Wednesday night sees Cray Wanderers make their first ever trip to the Parkside stadium for the Buildbase FA Trophy 1^st Qualifying Round replay against Grays Athletic.

Kick off is 7.45pm and the match goes to a finish on the night. The winners of the tie will be away to Evo-Stik Southern League South & East Division leaders Moneyfields on 11^th November.

The Wands were perhaps very relieved to still be in the competition after the drama of Ralique Lawrence’s 94^th minute equaliser which brought Cray back from 0-2 down early in the second half and maintained a ten game unbeaten run in league and cups. Tony Russell’s side were not at their best in the first half and went a goal down through Kieran Bishop’s 17^th minute goal for Grays and Jamie Slabber had an opportunity to make it 2-0 shortly after.

It was Ralique Lawrence’s introduction for the second half which saw increased pace and urgency in Cray’s game which got Cray back into things but it looked like Grays had won the tie when Slabber scored in the 54^th minute against the run of play.

Cray though stuck at their task well and Lawrence earned the penalty from which Michael Power scored to make it 2-1 and then with practically the last kick of the match struck to take the game to a replay which Cray probably deserved at the end of the day.

Lawrence has now scored five goals in three appearances for the first team and is an extremely confident player with a good first touch, tremendous pace and an excellent finisher.  The two other substitutes who came on, Freddie Parker and Kyron Lightfoot both had a hand in the second goal and they helped against a tiring side late on keep Cray going to the end.

Jamie Stuart’s Grays side were perhaps rather disappointed not to see the game out but they looked a good side particularly in the first half and will be formidable opponents for Cray.  There is a lot of experience in the side and players like Stanley Muguo, Joao Carlos, Adeyinka Cole, Bishop and ex-Bromley player Slabber made a big contribution on Saturday and will likely do so again on Wednesday night.  They took their own unbeaten run to five games and are 12^th in the Bostik North.

Grays who were relegated from the Isthmian Premier last season began the season as tenants of Aveley’s new Parkside ground and had a sticky spell in September but have started to impress in their new surroundings.  At home they have beaten their landlords 4-2, Bowers & Pitsea 1-0 and Tilbury 3-1 and drawn against Haringey Borough last Wednesday 3-3.

They have been beaten at home by AFC Hornchurch, Brentwood Town, Canvey Island and Potters Bar Town.  In the Preliminary Round of the FA Trophy Grays defeated Norwich United 4-3, whilst in the FA Cup they were beaten in the 1^st Qualifying Round at home in a replay to Hertford Town after beating Redbridge in the previous round.

Both sides now know each other well and this should be a highly competitive cup tie on what promises to be a chilly early November evening and could go the distance if Saturday is anything to go by.