Cray Wanderers are in home FA Cup action on Sunday, 20^th August for the first time since September 2014 as Sevenoaks Town travel to Hayes Lane.

Kick off is 3pm and this is the very first FA Cup meeting between the two sides.  Should the tie end in a draw, the replay will take place at the Bourne Stadium on Wednesday, 23^rd August

Cray have begun the season with two draws which mirrors exactly the start to last season.   Certainly Cray were rather unfortunate not to win their opening game against Thamesmead last Saturday denied the three points by a stoppage time leveller.     

At Phoenix Sports on Tuesday night, Tony Russell mentioned after the game that it was rather like attack against defence first half as Cray had the better openings but the second half was a lot more even and in the end defences were on top in a 0-0 draw.

The home side seemed perfectly content with a draw from the beginning.  Karl Dent was particularly unlucky hitting the crossbar in the first half, heading just over and then denied by the Phoenix keeper and certainly has started the season where he left off at the end of last.  Mitchell Nelson and Jay Leader both had great games in central defence too on Tuesday night and conceded few if any real chances of note.

With league action taking a break for the next week, Cray will look to make home advantage tell against SCEFL Sevenoaks Town who are highly fancied to do well in a very competitive league this season as the first steps to the road to Wembley begins.  Both sides now play on a 3G pitch so there will be no surprises either way with the playing surface.

Micky Collins’ side began their campaign in the Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup against Southern Combination side, Broadbridge Heath and in a hard fought encounter, Sevenoaks advanced 2-1 with goals by Joe Bingham and Darren Marsden.  Their league campaign has seen a mixed beginning with a highly efficient 2-0 win at home to Chatham Town on the opening day of the SCEFL Premier season but were beaten in their second game 2-1 at a very decent Cray Valley PM side on Wednesday night.

Last season was a very successful one on the pitch for Sevenoaks finishing in hugely respectable 3^rd place in the league and winning the SCEFL League Cup beating Sheppey United 2-0 in the final at Tonbridge.   They reached the 2^nd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup last year beating Bostik South Horsham and Lewes after a replay before bowing out to Chesham United so shouldn’t be underestimated.            

With this being the third Kent derby in a row this should be a fascinating tie and one which Cray will have to be at their most professional to advance to Monday’s 1^st Qualifying Round draw.  Please note if Cray win then the league game at Faversham on 2^nd September will be rearranged.

Pic credit: Thomas Lang and Alan Coomes.