Cray Wanderers are on the road on Saturday for the second successive week with the first visit to Hendon since March 2014. Kick off at Silver Jubilee Park, 3 pm.
Both Cray and Hendon have a par score after two games each with a win and defeat apiece with Hendon 12th and the Wands 13th in the very early Isthmian Premier League table.
Cray Wanderers began the season with a bang last Saturday with a 2-0 win at Hashtag United with goals from Frankie Raymond and Dontai Stewart, with Shaun Rowley on his 100th appearance saving a penalty. However, on Tuesday night the first home league game at Flamingo Park ended in defeat as Cray Valley (PM) were deserving 2-0 winners.
It is still very early in the season, the team are still gelling there have been some good performances in the first couple of games especially Rowley, Darion Dowrich, Charlie Edwards, David Smith and Quade Taylor and with a busy spell of games in August including the Bank Holiday Monday match at Dulwich Hamlet and the FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round on 31st August there is plenty to cram in in the next two weeks.
Despite the defeat the attendance of 840 augurs well for the season ahead and the Flamingo Park feelgood factor which carried through pre-season has given the club a new lease of life.
Hendon are making their return to the Isthmian Premier after six seasons in the Southern League Premier after the club were Isthmian top flight regulars from 1963-64 – 2017-18. Lee Allinson’s side finished tenth last season and were London Senior Cup Finalists.
The Greens’ began the season with a 2-1 home win vs Bowers & Pitsea last Saturday coming from behind with goals from Joe White and Kai Brosnan. On Tuesday night, Hendon were beaten 1-2 at Dulwich Hamlet with Brosnan scoring again with the winner coming in the ninth minute of stoppage time.
The last time the two sides met was on 15th March 2014 with Hendon winning 2-0 when the Greens’ played at Harrow Borough. Overall the teams have met in the Isthmian Premier ten times with Cray winning twice, the last a 3-1 win on 2nd April 2011 with Lol Hamici (2) and Leigh Bremner scoring, Hendon five times and three draws.
This should be a great away day past Wembley way and the Wands first visit to Silver Jubilee Field since March 1976 when Cray played Kingsbury Town and will be a new ground for many supporters and great to have Hendon back on the season calendar.
Admission: £12 adults, £8 concessions, £1 U18s
Images courtesy of Dave Budden