Cray Wanderers vs Ramsgate – Isthmian Premier – Saturday 7th February, 3 pm
Cray Wanderers begin February with the first of three successive Kent derbies as the Wands host Ramsgate at Flamingo Park in a match pitting two sides just outside of the playoffs in the Isthmian Premier with Cray in sixth place and Ramsgate in ninth.
This begins a run of three matches against playoff contenders with Chatham Town visiting Flamingo Park next Saturday with a trip to Dartford on 21st February making this an exciting run of games for the club and fans.
The Wands will be looking to turn the excellent away form which has seen Tim O’Shea’s side unbeaten in seven games with five of those being wins into some home points but can go into the match with Ramsgate high in confidence.
Last Saturday Cray showed attacking flair in the first half with stoic resistance in the second to win at a damp and murky St Albans City which kept the Wands in sixth place on forty six points from twenty nine games played. Cray got off to an incredible start and were two up inside twelve minutes with Max Fiddes, on a month loan from Dover Athletic netting with his first touch after two minutes from Frankie Raymond’s cross. Ten minutes later Alex Hernandez steered in an impressive header from Adrian Gyamera’s fine ball to the near post for his twelfth goal of the season. In added time at the end of the first half Cray scored a third from the penalty spot netted by Hernandez. In the second half time Cray had to show guile and resilience after the hosts pulled back two goals early in the half but the Wands withstood the pressure and in the end came away with a deserved three points in tricky conditions.
The playoff race is very tight with Folkestone stealing a march at the top of the table with a fourteen point lead but behind them Aveley on 54 points, Brentwood Town who defeated Chatham Town on Tuesday night are third with 52 points, three clear of Chatham who have three games in hand with Dartford in fifth on 47 points, one clear of Cray Wanderers after twenty nine matches. Billericay Town are seventh, a point behind Cray with Burgess Hill Town in eight on 43 points and Ramsgate in ninth on 40 points. Dulwich Hamlet and Lewes in tenth and eleventh respectively have 37 points and not totally out of the running at this stage.
Ramsgate who make their first visit to Flamingo Park returned to the Isthmian Premier this season for the first time since 2008-09 and have been on a great run of form in January with five straight wins in league and cup which has put the Rams in touching distance of the playoffs.
Lee Martin took charge in November after starting the season at Welling United and the experienced former Football League player has moved Ramsgate up from the lower reaches of the table and won the Manager of the Month for January. They began the month with home wins vs Chichester City and Lewes and then won at Potters Bar Town and last Saturday were 1-0 winners at Wingate & Finchley with Mitchell May scoring the winner in the second half. In January Ramsgate added experience and goals with Liam Nash joining on loan from Billericay Town as well as Kweku Lucan from Folkestone Invicita, Greg Cundle from Welling United and Logan Dobbs on loan from Gillingham.
Away from home Ramsgate have won at Welling United (4-1), Hashtag United (4-1), Potters Bar Town (4-0) and Wingate & Finchley (1-0). They drew at Billericay Town (2-2), Lewes (2-2), Whitehawk (2-2) and Dulwich Hamlet (0-0) and were beaten at Chatham Town (2-4), Cray Valley PM (1-4), Brentwood Town (1-2), Aveley (0-5) and Burgess Hill Town (3-4). The Rams are also through to the Semi-Finals of the Velocity Cup after wins against Ashford United, Welling United and Binfield which sets up a home semi-final with Hashtag United.
When the teams met at Southwood Road on 27th September it was an entertaining affair which finished in a 1-1 draw with both goals scored in the first six minutes. Lateef Adaja fired Cray in front in the opening minute of the match but Alfie Paxman who has ten goals for the season netted from the penalty spot five minutes later. The last league meeting at Cray took place at Hayes Lane on 25th November 2018 in the Isthmian South-East and finished in a goalless draw.
This promises to be a great game and occasion and with still three months of the season both teams come into it with optimism and two sides playing with confidence.
Admission £15 adults on the gate or online at www.cray-wanderers.com/tickets with a bring a friend for £5 offer (on the gate only) £10 concessions, £5 U18s-U17s. Printed match programme £3 available from the turnstiles. A NOTE FOR SUPPORTERS THAT THE CLUB SHOP IS CLOSED WITH MERCHANDISE BEING SOLD IN THE UPSTAIRS BAR. Golden Goal tickets (£1), hot and cold food/drinks and bars.
THE PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS – PROGRAMME NOTES OF TIM O’SHEA
February sees three home matches for Cray Wanderers as the Wands continue to vie for promotion after five games in January which saw two wins, two draws and one defeat. This afternoon Cray play the first of those three games vs Ramsgate who visit Flamingo Park for the first time. Here Tim O’Shea looks back to last Saturday’s terrific win on the road at St Albans and his thoughts today. Tim was speaking to Luca Viscogliosii from Radio Wands after the match at St Albans.
