Cray Wanderers play their second away game of the Bank Holiday Weekend today as the Wands head to Hastings United.  Kick off, 3 pm.

Cray will be looking to get the season going after defeat at Enfield Town on Saturday meant the Wands have lost the first four games of a season for the first time since the 1999-2000 season.

There were encouraging signs especially during the first half at Enfield where Cray looked to be playing their best football of the season despite the adverse conditions and came close to scoring through Anthony Cook and Frankie Raymond.  Unfortunately, Enfield took advantage of a couple of slip ups at the back during and scored twice and despite chances for Cameron Black and Rio Campbell near the end Cray couldn’t find the goal to perhaps give the game a more realistic look over the game.

Before the game, Cray signed left-back/midfielder Will Wood on a two month loan from Welling United and were missing George Porter for the trip to Enfield Town. With two games in forty-eight hours the Wands will hope not to pick up too many injuries and that the goals start to flow.

However, Monday looks set to be another tough task as Hastings United have begun the season efficiently and are unbeaten after four games in 8th with 8 points.  Hastings began the season with draws at home to Cheshunt (1-1) and then 0-0 at Whitehawk but since then won 2-1 at Dulwich Hamlet on 19th August and then were 3-0 winners at home to Concord Rangers on Saturday with goals from Femi Akinwande and two Davide Rodari goals.

Hastings had a very satisfactory first season back in the Isthmian Premier last season following promotion from the Isthmian South-East and were hard to beat and finished 8th, just three points outside the playoffs.  Hastings won both encounters 1-0 against the Wands last season, winning at Hayes Lane in a tight game in October and again at Hastings in March 2023 with Ben Pope scoring the winners in both matches.

There is always a good buzz about games down at Hastings and this should be a good competitive game despite the differing early season form of both teams.

Admission £12/£8

Image courtesy of Ozay Booth