Cray Wanderers vs Billericay Town – Isthmian Premier – Saturday 4th April – 3 pm – Match Preview
Photos: Natalie Stribbling and Steve Cullum
With the Isthmian Premier League season whittling down to the last five games Cray Wanderers play the first of an Easter Double header of matches on Saturday as Billericay Town visit Flamingo Park as seventh hosts fourth in the race for the playoffs. Kick off 3 pm.
Both teams come into the game in the rudest of health with Cray just one defeat in eleven league games whilst Billericay Town have won thirteen of the last fourteen league matches and also won the Essex Senior Cup. Cray have 61 points in seventh place, seven points behind Brentwood Town in fifth.
It promises to be a thrilling day in the race for promotion on Saturday. Folkestone Invicta are almost certainly going to be champions but can dot the I’s and cross the T’s for the title if they win or maybe even draw at St Albans City with a fourteen point lead at the top. 2nd placed Aveley on 71 points travel to 3rd placed Chatham Town separated by a point with Billericay Town on 69 in 4th. Brentwood Town in 5th on 68 points visit 8th placed Burgess Hill Town with 6th placed Dartford, four points behind Brentwood Town travel to Carshalton Athletic who require points to steer totally away from relegation.
The Wands produced one of the finest performances of the season last Saturday to win 3-2 at Aveley to keep Cray’s outside chance of the playoffs alive. Cray took the game to the Millers and took the lead through Lateef Adaja’s eighth goal of the season in the fourth minute and deservedly held the lead at the break. Twelve minutes after half time Remi Sutton netted his first of the season turning the ball in from a corner and were full value at that stage for the win. However, Aveley fought back to level through two Liam Nash close range finishes to make it 2-2 in the 89th minute.
Cray though have shown their resilience especially over the last couple of seasons and in the second minute of added time Ola Ogunwamide’s charge down the right ended with a near post cross for Max Fiddes to slot home his fourth goal for Cray and his fifteenth of the season. Cray held out for the win which earned the club the Isthmian Premier Performance of the Month for March. The win made it three in a row and four out of five games. Cray also maintained a fine away record of just two defeats in nineteen on the road.
The Wands have four more games to play after Saturday with three of those against sides at the other end of the league table with the Cray Classico at Cray Valley PM on Easter Monday followed by home games on 11th and 18th April vs Lewes and Welling United respectively. Cray finish the season at Burgess Hill Town on 25th April. Cray were almost back to full strength last Saturday with only Jordy Mongoy sitting out the game through injury.
Billericay Town have been on a fine run since losing at home to Hashtag United on 3rd January. Since then Billericay have won all but one match which was at St Albans City in February and six straight wins. The Wands produced another fine performance against one of the promotion contender’s way back on 29th August with a 1-0 win at Billericay Town with only ten men after Quade Taylor’s harsh sending off but won with a Chris Dickson header which made it two wins in a row at the New Lodge and become one of only two teams to win there this season along with Dulwich Hamlet. Since then Town have come under new management with Danny Scopes taking over from Gary McCann in September.
Last Saturday Billericay Town were comfortable 4-0 winners at home to Burgess Hill Town with an own goal, plus goals from Elliot Long, Frankie Merrifield and Alfie Cerulli. Away form has picked up since the turn of the year with five wins in the last six games. Billericay picked up wins at Hashtag United (3-2), Burgess Hill Town (2-1), Chatham Town (1-0), Potters Bar Town (5-0), Lewes (3-0), Cray Valley PM (4-1) and Dulwich Hamlet (1-0). They drew at Dartford (1-1), Chichester City (2-2), Whitehawk (0-0), Aveley (3-3) and were beaten at Carshalton Athletic (0-1), Brentwood Town (0-3), Folkestone Invicta (1-2), Canvey Island (0-1) and St Albans City (0-2). Leading scorer is Frankie Merrifield with fourteen goals.
Billericay Town secured silverware by winning the Essex Senior Cup for the fifth time against Great Wakering Rovers, 2-1 at Colchester United FC with goal scorers, an own goal and Teddy Collis on target.
The only other time the sides met at Flamingo Park was on 21st December, 2024 and ended in a 1-1 draw with Josh Williams goal for Cray cancelled out by Ashley Nzala in added time.
With this being a super Saturday at the top end of the Isthmian Premier and so much to play for at the bottom this looks being a day to remember and with both teams playing well and in a rich vein of form this has the makings of a classic.
Admission: £15 adults, £10 concessions, £5 U18s available on the gate or online at www.cray-wanderers.com/tickets. You can also purchase as part of 3 Game Bundle which includes the Lewes and Welling United games for £30 adults, £20 concessions. A printed match programme, £3 (available on the turnstiles), Golden Goal tickets, Merchandise, hot and cold food including the legendary Dough Joes Pizza, hot and cold drinks, bars and big TV screen showing the FA Cup Quarter Finals before and after the match.
