Cray Wanderers look to build on three successive wins tonight as Neil Smith’s side head to Folkestone Invicta in a match between sides 16th and 15th in the Isthmian Premier League table.

Cray and Folkestone have 31 points although the Wands have played two games less and both had impressive away wins on Saturday with Cray winning at Carshalton and Folkestone at Billericay Town.

The Wands produced a fine performance to win at 7th placed Carshalton and made it successive league doubles after victory against Wingate & Finchley on 27th January. Ellis Brown scored a well taken brace at Carshalton taking his goal tally to the season to seven while defensively the resolute back four of David Ijaha, Tom Bonner, Emmanuel Kwatchey and Sam Wood restricted the home side to few chances and Shaun Rowley was immaculate in goal. The midfield of Alfie Evans, Tom Beere and Frankie Raymond were excellent and Gary Lockyer and Yahya Bamba were a constant threat. 

Folkestone Invicta after a bright start to the season find themselves in 15th place with former Wand Andy Drury at the helm after taking over in November.  On Saturday Folkestone won 2-1 at Billericay with goals from David Smith and Kane Penn before the home side pulled a goal back in added time.

Last season Folkestone finished 12th and Cray were 4-2 winners at Folkestone in September 2022 with goals from Derry, Sinn’kaye Christie, Sam Wood and Dan Bassett and it finished 0-0 at Hayes Lane on 14th February 2023.

So far at home Folkestone have beaten Margate (2-0), Cheshunt (2-1), Billericay Town (1-0) and drawn with Whitehawk (1-1), Haringey Borough (1-1), Wingate & Finchley (1-1) and Carshalton Athletic (3-3). Invicta were beaten by Chatham Town (2-3), Enfield Town (1-2), Bognor Regis Town (0-1), Hastings United (0-5), Hashtag United (1-3) and Hornchurch (0-2). Away from home, Folkestone won at Wingate & Finchley (4-0), Lewes (3-1), Margate (2-0), Enfield Town (2-0) and Billericay Town (2-1), drew at Hashtag United, Potters Bar Town and Haringey Borough and were beaten at Concord Rangers, Kingstonian, Hornchurch, Carshalton Athletic, Dulwich Hamlet, Horsham and Canvey Island. Top scorers so far are David Smith, Ira Jackson and Ibrahim Olutade with eight goals whilst ex-Wand Tom Derry has five goals since joining in December.

The game is being played at the third time of asking after two previous postponements and both teams will be keen to continue to move up the table and is usually an entertaining game under the lights. 

Admission £12/£9/£3.

Pictures supplied by Ozay Booth.