Whitehawk vs Cray Wanderers – Isthmian Premier – Saturday 14th March – 3 pm – Match Preview
Pics: Natalie Stribbling, Steve Cullum
Cray Wanderers play the second of back to back away matches switching from West to East Sussex with a visit to Whitehawk with the Wands searching for a first ever league win versus the Hawks. Kick off at the McLaren Enclosed Ground, 3 pm.
Cray will be looking to bounce back from last Saturday’s defeat at Chichester City which ended a run of eight unbeaten away from home. The Wands moved down to eighth place on fifty two points and are eight behind Chatham Town and Billericay Town in fourth and fifth respectively. Dartford are currently sixth on fifty seven points with Burgess Hill Town in seventh on fifth five points. Cray are a point clear of Ramsgate in ninth with St Albans City and Dulwich Hamlet on forty nine points in tenth and eleventh making it a competitive race for the playoffs.
At Chichester, the Wands conceded an early goal and after going three nil down with five minutes to go Cray did reduce the arrears with Frankie Morgan scoring his first goal for the club following up a saved penalty.
Cray welcomed new signing Daniel Ajakaiye from Cray Valley PM earlier this week and who was part of Horsham’s Isthmian Premier title winning side last season joining another ex-Hornet Ola Ogunwamide who signed in February. The Wands will also hope to welcome back Tom Bonner who missed the trip to Chichester. Harry Waldock though has been recalled by Gillingham which is a great reward for his performances in midfield and Harry who spent a spell at Whitehawk earlier in the season is expected to play a part for the Gills towards the end of the season. Alex Hernandez has sixteen goals for the season and trails the Isthmian Premier leaders Jake Hutchinson (Folkestone Invicta) and Daniel Ogunleye (Brentwood Town) by two goals and one behind Leo Sery (St. Albans City). Max Fiddes has thirteen for the season.
Whitehawk come into the game in thirteenth place in the Isthmian Premier on forty five points and are without a win in four having lost their last three games but two of those defeats were at Chatham Town and Aveley both in the top five. On Tuesday night Shaun Saunders’ side were beaten by the odd goal in seven at another playoff contender Dulwich Hamlet. Hamlet were four one up at half time with Grant Hall scoring for Whitehawk who staged a fightback in the second half with goals from Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Nathan Cooper with the game ending 4-3 to Dulwich.
When the Wands met the Hawks at Flamingo Park on 12th December it was a game of two halves as Lateef Adaja gave Cray the lead at half time but Whitehawk fought back to win 2-1 with two goals in four minutes from top scorer Charlie Lambert. This began a run of seven unbeaten games which moved Whitehawk up the table and included five wins.
At home Whitehawk have beaten Cray Valley PM (3-2), Dulwich Hamlet (1-0), Carshalton Athletic (2-0), Brentwood Town (2-1), Hashtag United (3-2), Burgess Hill Town (3-1) and Lewes (3-1). They drew with Chichester City (0-0), St Albans City (1-1), Billericay Town (0-0), Ramsgate (2-2), Canvey Island (1-1) and Chatham Town (0-0). Their only defeats came against Aveley (0-1), Dartford (1-2) and Welling United (1-2). Charlie Lambert has fifteen goals for the season in league and cups.
The Wands will be travelling to Whitehawk for the fourth time in the league and on the previous three occasions the home side have won 2-0 including last season with goals from Andrew Briggs and Harry Bridle. The Wands only win at Whitehawk came in the FA Trophy in October 2020 in a 3-0 victory with goals from Charlie Allen, Rhys Murrell-Williamson and Freddie Parker.
With both sides really needing to win to stay in touch with the playoff places this should be a hard fought game and a tough one to call.
DIRECTIONS TO WHITEHAWK FC & ADMISSION
Whitehawk FC:
McLaren Enclosed Ground, East Brighton Park, Wilson Avenue, Brighton BN2 5TS
Ticket prices: Adults £13 (£12 in advance), OAPs/Students/NHS £8 (£7 in advance), U18s £5 (£4 in advance); Under 13s free (must be accompanied by a paying adult):
Online: Dogs welcome (must be on a lead at all times)
https://whitehawkfc.ktckts.com/event/whk2526h17/whitehawk-v-cray-wanderers
Printed Match programme: £2.50
By car:
As the traffic into the centre of Brighton on the A23 can be quite slow at times, the route outlined below avoids this.
