Cray Wanderers bring their February fixtures to a close as Tony Russell’s side travel to East Thurrock United for the first time since September 2013 in a match between two sides with playoff aspirations.
Cray come into the game unbeaten in nine matches since the start of the year and 5th in the Isthmian Premier League table. The Wands in a tight playoff race are level on points with Hornchurch (3rd) and Carshalton Athletic (4th) all on 55 points and have a four point buffer with Horsham in 6th on 51 points.
Cray will also be looking to make it five successive away wins in the Isthmian Premier for the first time having made it four wins on the road at Worthing on 8th February which they last did in the 2011-12 season.
The Wands kept up their good run with a hard earned point from a goalless draw with Kingstonian last Saturday at Hayes Lane. In very difficult playing conditions, Cray played well particularly in the second half with the wind in their favour and but for experienced K’s keeper Rob Tolfrey could have made it five wins in a row but Joe Taylor twice and Rhys Murrell-Williamson were unfortunate to be denied with good saves.
There were some fine performances amongst the wind and rain in the defence with Mitchell Nelson and Martin Onoabhagbe outstanding in hard conditions while Barney Williams and Ben Mundele contributed much to Cray’s play in the second half. Charlie Allen added tenacity and Bradley Pritchard was once again in top form in midfield but in the end a point was probably about the right outcome after the visitors had the better of the first half and conditions. Joe Taylor requires just one goal for 30 for the season and is a player high on confidence right now.
Cray’s season has been hampered at times by injuries but this can lead to opportunities for others and this season has seen U18s players, Palace Francis, Stefan Abatan, Chris Alhassan, Archie Daniels and Muqisa Hodasi all make their first team debuts and the future of the club in that area, along with Lee Lewis becoming a first team regular shows some quality players coming through the youth system.
East Thurrock United have had a good week and on Tuesday night ended a run of three games without a win with a 2-0 home victory against Carshalton Athletic thereby completing a league double over Carshalton and boosting their own playoff hopes. First half goals from Amos Nasha and a Darren Foxley penalty saw East Thurrock United move up to 8th in the table on 46 points, nine behind Cray but they do have three games in hand.
When the two sides met at Hayes Lane on 28th September it was a lively game which ended in a 1-1 draw with East Thurrock going ahead just after half time through Billy Crook but Tom Murphy levelled fifteen minutes from the end and Cray were perhaps unfortunate not to win but for a fine goalkeeping performance from Jack Giddens.
East Thurrock United are very strong at home and so far this season have beaten Cheshunt (4-1), Bowers & Pitsea (3-1), Bognor Regis Town (3-0), Brightlingsea Regent (2-1), Lewes (1-0), Wingate & Finchley (3-1), Leatherhead (3-0), Haringey Borough (4-2) and Carshalton Athletic (2-0). They drew with Worthing (0-0) & Kingstonian (3-3) with their only home losses coming against Potters Bar Town (1-3), Margate (1-2) and Folkestone Invicta (1-3). Leading scorer in league and cups is Frankie Merrifield with 17 in all competitions.
This will be tough game against a strong side but Cray have got through some tricky tests the last few weeks and can go into the game with confidence.
Admission costs – Adults £12.00, OAP’s/Students £6.00, U16s £3.00