Cray look to return to winning ways after a disappointing run of results as they travel to perennial Ryman North strugglers, Redbridge on Saturday.

Tony Russell’s side have been in a poor run of form since Boxing Day, picking up just one point from the last five games. This has seen Cray move from 1st to 5th in the table on 61 points and are now just three points ahead of sixth place, Brightlingsea Regent for the final playoff place. Cray are only four points behind second placed, AFC Hornchurch but the title itself looks very distant as they trail leaders, AFC Sudbury by twelve points.

There are still fourteen games left to go and a revival in Cray’s fortunes over the rest of the season could helped to cement a playoff place. First they will have to cut out the individual errors that have cost them in recent games and look to find more of a cutting edge up front.

The four goals scored by Heybridge were all gifted to them but there were encouraging displays from James Duckworth, Karl Dent and Aryan Tajbakhsh and but for Leigh Bremner’s sending off could easily have snatched a point.

As the last couple of games have proved, there are no easy games in the Ryman North and Cray have lost to two struggling teams, Waltham Abbey, away and Heybridge Swifts at home and travel to Essex knowing not to take any for granted.

Redbridge are managed by the dual coaching team of Ricky Eaton and Dave Ross. After picking up seven points from their opening three games they went through a terrible spell and when they last met Cray at Hayes Lane in late September, the Wands were comfortable 5-0 winners.

There was a great substitute appearance from player-Assistant Manager, Ray Powell who scored twice that afternoon and was only the goal post away from claiming a hat-trick. Karl Dent also netted twice with Ben Payne opening the scoring.

The Motormen currently 22nd in the table on 21 points, two points behind Wroxham. They did win away at Wroxham last Saturday, 4-3 to move off the bottom but went down to a 4-1 defeat in midweek at in form Bury Town.

They have had some good runs in County Cups, reaching the semi final of the London Senior Cup where they will face Hendon or Croydon and to the Quarter Finals of the Essex Senior Cup where they meet Tilbury. They have conceded 101 goals in their 32 games so a 0-0 draw is unlikely. Last season they finished in the relegation places but were given a reprieve when Southern League Clevedon Town lost their ground grading appeal

If Cray fans though are looking for good omens, it was a Tuesday night trip to Redbridge on 17th March, 2015 when the Wands ground out an unremarkable 1-0 win. That was the start of the great ten match unbeaten run which helped stave off relegation last season. A similar result on Saturday afternoon could yet be the springboard for another great run of results.

Cray’s next game will be at home to Dereham Town on Saturday, 13th February, 3pm kick off.