Cray Wanderers continue their run of FA Trophy games on Tuesday night as the Wands make the trip to Clarence Park to face National South league leaders St Albans City in the 2nd Round.
Kick off is 7.45pm. Please note there is no extra-time and will go to a penalty shoot-out if level after 90 minutes. The winners will be at home to Sutton United in the 3rd Round at the weekend.
This will be Cray Wanderers first trip to a National South club since a 3rd Qualifying Round defeat at Braintree Town in November 2017.
This will be Cray Wanderers third FA Trophy match in a row with a 3-0 win at Whitehawk on 31st October followed by a 3-1 win at Uxbridge on Tuesday evening. In what was the first competitive match for both sides following the end of the second lockdown, it was a terrific game with all the ingredients needed for a classic cup tie.
The home side got off to a flyer and went ahead in the 12th minute and could have scored a couple before that but for a couple of Lewis Carey stops but Cray who played with Charlie Allen at right back worked their way into the game and levelled three minutes later with Joe Taylor’s crisp close range finish from Rhys Murrell-Williamson’s volleyed cross. Cray got on top and Jason Banton capped off a good performance converting a well worked team goal move in the 27th minute. Taylor scored his second and 13th goal of the season in the 64th minute to give Cray a bit of daylight but there was still time for Carey to deny Toby Little with a fine penalty save ten minutes from time to seal the win for Tony Russell’s team.
With the match being the first for a while, not surprisingly there were one or two knocks during the game but Cray have a good quality side and can travel to St Albans in good heart if perhaps a little undercooked.
Certainly when the draw was made last Wednesday, Cray were pulled out a tough one as St Albans City are the in-form team in the National South and went top of the table on Saturday after a 3-1 home win against Tonbridge Angels. After going behind early on, St Albans fought back to win with goals from Mitchell Weiss, an own goal and a Shaun Jeffers penalty to put the Saints top with 27 points and unbeaten after 11 matches. St Albans City join the FA Trophy from this round so yet to play in the competition in 2020-21.
St Albans who finished 20th last season are managed by ex-Arsenal player and former Boreham Wood boss, Ian Allinson and so far in the league at home have beaten Hampton & Richmond Borough (1-0) , Ebbsfleet United (3-2) , Chippenham Town (3-0), Braintree Town (2-1) and Tonbridge Angels (3-1). They drew with Hungerford Town (0-0). Away from home, St Albans won at second placed Dartford (1-0), Eastbourne Borough (1-0) and Hampton & Richmond Borough (2-0) also drawing at Concord Rangers (1-1) and Oxford City (0-0). Their only defeat this season came against Isthmian Premier opposition in the FA Cup when after wins against Hitchin Town and Mickleover Sports were beaten 0-2 by Bishops Stortford in a televised tie. Jeffers is the leading scorer with eight goals.
This promises to be a tough challenge for the Wands but one the team will relish and showcasing what they can do against a side high in confidence.
Pictures supplied by Jon Hilliger – www.hilligerpix.com