This Saturday sees the final day of the Isthmian Premier 2022-23 season and Cray Wanderers will be looking to claim a piece of club history by reaching the Playoffs for the first time.

Firstly, the Wands will need to pass the challenge that Haringey Borough will pose to Neil Smith’s side.

Kick off at Coles Park is 3pm.

Cray Wanderers begin the game in 5th place and on 73 points and have already reached a treble of club records for the season. The highest ever league position, most points in an Isthmian Premier season and most goals scored and just need a playoff place to achieve a quadruple.

To set the scene in the promotion race, Bishop’s Stortford are promoted as champions.

Hornchurch and Canvey Island are confirmed either 2nd or 3rd and will host the playoff semi-finals. Aveley are 4th on 75 points and confirmed a place on Tuesday night after drawing at Canvey Island but could finish 5th if Cray win and Aveley fail to beat Enfield Town on Saturday.

There is one space up for grabs and the only other side who can reach the playoffs are Lewes who visit Canvey Island on Saturday and have 71 points.

If Cray draw at Haringey and Lewes win the teams will be level on points with Cray having a slightly better goal difference.

Cray Wanderers come into the game in good form and the 2-0 home win against Kingstonian last Saturday made it eight games undefeated with seven wins. Goals early in each half from Harrison Sodje, his third in four games and Jalen Jones who scored in two successive games proved enough to beat the K’s and the clean sheet for player of the year Shaun Rowley was his 14th of the season.

Dan Bassett with 14 goals is the club’s top scorer for the season at this point with a game to go.

Certainly whatever happens on Saturday it has been a remarkable turnaround season for Cray Wanderers who survived relegation on the final day of last season and aside from three defeats in February, since late November Cray have been one of the form sides and have been in and around the playoffs and briefly stood in 2nd place in January.

However, there is still plenty of work to be done and Haringey Borough are a proud club who will provide a stern test of resolve and go into the game 13th in the table with a half century of points.

Although perhaps never really in contention for promotion they were certainly well clear of any relegation problems so have had a solid season.

They also have a cup final upcoming after reaching the London Senior Cup Final after beating Glebe, Dartford and Wingate & Finchley and face the winners of Charlton Athletic U23s or Hendon semi-final in the Final.

Last Saturday, Haringey were beaten 0-4 at Lewes who got off to an explosive start but Borough had been in good form and picked up a late point at Enfield Town on Easter Monday which proved vital in the playoff race and will need to be respected.

When the sides met at Hayes Lane on Sunday 11th December, Cray ran out 5-1 winners after being tied at half time with Danny Bassett, Jalen Jones, Anthony Cook (2) and Omari Hibbert scoring for Cray with Michael O’Donoghue scoring for Borough.

The last visit to Haringey was on 9th October 2021 with the sides drawing 1-1 with a Jamie Yila goal cancelling out a Scott Mitchell strike.

Tony Loizou’s side at home this season have beaten Horsham (2-0), Bowers & Pitsea (4-2), Folkestone Invicta (3-0), Kingstonian (5-2), Carshalton Athletic (1-0), Hastings United (2-0), Brightlingsea Regent (6-1) and Margate (1-0).

Haringey drew with Corinthian Casuals (2-2), Wingate & Finchley (0-0) and Hornchurch (1-1) and were beaten by Herne Bay (2-4), Billericay Town (0-3), Potters Bar Town (1-2), Lewes (1-2), Enfield Town (1-2), Bishop’s Stortford (0-3), Bognor Regis Town (2-5), Canvey Island (1-2) and Aveley (1-2).

Away from home Haringey won at Carshalton Athletic (1-0), Bognor Regis Town (1-0), Corinthian Casuals (2-0), Herne Bay (1-0) and Kingstonian (3-0).

They picked up a point at Canvey Island, Brightlingsea Regent, Margate, Hornchurch, Wingate & Finchley, Potters Bar Town, Horsham and Enfield Town and lost at Bishop’s Stortford, Aveley, Hastings United, Cray Wanderers, Folkestone Invicta, Billericay Town, Bowers & Pitsea and Lewes.

Top scorer is Ben Allen with 9 goals.

You could argue that this is the most important league game in Cray Wanderers’ history with a chance to extend the season by a week when league matches turn into cup ties and a chance to enter the lottery to reach the National South for the first time.

Entry to the game is Free for all supporters but if you are driving please note it costs £1 an hour to park at Coles Park. Online match programme.