Cray Wanderers begin the month of March with a visit to the Isthmian Premier League leaders Hornchurch on Saturday as the season goes into its final two months. 

Kick off is at 3pm.

The Wands, after a good run of form in late January-February which moved Neil Smith’s side up to 13th in the league table, will be looking to bounce back from Tuesday night’s 0-2 defeat at Whitehawk.  That was Cray’s first defeat in eight games and overall was a game of few chances but not too much damage was done in terms of league placing and Cray remain eighteen points clear of 19th placed Cheshunt on 42 points.  

Cray won four games during February including away wins at Carshalton Athletic and Cheshunt and also drew at Folkestone while home form has been very good with the Wands unbeaten in fifteen matches with Hornchurch the last side to win at Hayes Lane in October.  Anthony Cook and Gary Lockyer are the leading scorers both with ten for the season. Defensively, Cray have been strong during February and Jack Holland and Tom Bonner at the back have been outstanding and both came closest to scoring on Tuesday night.

This will certainly be a huge test for Cray on Saturday as Hornchurch have set high standards this season and currently top the table on 73 points, nine clear of second placed Chatham Town and have two games in hand.  They also have an exceptional goal difference of +51 as they have scored the most goals (74) and conceded the fewest (23) goals.

Daryl McMahon took over as manager at the end of January after Steve Morison’s departure and on Tuesday night, Hornchurch were 3-0 winners at Concord Rangers with Femi Akinwande scoring a hat-trick which made it six straight wins and are unbeaten in twelve games. 

When the two sides met at Hayes Lane on 15th October, Hornchurch were 4-1 winners with goals from Liam Nash (2), Tom Wraight and Ollie Muldoon with Nyren Clunis scoring for Cray.  The last meeting at Hornchurch was a dramatic night on 26th April, 2023 in the playoff semi-final which finished 3-3 after extra time as Cray twice came from behind to take the game to penalties with goals from David Ijaha, Nyren Clunis and Sam Wood after Sam Higgins (2) and Liam Nash put Hornchurch 2-0 and 3-2 up. Ultimately Cray were beaten on penalties but produced a fine performance and came close to reaching the final which Hornchurch lost at home to Aveley.

Hornchurch are unbeaten at home having beaten Margate (4-1), Hashtag United (3-0), Dulwich Hamlet (2-1), Hastings United (4-1), Bognor Regis Town (4-1), Folkestone Invicta (4-2), Enfield Town (2-0), Potters Bar Town (3-0), Canvey Island (2-0), Cheshunt (1-0) and Haringey Borough (3-0). Hornchurch drew with Carshalton Athletic (1-1), Whitehawk (0-0), Lewes (1-1) and Horsham (1-1).

Away from home Hornchurch won at Horsham (2-1), Wingate & Finchley (4-1), Haringey Borough (2-1), Cray Wanderers (4-1), Cheshunt (6-0), Kingstonian (3-0), Enfield Town (2-1), Folkestone Invicta (2-0), Dulwich Hamlet (3-2) & Concord Rangers (3-0). Hornchurch drew at Lewes, Carshalton Athletic and Billericay Town and the only defeat came at Chatham Town on 16th December. Liam Nash is the leading scorer with 17 goals and three other players are in double figures for the season.

Cray generally have tended to fare better at Hornchurch in recent seasons winning four times there in the Isthmian Premier years with the last win being in August 2021 (2-1) than at home but definitely will be a tough but exciting challenge for the Wands and should (weather permitting) be a great game.

Admission £12/£7/£3 – Match Programme: £2.

Pictures supplied by Ozay Booth.