The Pre-Match Thoughts – Programme Notes of Tim O’Shea
Cray Wanderers go into today’s game with Billericay Town still in contact with the playoffs after a third straight win at Aveley last Saturday. Here Tim O’Shea looks back on a tremendous three points and performance, the challenge Billericay will pose and an Easter message for supporters.
Hello Tosh. A great afternoon last Saturday with the 3-2 win at Aveley which was merited as the team had to show great resilience and resolve to win late in the game after being pegged back to 2-2 in what was a great advertisement for non-league football on Non-League Day.
Yes, it was. I thought we thoroughly deserved to be ahead at half time. In fact we could have gone in with a more convincing lead of two or three goals and I don’t think they could have disagreed with it. The second half with the wind in their favour we felt they might come at us but again I felt we could have gone two or three up before Aveley got their first goal. I thought we were excellent again.
We got off to a great start going ahead after four minutes. I made that the seventh goal away from home this season where we have scored in the opening ten minutes. A beautifully crafted first goal and well taken by Lateef Adaja who perhaps hasn’t had the best of luck in front of goal of late.
As you say he is definitely getting into the positions. He is a good lad who works hard on his finishing on Thursday nights in training. He is someone who could quite easily get into double figures on a given season if he keeps working at it. I was really pleased for him. He has just come out of Ramadan so he is back to fitness now and sharpness. I was just surprised that Ola never scored.
We went two nil up before the hour through Remi Sutton’s first goal of the season. I was only saying to someone in the bar before the game I felt he was due a goal and was in the right place to score following Frankie Raymond’s corner.
He did, he was in the right place at the right time. I wouldn’t mind seeing him score a header actually as a centre-half and defender but it was a nice tap in for him after a great leap from Tom Bonner the far post above Matty Johnson. Remi has anticipated where the ball might fall and finished it with aplomb.
I suppose would have anticipated some sort of Aveley backlash considering their league position and got it back to 2-2 and proof that you cannot ever sleep on Liam Nash who netted a brace in the last ten minutes.
Yes, he does seem to have a knack of scoring against Cray sides doesn’t he! He certainly did when he played for Hornchurch against us. That is what Nashy does, he arrives in the box, ghosts in off of second balls and knockdowns. He is an established and great player certainly at our level so it was no surprise him coming on and making a difference for them.
There was still time for us to get a winner though and we did courtesy of Ola Ogunwamide’s tremendous run forward down the right and cross to the near post for Max Fiddes to score with a real predator’s finish in the 92nd minute.
At the time of the goal I was just saying to Mark Stimson that Ola was starting to look like he was running on empty as he had put in one hell of a shift in so to then find more power and pace at that late stage speaks volumes about him. If you can look back at the goal on the video he has lifted the ball over the goalkeeper and then Max does what Max does best. He is a fox in the box which is why he has fifteen goals for the season. I was pleased for Max as he came on as sub and looked sharp and was delighted he got his goal.
I felt this showed the character and resilience in the side and the never say die attitude to find a winner. Some teams after the way Aveley game back may have settled for a draw or risk not conceding another.
I think what we have instilled into the boys is that we go into every game wanting to win and whatever we get out of the game with that attitude so be it. However, I think it would have been a massive blow it we hadn’t got three points on Saturday. It would have been a tough one to take. Okay, we need to win but our performance and dominance deserved it. So when Aveley levelled I thought that was it but the boys did themselves proud and pleased for them more than anybody.
I did see a quote from Brett Munyard, the Aveley manager after the game who said fair play to us and we deserved to win and it is always good isn’t it to get those compliments from the opposition.
I don’t think anyone in the ground would have disagreed with him and that we didn’t deserve it. Anthony Church, Aveley’s senior player came up to me after the game, shook my hand and said it was nothing less than what we deserved. So that was a bit of class and it was nice of Brett to say that but we have that a few times of late. We have played some good teams and had complimentary remarks and long may they continue.
Let’s look now at today’s game against Billericay Town which will be another tough test for us. We beat them earlier in the season but it is almost like a different team now and I think they have won thirteen out of fourteen so should be a great game and challenge for us.
Yes it will be another big test but equally Billericay may look at this fixture and although they are in great form and seem virtually certain of a playoff place but they will be looking at it thinking it will be a tough one for them as well. We just want to get momentum. Our boys have done the club proud and unfortunately what can happen when you are having such a good season it is not quite complacency but expectancy, The boys deserve serious credit for how we have kept this season alive and where we are now. There are some big clubs below us who would love to be in our position. I think as long as that is appreciated and get the plaudits we will keep on going. If it ends up we finish in the playoffs, outside the playoffs or in the top ten that is something to be proud about.
I know the supporters have really enjoyed this season and performances and loved it on Saturday at Aveley. I just wanted to end by wishing you, your family and all the management and players a Happy Easter from myself and the fans.
Thank you and likewise the boys and management wish the supporters a Happy Easter and again for all those out there who have been under the weather recently in regards to Derek Pullman and Steve Cullum. We send our regards and to you both get well soon.
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 and the club house hosts live music and private events. Bexley FC 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.
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.
