Cray Wanderers look to top off a terrific week on and off the field with a Sunday afternoon match against Horsham at a possibly freezing cold Hayes Lane.  Kick off is 3pm.

Cray will be looking to build on the momentum of the excellent performance against an in-form Whyteleafe side on Wednesday which followed hot on the heels of Tuesday evening’s positive Bromley Council decision on Flamingo Park.

The Whyteleafe game saw a return to form ending a three game losing run with a classy performance epitomised by the performance of the skipper, Lea Dawson who scored twice, saw another effort denied by a great save and also cleared off the line at 2-1 as Whyteleafe sought a fightback.  There were other good displays notably from Junior Dadson who scored two tremendous goals to get off the mark for the Wands in style, Charlie MacDonald grabbed a poachers goal as the Wands hit two goals in the first ten minutes and all round there were excellent performances throughout the side.  This meant that Cray remained unbeaten through all their midweek league games this season.

Horsham have also had a big week in regards to their move to their new ground at Hop Oast with preparation of building work and pitch laying taking place as they seek a return to a ground of their own for the first time in 10 years.

Horsham travel to Hayes Lane having not played a game yet in March after the postponements of a home game with Ashford United and last weekend’s away game at East Grinstead.  Their last game was on February 24^th when they drew 1-1 at Hythe Town.

Dominic Di Paola’s team are 12^th in the table with 49 points and have picked up their season very well since the 8-0 drubbing they received at the hands of Cray in the FA Trophy on 8^th October. Since then have at times lacked consistency but picked up some big wins including away wins at Greenwich Borough and Whyteleafe and on New Years Day they were the last team to beat Lewes with a 2-1 win at Culver Road.

When the two sides met at Culver Road on 30^th September, Cray won 3-0 with Marcus Evans scoring twice and Michael Power from the penalty spot, all in the first half.  The teams also met the following Saturday in the Preliminary Round of the FA Trophy at Hayes Lane and the Wands produced a memorable performance to win 8-0 with a Freddie Parker hat-trick, two goals from Power and a goal apiece from Evans, Aaron Rhule and Jerome Federico.  A repeat of that sort of scoreline seems unlikely as Horsham have improved considerably since that afternoon.

Away form has been quite good with wins at Shoreham (2-1), Faversham Town (2-1), Greenwich Borough (2-0), Ashford United (2-1), Guernsey (3-1), Whyteleafe (2-0) and Sittingbourne (3-1).  The Hornets drew at Walton Casuals (1-1), Hastings United (3-3), Herne Bay (1-1) and Hythe Town (1-1).  Their defeats have come at Molesey (1-2), Thamesmead Town (0-5), Ramsgate (0-1), Chipstead (1-4), Phoenix Sports (0-1), Carshalton Athletic (1-2) and Corinthian Casuals (0-2).   Playing their home games at Lancing this season, Horsham have beaten Shoreham (3-0), Guernsey (2-1), Molesey (3-1), Hythe Town (2-1), Lewes (2-1), VCD Athletic (3-2) and Phoenix Sports (2-11). They drew with Hastings United, South Park and East Grinstead Town and were beaten by Chipstead, Sittingbourne, Cray Wanderers, Carshalton Athletic, Corinthian Casuals, Thamesmead Town, Herne Bay and Greenwich Borough.   Joint top scorers are Toby House and George Landais with 8 goals each.

Sunday games are always a real treat although you might have to wrap up warm if the mini Beast From the East stays with us for the match.