Cray Wanderers return to Isthmian League Premier Division action on Good Friday afternoon when they entertain promotion contenders Chatham Town at Hayes Lane.

The Wands go into the game having lost 1-0 at home to Folkestone Invicta on Sunday afternoon, a result that left Neil Smith’s side sitting in fifteenth place with 45 points from 35 games played.

Cray haven lost their last two home games and will be keen to get a positive result in this Kent derby, with only three scheduled home games left after this one for The Wands at Hayes Lane before the move to Flamingo Park.     

Chatham make the short journey across from Medway sitting second place in the table with 71 points from 36 league matches, eleven points behind runaway leaders Hornchurch.

On Saturday, Town beat Haringey Borough 2-1 at home with goals from Jack Evans & Ashley Nazara in front of a crowd of 1,463, cementing a ten point gap ahead of the rest of the play off hopefuls an incredible achievement in their first season following promotion.   

The Chatham side contains several ex-Wanderers including Jamie Yila, Chris Dickson, Jamie Mascoll, Dean Beckwith and former manager Danny Kedwell to add extra interest to the game and they should be well supported for this local Bank Holiday fixture.       

When the sides met at Maidstone Road in September, Cray Wands recorded their first league win of the season, running out 5-1 winners with two goals from Frankie Raymond, plus one from Cameron Thompson, Nyren Clunis & Archy Taylor to kick start their campaign. Jack Munns with the solitary Chats strike that day.

The game looks set to be an interesting and entertaining encounter.          

Entrance for the game is £12 for adults and £6 for concessions, with an excellent printed programme at £2. Kick off at 3pm.

Picture supplied by Ozay Booth.