Lewes vs Cray Wanderers – Isthmian Premier – Saturday 6th September, 3 pm – Match Preview
Pics: Ben Keyes and Steve Cullum
Cray Wanderers return to league action on Saturday following last weekend’s FA Cup break as Tim O’Shea’s side head to Sussex to face Lewes at the Dripping Pan. Kick off 3 pm.
Both sides will be looking to bounce back from FA Cup defeats last week but league form up to then had been good with Cray in 8th on ten points but will be looking to rebound from the last league game on Bank Holiday Monday where the unbeaten start came to an end at home to Brentwood Town.
Last weekend, Cray had the chances to beat Hanwell Town in the Cup at Flamingo Park but had to be content with a replay despite goals from Luke Allen and Frankie Raymond in a 2-2 draw. A fairly patched up side through injuries at Hanwell on Tuesday night gave it their all but a goal in stoppage time for the home side meant the FA Cup adventure for the season is over. Despite the defeat there were some excellent performances especially the back four and Harry Seaden and George Brooke and Quade Taylor in midfield formed a positive duo. Certainly after such a positive pre-season and start to the season the last couple of games have seen a slight blip but mainly through the loss of influential players.
Lewes, managed by ex-Wands Player of the Season, Bradley Pritchard after losing their opening game of the season at home to Hashtag United have won their last four league games. The Rooks won at Carshalton Athletic (2-1) and Welling United (1-0). They won two home matches over the Bank Holiday weekend vs Potters Bar Town (2-1) and Burgess Hill Town (3-0). Lewes though were rocked last Saturday going down to an FA Cup defeat at Southern League Flackwell Heath, 1-2 after leading going into injury time. Despite that defeat Lewes rather like last season have begun the season well and lie 4th in the table with twelve points from five games. Kaan Bennett and Ryan Bernal are leading scorers so far with two goals each.
Bradley Pritchard took over from Craig Nelson in the summer after a spell at Phoenix Sports and looking to build on last season’s 13th placed finish and the early signs have been promising. Last season’s encounters ended in wins for Lewes, 3-1 at Flamingo Park in August 2024 and a lively 4-3 win on the final day of the season with Soul Kader, Victor Damyanov and Josh Williams scoring for Cray and Marcus Sablier, Jack Meeres, Bobby Unwin and Christo Nano. The Wands record at Lewes is in need of improvement with the only league win coming in the incomplete 2019-20 season, a 3-2 win in November 2019 with goals from Joe Taylor, Mitchell Nelson and Andre Coker.
Trips to Lewes are always one of the most popular on the supporter’s calendar and hopefully will be a sunnier day than of late amongst some great Sussex splendour and should be an entertaining match between two attack minded sides.
DIRECTIONS TO LEWES FC & ADMISSION
The Dripping Pan
7 Mountfield Road
Lewes
East Sussex
SAT NAV CODE: BN7 2XA
Admission prices: Adults £14
Concessions £10
Under 16s GO FREE – Must be accompanied by an adult
Online tickets: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/lewesfootballclub2/1804992
Programme: Online
By Car.
The Dripping Pan is at the very start of Mountfield Road, directly behind the station. If you are coming from the north or west, turn off the A27 for Lewes and turn right (signposted Rodmell and Piddinghoe) after about a mile at the first set of traffic lights, adjacent to the prison. Follow that road until you get to a mini roundabout by The Swan pub and turn left. Continue along this road and over the mini-roundabout straight into Mountfield Road where the ground is on your right hand side.
Parking
Metered street parking is available and there is a pay and display car park directly outside the ground (operating 9am-5pm Monday to Saturday) but please be aware that Lewes has quite a number of ‘keen’ traffic wardens patrolling the town so please purchase a ticket where required. To use it, you will also need to have the RingGo app on your phone: iPhone version Android version
There are two bays in the car park for people with Disability Permits. But it should also be noted that this car park does not belong to the club so unfortunately cannot reserve any spaces.
Train
For direct train services there are half hourly trains at 24 and 54 past the hour which go direct and takes about 1 hr 01 min. Returns are at 25 and 55 back to Victoria. You can get services from London Bridge at 15 & 45 past the hour but these require a change at East Croydon
Lewes railway station is about a two minute walk from the Dripping Pan. When you exit the main entrance, turn left and follow the path over the bridge then bear left at the roundabout. The ground will be in front of you.
The Dripping Pan is one of the great away days anywhere in football and if you have time on your hands there is much to see. The ground itself is quite unique with its steep banking and legend states the ground gets its name from when the area had a Salt making industry run by monks from Lewes Priory used to dry water from the river to make salf and accounts for the fact the stadium is sunk into the ground.
For those that like a pre match drink then Lewes is the place for you. Similar in many ways to Faversham as it has links to the Brewing industry with the Harveys Brewery a prominent part of the town just by the river Ouse.
Nearest pubs:
The Lansdown Arms – 36 Lansdown Place, Lewes BN7 2JU
https://www.facebook.com/TheLansdownArms/?locale=en_GB
(A very gothic pub with a tree growing out of it and has live music on Saturday with Blues vocalist and guitarist King Size Slim)
The Brewers Arms – 91 High Street, Lewes BN7
The Royal Oak – 3 Station Street, Lewes BN7 2DA (Sports Bar)
The Pelham Arms – High Street, Lewes BN7 1XL
The Rights of Man – 179 High Street, Lewes BN7 1YE
Elephant & Castle – White Hill, Lewes BN7 2DJ
Harvey’s Brewery – 6 Cliffe High Street, Lewes BN7 2AH
These all come highly recommended and serve real ales and good food with fresh local produce. Please be aware from previous visits and going to the High Street this is a fairly steep and in parts a cobblely climb so make sure you are feeling fit for the walk.
Lewes is a historic market town and the county town of East Sussex. The town is home to a medieval castle within the South Downs and was used during the Battle of Lewes in 1264. There are remains of Lewes Priory which was part destroyed during the battle and also Wealdon Hall House, a timber framed house which is also known as Anne of Cleves House after Henry VIII’s fourth wife although it is a matter of some conjecture whether she actually visited or stayed at the house. Lewes is also close to the home of the Glyndebourne classical music festival and every November 5th is home to the largest bonfire night celebrations in the UK.
The Dripping Pan is one of the more iconic grounds in non-league football and has been their home since 1885 and has also hosted cricket matches and Athletics down the years. It is believed to have its name deriving from being used as a salt mine for the now destroyed Lewes Priory, the remains of which can be seen adjacent to the ground.