From London:
At the end of the M23, continue onto the A23, heading towards Brighton. After passing the welcome to Brighton & Hove signs, just before you reach a roundabout which is the junction with the A27, bear left (signposted Lewes/Newhaven). Go straight over the first roundabout and take the right turning off the second roundabout onto the A27 towards Lewes/Newhaven. After around four miles as you pass Sussex University on your left, leave the A27 just before the AMEX stadium by taking the slip road (the left hand lane) sign posted Falmer/Rottingdean (B2123). At the top of the slip road turn right at the roundabout, crossing back over the A27 and continuing towards Rottingdean, passing the AMEX stadium on your right.
Carry on this road across the South Downs until you reach a set of traffic lights which is the Woodingdean junction at the Downs Hotel. Turn right here, towards the city centre/racecourse. Drive out of Woodingdean and at the next traffic lights turn left into Wilson Avenue (signposted Whitehawk FC and East Brighton Park). Drive down hill towards the sea, passing the entrance to the Stanley Leisure Centre on your left. At the bottom of the hill, just before the traffic lights, turn left into the entrance to East Brighton Park (signposted Whitehawk FC and East Brighton Park). Follow the narrow road round to the end. Just past the entrance to a caravan park, you will see the entrance to Whitehawk FC.
There is a car park at the ground that holds 100 cars. The entrance road up to the ground is quite narrow, so it may be an idea to find street parking on the residential streets off Wilson Avenue and walk over to the ground.
By Train:
Direct trains to Brighton from London Victoria at 29 & 59 minutes past the hour. For returns, direct trains back to Victoria at 09 & 39. From London Bridge trains depart at 05, 15 35 & 45 past the hour. Returns are at 09, 28, 39 & 58 past the hour.
Brighton railway station is situated around two and half miles away from the ground. Either get a taxi or bus to the ground.
By Bus:
From stand B at the front of the railway station, take the Brighton and Hove Bus No 7 (to Brighton Marina) or No 27 (to Saltdean) and get off at Roedean Road. Roedean Road is just round the corner from the entrance to East Brighton Park. After being dropped off, walk up Roedean Road to the traffic lights (keeping the gasometer on your right) and turn left into Wilson Avenue (signposted Whitehawk FC). Cross the road into the entrance to East Brighton Park (signposted Whitehawk FC/East Brighton Park). Follow the narrow road to the end, passing an entrance to a caravan park. Please take care along this road as it has no footpath and after the game will be unlit.
Subsequent note for those going by bus and on the No 7. If you get off at the Marina Terminus please be prepared for a very steep climb up East Brighton Park. Might be best to check bus times at Brighton & Hove Buses for return journeys but buses should be running after the game.
Nearest pubs: The Club house or Brighton Bier Haus is highly recommended as one of the best in non-league football so perhaps best unless you want to hang around Brighton all day to sample the wares including local beers at the ground.
If you don’t mind a climb and you get to the Marina then the Master Mariner which overlooks all the boats was a popular destination for the Cray Massive support last January where it was unseasonably warm. Also The New Bush (1 Arundel Road) could tempt you but I would suggest the club house might be best. If you are making a day of it then there will be other pubs/bars around Brighton especially after the game if not in a hurry for your train back home.
Brighton is part of the twin city of Brighton & Hove and the most popular seaside resort in the South of England. It grew as a tourist destination during the Regency period from the early 1800’s of George IV from which the Royal Pavilion was built. The growth of rail travel helped establish the city which has turned Brighton into a major tourist attraction. Brighton with its diverse cultural communities, music and arts heritage and its huge LGBT community has helped to give its title of the happiest place to live in the UK. The Pier, Grand Hotel by the sea and beach which links up to Hove to the East is world famous and hopefully weather permitting you can take advantage of the vast amount of amenities on offer in Brighton if you can. Please take note thought that the Whitehawk ground is a little bit out of town so keep your eye on the time and getting to the game on time.
Whitehawk lies to the East of Brighton and consists of a fairly large housing estate built in the 1930’s and added to over the decades and lies north of the Brighton Marina which was redeveloped in 1979. For those that arrive early you may be able to spot a chalk carving of a White Hawk on the hill at Sheepcote Valley. Like much of Brighton, the area is high on conservation and greenery and in 2012 the Racehill Community Orchard was set up and in 2018 won an award. Although at one time regarded in the 5% of deprived areas in the country much funding has been received to boost the area. Definitely one of the best away days and on the must do list if you can.
