WOMEN’S MATCH REPORT
By Charlie Bradford
Cray Wanderers Women 0-10 Bromley FC Women
Pre-Season Friendly
Sunday 10th August 2025, 3 PM @ Flamingo Park
Cray Wanderers and Bromley have always seen to be friends in football off the pitch given Bromley gave Cray Wanderers a home between 1994 and 2024 whilst Cray fought for the home they now own today at Flamingo Park.
However, on the pitch, it is still a derby! Indeed Cray’s heaviest ever defeat on record is 11-1 to Bromley in 1920/21 so they’ll be more keen to tell you about recent competitive meetings such as when Cray thumped Bromley 6-1 in the Kent Senior Cup of 2007 / 2008 – the season in which Cray got to the final only to lose 4-0 to Ebbsfleet United!
It’s a fixture that doesn’t seem to happen all that often these days, at least not competitively of course, given the level both clubs now play at but the two clubs have met in pre season in recent times including a 2-2 draw between the two sides in July. However, that’s obviously on the men’s side of things.
Perhaps unsurprisingly given the Wands’ women’s side are only in their third year of existence, the two have never faced off in the female side of the game. Until today…!
Like Sevenoaks Town last week, Bromley Women play in the sixth tier of the English pyramid. In their case they will play in the London & South East Regional Football League Division One North next season, one tier above Cray, so, derby aside, the Wands Women knew they were in for a tough contest this afternoon.
And, as if the prospect of a derby was not spicy enough, it featured two players for Cray who were playing against their former club – Lucy Rix and Frankie Mardon. So who would take the so-called bragging rights?!
Well the answer was pretty empathic! Bromley needing just 10 minutes to take the lead when their number 14 (apologies but Cray were not supplied with the Bromley lineup) got played in and superbly lobbed Jess Cox once in the box.
Seven minutes later and it was 2-0 – Bromley having a three on one but their number 10 went herself to find the bottom right.
Indeed, barring a couple of Millie Main shots on target, Cray could seemingly not get anything going in attack and conceded again in the 38th minute – a corner from the right headed home by their number 9.
And, on the stroke of half time, the visitors made it 4-0 when their number 10 played through their number 9 who slotted through Jess Cox’s legs and in.
HT: 0-4.
The half time break did not seem to do much to stem the tide as Bromley made it 5-0 in the 53rd minute – a ball from the right tapped home by their number 10 bang in front.
Five minutes later and it was 6-0 when their number 7 tucked a shot into the bottom left and six quickly became seven when Frankie Mardon gave away a penalty for a trip which was tucked into the bottom right by Bromley’s number 12.
The 73rd minute saw Bromley’s number 19 bundle home an eighth, before Bromley scored two goals in second half stoppage time…
The first of them saw their number 7 tuck a shot into the bottom left before their number 9 capitalised on a loose back pass to tap home.
A very sobering result then for Cray and a tough day at the office but perhaps a learning curve for the season ahead.
FT: 0-10.
Please see here a link to an interview with Wands player of the match Jess Cox.
