopted the nickname “Nuts & Bolts” shortly after the Great War as many of the members were drawn from the ranks of skilled engineers in the Ashford Railway Works – one of their forebearers.
Following a tumultuous history – including reformation under their present name in 2011 – installation of a 3g playing surface at their Homelands headquarters in 2015/16 led to The Nuts and Bolts embarking on a record breaking promotion from the SCEFL in 2016/17, before appointing Warrilow in November 2018.
Under Warrilow, the Club embarked on a tremendous run of form before suffering an extra-time defeat by Horsham in the Play-Off Final in the last completed season.
For their part, Valley have kept four consecutive clean sheets in the league, while the Division’s leading scorer Marcel Barrington will be looking to add to his tally of ten league goals so far this season.
SEASON 2020/21 LEAGUE FORM GUIDE
Cray Valley (PM)
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Ashford United
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MATCH DETAILS
DATE:-
SATURDAY 30th OCTOBER 2021, KICK-OFF 3PM
VENUE :-
THE ARTIC STADIUM, BADGERS SPORTS, MIDDLE PARK AVENUE, ELTHAM, LONDON, SE9 5HP
ADMISSION :-
ADULTS – £10
CONCESSIONS – £5
CHILDREN UNDER 11 – FREE
Payment by card is preferable – If paying by cash, please have the correct change available
PROGRAMME – £2
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee – Jamaal Horne
Assistants – Joshua Howard and Tommy Breen
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
ISTHMIAN LEAGUE SE DIVN
2019/20 Home W 3-1 Away W 2-1
Played 2
Won 2
Drew 0
Lost 0
Season 2019/20 Covid-19
Sat 5-Oct 2019 ISTHMIAN SE DIV
Ashford United 1 v Cray Valley 2
Goals: AU – Smith 48
CV – Babalola 9, 71
Attendance 249
Cray Valley: Andrew Walker, Matthew Attenborough-Warren, Daniel Smith, Kalvin Morath-Gibbs, Ashley Sains, Ali Tumkaya, Denzel Gayle, Jack Sammoutis (off 86), Francis Babalola, Anthony Edgar (off 81), Josh James
Substitutes (used *) – Emiliano Hysi, Kweku Ansah * (on 86), Tommy Osborne, Ryan Flack * (on 81), Warren Mfula
Match Report:
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/teams/228820/match-centre/1-4530235/report
Photos:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=CrayValleyPM&set=a.2579545785512922
Ashford United v Cray Valley 5th October 2019
Francis Babalola bags a brace
Andy Walker saves comfortably
Sat 25-Jan 2020 ISTHMIAN SE DIV
Cray Valley 3 v Ashford United 1
Goals: CV – Babalola 4, 31, Gayle 86
AU – May 66
Attendance 131
Match Report:
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/teams/228820/match-centre/1-4530386/report
Full details of our previous meetings can be found at
Ashford United (crayvalleypmfc.com)
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