Cray Wanderers are on their travels for the final time in the 2017-18 season as they make their first ever visit to the Elmbridge Xcel Sports Hub to take on Walton Casuals. Kick off is 3pm.
The match takes on importance not only for Cray who are looking to finish as high as possible for the end of season playoffs but also for Walton Casuals who are seventh in the table, two points behind Hythe Town looking for a place in the playoffs for the first time.
Cray come into the game unbeaten in seven and after a quite ruthless and devastating performance against South Park last Saturday. The 8-0 win against a side which has won twice since then produced some excellent goals and a fine man of the match performance from Charlie MacDonald who scored twice. Also on the scoresheet were Lea Dawson, Brandon Scott (2), Aaron Rhule, Jay Leader and Junior Dadson as Cray topped 100 league goals for the first time in the Isthmian League era. The sixth goal scored by Dadson is as good a team goal as you are likely to see anywhere last weekend.
Tony Russell’s side are third in the league table level on points with Greenwich Borough on 86 points and are six points clear of their hosts on Saturday but Cray have a goal difference of +25 over Walton. Cray have been particularly mean on their travels conceding only 12 league goals away from home but will face a tough test against a side which has only lost twice at home all season and that was to the two promoted sides Lewes and Carshalton Athletic.
Anthony Gale’s Walton Casuals side won their opening four games of the league season and that set them up for a very consistent campaign in which they have been in and around the top 6/7 all season. They had gone three games without a win in April until Tuesday night when they won 2-0 at relegated Shoreham to go to 80 points with a goal in each half from Youssuf Bamba who scored twice when the teams drew 2-2 on 7th January and Jack Sammoutis who returned after a spell at Greenwich Borough.
When the two sides met in January it was an exciting game played on a Sunday and Cray led twice through Jerome Federico and Lea Dawson but Bamba struck to level twice including deep into stoppage time to grab a point.
Walton have been very strong at home especially since moving to their new home in September. They have beaten Chipstead (4-0), Faversham Town (4-3), East Grinstead Town (3-0), Hastings United (2-1), Whyteleafe (4-2), Sittingbourne (3-0), Shoreham (3-1), Molesey (2-1), VCD Athletic (3-1), Ashford United (4-0), Ramsgate (1-0), Phoenix Sports (3-1), South Park (2-1) and Herne Bay (7-0). They drew with Horsham (1-1), Hythe Town (2-2), Thamesmead Town (0-0), Greenwich Borough (1-1), Guernsey (2-2) and Corinthian Casuals (0-0). They were beaten by Lewes (1-2) and Carshalton Athletic (0-1). A very quick side they have been good on the road too winning at Hythe Town (2-1), Molesey (2-1), East Grinstead Town (3-0), Phoenix Sports (3-0), Guernsey (3-1), Faversham Town (1-0), Sittingbourne (2-0), Horsham (4-2) and Shoreham (2-0). They took a point from trips to Greenwich Borough, Chipstead, Ramsgate, Cray Wanderers and Lewes and were beaten by VCD Athletic, Herne Bay, Carshalton Athletic, South Park, Corinthian Casuals, Whyteleafe and Thamesmead Town. Top scorer is Josh Kelly with 21 goals whilst Bamba has 17 for the season.
Both sides have had very good seasons and have been consistent and hard to beat. This will be a hard game to call but Cray have performed very well and with great composure away from home and will need to do so again if they are to deny Walton the three points they need.