Cray Wanderers boss Neil Smith can take his mind off his side’s disappointing start to the Isthmian League season and concentrate on the FA knock-out competitions as he takes his side to Essex this weekend for an Isuzu FA Trophy tie away to Brentwood Town. 

With Flamingo Park’s first Fourth Qualifying Round tie in the FA Cup just a week away and incredibly the first HOME final qualifying round tie since the Club founded in 1860 has ever played (they have only ever got this far three times in their 164 years of history).

This weekend Smith and his side head to the Isthmian North side looking to make it four appearances in the last five seasons in the First-Round proper of the Trophy. 

“For the Club, to do well in the FA Cup brings some money into the Club which is needed and generates some publicity for us as well being in the new ground,” Smith told KSN this week after his side had beaten Hastings United in the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Cup last weekend.

“It was a hard-fought win,” Smith went on, “And a deserved one. We had to earn the right to win the game and knew it would be a tough game.

“They are a team with very good individuals and they beat Chatham in midweek, but we told them that it would be difficult, but stay in the game and get to the break so that we could re-adjust if needed to their formation and I think we ran out deserved winners.”

As goals from Toby King, Kenny Coker and David Smith saw the Wands run out 3-0 winners and earn a plum Fourth Qualifying Round tie at home to Tonbridge Angels. 

“To win at the first time of asking was great,” Smith explained, “As it meant that for the first time in ages we could train on a Tuesday night. To pull Tonbridge out in the next round is a brilliant draw for us as it is another Kent side and hopefully a good following will come with them.

“I was told after the game at the weekend that we have never had a home game in the Fourth Qualifying Round, and they have never got to the First Round either, so we are trying to and making history being in Flamingo Park anyway so we want to carry on as long as we can.

“It will be a tough game against a good Tonbridge side, I know Jay Saunders and Lloyd Blackman very well, they are unbeaten and towards the top of their table, so it’s Cup football! We had it first round when we drew at Larkfield, we will be positive after a good run of games, but first we have got the Trophy Saturday.” 

The Wands head through the Dartford Tunnel this weekend to a Brentwood side sitting mid-table in Isthmian North and Smith told us, “I know a few of their players and we can expect another very tough game, and we have to make sure that we continue to enjoy a good Cup run in the Trophy this time as well.

“All the money we can bring into the Club helps towards a better budget to get safe in the League as soon as possible and start building the Club.” 

“Brentwood is always a tough place to go, and we are under no illusions, it will be a tough game, and we are going to need everybody in the squad to be fully at it and focused, but we will be ready for it. We have a full squad and are looking good, but they must look good on Saturday and not in training!” 

Image courtesy of Dave Budden