Hello Tosh. Let’s look back to last Saturday and the 3-2 win at St Albans City in what can only be described as a battling performance. It was a tale of two halves really wasn’t it as in the first half we dealt with the conditions better and scored three goals. The second half they brought on Alex Wall at the top end of the pitch, they get a goal back and it was a real test and we needed to be resolute.
We were resolute. To concede a goal a minute into the second half go their crowd up we were going down the right hand side rather than down the hill. Alex Wall is an immense presence and a handful and what they resorted to was smashing the ball in from every free kick or throw in and was going to him. They have some great players and it was definitely a backs to the wall second half performance but I thought the lads were magnificent.
Going back to the first half and the first goal scored by Max Fiddes on his debut and his first touch and a real striker’s finish. In terms of identifying him and bringing Max to the Wands, he has twelve goals in the league this season as management does he have all the right credentials as a replacement for Chris Dickson and Soul Kader up front.
What Max does he gives us strength in depth because ultimately we have Harry Bridle who has proved his stripes and has come in and done well. Max was introduced to the team on Saturday and was at training on the Thursday. I thought all three, Max, Harry and Alex Hernandez collectively between them its about the squad and always has been. It doesn’t matter who wears the shirt it is who can pick the baton up on the day. Max worked himself into the ground so Harry came on and between Max, Harry and Alex there are goals there and are doing well in the goalscoring charts and in the top 10. We have pace down the sides with Jordy Mongoy who played well at St Albans and Lateef Adaja who always gives everything he’s got. The pleasing thing about the second half was that the team dug in and I don’t think you could have begrudged us winning the game.
Let’s move on to today’s game and Ramsgate. Lee Martin has gone there and has turned them around and are looking up rather than down. Rather like St Albans they will be looking to try make a late charge up the rails for the playoffs.
Without a doubt. Lee has made some great signings like Liam Nash and Kweku Lucan who are all good boys. They are going all out and have been on a great run and have momentum and have won five league games on the spin. It is the business end of the season now and sides are gearing themselves up for the best possible finish and reach the playoff places. Folkestone I think will win the league and Jay Saunders has done a great job there but then it is up for grabs for the four playoff places. Anyone down to 10th/11th/12th are still eying up a possible charge so Ramsgate have given themselves a great chance and it will be a great game this afternoon.
DIRECTIONS TO FLAMINGO PARK FOR NEWCOMERS
Flamingo Park Sports & Leisure – Sidcup By-Pass, Chislehurst, Kent BR7 6HL
Flamingo Park lies on the A20 and is the new home of Cray Wanderers and used for the Men and Women’s First Team, U23s, Youth Team games, Academy side and the club house hosts live music and private events. For the 2024-25 season Bexley FC will also play their Kent County League Premier games at Flamingo Park.
By car
From Kent – Via M20 or A2
M20 – Follow the M20 for 16.8 miles then continue on to A20 for 3.6 miles then continue on to Sidcup By-Pass Road/A20 for 1.9 miles. Continue onto Sidcup By-Pass/A20 for 0.3 miles then take a left into the ground entrance and another left for the car park.
A2 – Get on the M2 from A229 for 5.1 miles. After merging onto the M2 after 5.5 miles continue onto Watling Street/A2 for 8.7 miles. Use the left lane to take the M25 (S) slip road to M23 for 0.7 miles. Merge onto the M25 for 2.4 miles then at junction 3, exit towards A20/London (SE)/Swanley for 0.3 miles. At the Swanley interchange, take the 5th exit onto the A20 slip road to London (SE)/Lewisham for 0.8 miles. Merge onto the A20 for 3.5 miles then continue onto Sidcup By-Pass Road/A20 for 1.9 miles. Continue onto Sidcup By-Pass/A20 for 0.3 miles then take a left into the ground entrance and another left for the car park.
From London, North & West
Via A20 – If traveling from London take A3212, A302 and Westminster Bridge Road and at the roundabout take the 3rd exit onto St. George’s Circus/A201 and after 0.3 miles turn left onto New Kent Road/A201 for 0.5 miles. Then keep right staying on New Kent Road/A201 for 0.4 miles and then onto Old Kent Road/A2 for 2.6 miles. Take a slight right onto Amersham Road/A2/A20 then a left onto Amersham Road/A20 for 0.2 miles. Take a slight right onto Lewisham Way/A20 for 1.1 miles and then use the left 3 lanes to turn left onto Rennell Street/A20 for 1.9 miles. Use the right 2 lanes to turn slightly onto Sidcup Road/A20 for 0.3 miles then at the roundabout take the 2nd exit and stay on Sidcup Road/A20 for 3.7 miles. Then take the A222 towards Bromley/Chislehurst/Sidcup for 0.2 miles then at Frognal Corner Roundabout take the 4th exit onto the A20 slip road to C. London/Lewisham for 0.3 miles. Then merge onto the Sidcup By-Pass Road/A20 for 0.6 miles and then onto the Sidcup By-Pass for 0.3 miles. Then take a left into the entrance to the ground and another left into the car park.
