Cray Wanderers begin a run of four successive away league games on Guy Fawkes Night as the Wands, unbeaten in four league games visit near neighbours Cray Valley PM for the first time in the league.  Kick off at the Artic Stadium, 7.45pm.

Cray Wanderers were boosted on Saturday with a fine and merited 3-0 win against Hashtag United at Flamingo Park which meant a first ever home league win at the Wands new home. 

This made it two successive wins and four consecutive clean sheets for Shaun Rowley taking his total this season to nine.  The win also moved Cray out of the bottom four into 18th place and after a difficult first couple of months in the league perhaps things are starting to move in the right direction.

Charlie Edwards made it three goals in two matches on Saturday with a classy turn and shot and a textbook header in the first half and Tom Bonner’s arching header early in the second completed the win and set up nicely the visit to Cray Valley PM on what will be a tough test but one the players and supporters alike will relish.

Steve McKimm’s Cray Valley PM side are like Cray Wanderers in that both have won the Isthmian South-East title and the Millers have began their first ever season in the Isthmian Premier in impressive style and sit 4th in the table on 21 points following a gritty goalless draw at Dartford on Saturday.

When the sides met at Flamingo Park on 13th August in front of a crowd of 840, Cray Valley won 2-0 and after a tight encounter won the game with two goals in two minutes through Denzel Gayle and Freddie Parker, one of six ex-Wands who played in their last game along with Barney Williams, Tom Beere, Michael Ademiluyi, Adam Coombes and Andre Coker.

This will be Cray Valley’s first home game since October 12th with their last five games being away in league and cups.  At home, Cray Valley have beaten Cheshunt (4-2), Carshalton Athletic (1-0) and Chichester City (2-1) and drawn with Billericay Town (1-1). Their only home loss came against Dartford (1-2) on the opening day of the season.  At this stage, Cray Valley are only 5 points behind leaders Dover Athletic so do look like genuine promotion contenders.

Away from home, the Millers won at Cray Wanderers (2-0), Folkestone Invicta (1-0) and Bognor Regis Town (3-2) and drew at Canvey Island and Dartford with defeats at Whitehawk and Hendon.  In the FA Cup, a competition where Cray Valley reached the 1st Round last season, a win at Badshot Lea was followed by a home defeat to Chesham.

In the FA Trophy, Cray Valley won at Ramsgate before much like the Wands losing at Brentwood Town in the 1st Round.  The Millers have advanced in the Isthmian League Cup after winning at Sevenoaks Town but their Kent Senior Cup hopes were ended at Dover last week after earlier winning at home to Ashford United.   Leading scorer is Freddie Parker with 12 goals.

This should be a great evening under the lights with the crackle of fireworks in the air and a game many supporters of both sides have been long awaiting.

Admission £12 adults, £7 concessions (+65, U17s, Students), £5 U16s.

Pictures supplied by Ben Keyes.