Cray Wanderers hit the road for the first time in the Isthmian Premier this season on Saturday with a trip to East Thurrock United.
Kick off at the Rookery is 3pm. Coincidentally, East Thurrock was Cray’s last away trip before the suspension of the 2019-20 season.
Tony Russell’s side come into the game with a solid start to the season with two home wins and for what it is worth this early in the season stood at the top of the table after the impressive 5-1 win at home to Kingstonian last Saturday. Cray followed that up with a 3-1 win at home to Fisher in the FA Cup on Wednesday night.
Jason Banton has settled in well out on the left for Cray and scored on his debut on Saturday and followed up with a high quality brace against Fisher and looks like a firm fans favourite already. Another player who has carried on where he left off in pre-season is Freddie Parker.
Two goals in two matches including a real poacher’s effort to put Cray back in front on Wednesday shows a player in good form and confidence. Joe Taylor got off the mark for the season last Saturday with two left footed goals and Rhys Murrell-Williamson also scored giving the front three and Freddie from midfield punch up front.
Another positive from the FA Cup tie was the appearances of Charlie Allen and Ben Mundele off the bench and both gained valuable minutes, especially Allen who played 70+ minutes in midfield.
Although, Cray only faced in East Thurrock in February a lot has happened in that time for the Rocks and this is a completely new team to the one Cray faced then. Long-time Manager John Coventry departed the club and has been replaced by ex-Romford boss Paul Martin. Also there has been a change of hierarchy at the top with new Chairman Alfie Best taking over the club in the summer and there have been as many as 19 new signings giving the club a complete new look.
The Rocks started the Isthmian Premier season with a 0-1 defeat at Cheshunt last Saturday with the winner coming in the first half. Then on Tuesday night, East Thurrock lost 0-1 at Potters Bar Town in the 1st Qualifying Round in a tight tie decided midway through the second half.
The last trip to East Thurrock on 22nd February, three weeks before the season ended saw Cray win 1-0 with a second half free kick strike from Rhys Murrell-Williamson. The game at Hayes Lane almost a year ago now on 28th September ended in a 1-1 draw.
It is way too early to put too much on the game at this stage of the season but with the trip to East Thurrock which is always a great challenge to any side and the game at Folkestone Invicta on Tuesday night and a trip to Moneyfields in the FA Cup next Saturday this promises to be an exciting week.
Admission on the day is £12 adults, £8 concs £3 U16s with track and trace in operation.
Images courtesy of http://www.hilligerpix.com/