From Essex/East Anglia
Via A13 – If traveling from Essex/East Anglia get onto the A13 for 11.6 miles. Use the left lane to take the M25 (N)/M25 (S) slip road to M11/M1/Stansted Airport/Dartford Crossing/A282 for 0.2 miles. At Mardyke Junction take the 1st exit for 0.3 miles and then use the right lane to take the A282 slip road to M25 (S)/Dartford Crossing then keep right at the fork to continue towards A282 for 3.8 miles. Use the right 3 lanes to stay on A282 then follow signs for M20/M23/Gatwick Airport /M25/Channel Tunnel/Dover for 0.6 miles. Continue onto M25 (signs for Dover/M20/Channel Tunnel/M23 for 3.3 miles. At junction 3 exit towards A20/London (SE)/Swanley for 0.3 miles and at Swanley Interchange take the 5th exit onto the A20 slip road to London (SE)/Lewisham for 0.8 miles. Then merge onto the A20 for 3.5 miles, continue onto Sidcup By-Pass Rd/A20 for 1.9 miles and then continue onto the Sidcup By-Pass for 0.3 miles then turn left into the entrance to the ground and then a left into the car park.
From: Sussex/South
If traveling from Sussex/South best get on Hastings Road/Pembury By-Pass/A21 in Kent from A267 and after 9.4 miles continue straight onto Sevenoaks Bypass/A21 for 3.8 miles and then keep right to continue onto M25. After 7.9 miles at junction 3 use the left 2 lanes to take the A20 exit to London/Lewisham/Channel Tunnel/Maidstone/M20 for 0.3 miles. At Swanley Interchange take the 2nd exit onto the A20 slip road to London (SE)/Lewisham for 0.5 miles. Merge onto the A20 for 3.5 miles, continue onto Sidcup By-Pass Rd/A20 for 1.9 miles and then continue onto the Sidcup By-Pass for 0.3 miles then turn left into the entrance to the ground and then a left into the car park.
The Car Park is free for supporters and there should be space between 400 cars on site. Please note bays in front of the main entrance are reserved for club officials.
By Train – Nearest BR Station – New Eltham – 1 mile. Trains from London Charing Cross/London Cannon Street/London Bridge or from Dartford/Gravesend. There are four trains an hour heading to New Eltham from London Charing Cross. For returns there are also four trains back to London. PLEASE NOTE THAT SERVICES BEGIN FROM CRAYFORD TO NEW ELTHAM ON 7th FEBRUARY WITH RAIL REPLACEMENT FROM GRAVESEND TO CRAYFORD. FOR RAMSGATE SUPPORTERS PLEASE CHECK NATIONAL RAIL ENQUIRIES BEFORE TRAVELLING.
From the station walk south-east onto Foots Cray Road/A211 for 0.3 miles then turn right onto Thaxted Road for 0.2 miles. Then turn left towards Sidcup Road/A20 and cross over the pedestrian footbridge and take a sharp and then a slight right towards Sidcup Road/A20 for 0.4 miles and then turn right and then a left into the entrance to the ground.
By Bus – The best bet is to get the 233 from Swanley, Sidcup, Eltham or New Eltham which stops on Thaxted Road but is around 0.8 miles to the ground. From Chislehurst station the 162 bus which starts in Bromley stops on Slades Drive where you can access the public footpath opposite the bus stop and is around a ten minute walk to the ground. This bus also stops at New Eltham Station for your return journey.
TAXIS – – ALL DAY CARS – NEW ELTHAM – 020 8850 0032
Nearest Hotel: Premier Inn London Eltham
738 Sidcup Road, Eltham, London
SE9 3NS
Sat Nav Directions:SE9 3TJ
Directions:
From South Circular Road, take A20 Sidcup Bypass until you reach Fiveways, where Sidcup Road meets Green Lane Premier Inn Eltham is situated on the corner and the entrance to the car park is on Green Lane.
https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels/england/greater-london/london/london-eltham.html
The Car Park is free for supporters and there should be space between 700-800 cars on site. Please note bays in front of the main entrance are reserved for club officials.
Close to New Eltham Station are the Beehive pub plus the Pope Street Bar & Kitchen and the Nest offers hot drinks/alcoholic drinks and live music. There are also places to eat and a wide range of takeaway outlets as well as Fish & Chip and a Pie & Mash shop. Alternatively if you travel from Sidcup there are a wide range of pubs to choose from.
