Cheshunt vs Cray Wanderers – Isthmian Premier – Saturday 1st November, 3 pm – Match Preview
Cray Wanderers begin November with the first of four away matches this month with a trip to Hertfordshire to face Cheshunt as seventh hosts fourth in the Isthmian Premier with both looking to bounce back from defeats in their last league games.
Cray have been in and around the top 5 for the majority of the season while Cheshunt were one of the form teams in the early weeks of the campaign winning four of their first five games and it is always a tough and closely fought game when the teams meet.
The Wands last Saturday saw an eight game unbeaten league run come to an end as Dartford were 2-0 winners at Flamingo Park in a game which never reached any great heights. Cray remained fourth after the midweek games and have twenty two points from fourteen games played.
A goal in each half was enough to continue Dartford’s run up the table although three fine saves in the last half hour meant Cray failed to score in the league for the first time this season. There were some positives in the performance as Remi Sutton, who the Wands signed from Cheshunt around a year ago carried the fight, Prosper Keto and Adrian Gyamera have been consistently good all season and continued this form last Saturday and also Ralfi Hand who has come off the bench three times has given energy and zest to the midfield.
Cheshunt though have also performed well in the first three months of the season and lie seventh on seventeen points and have also advanced to the 2nd Round of the FA Trophy where they will travel to the Wands conquerors Bishops’ Stortford on 15th November.
Mel Gwinnett’s side on Tuesday night were beaten 1-2 at Lewes with George Nunn scoring in the first half for the Ambers with the winner for the Rooks in the 64th minute which made it back to back league defeats.
Home form has seen wins against Welling United (4-2) and Hashtag United (3-1), draws with Burgess Hill Town (1-1), Billericay Town (2-2), Dulwich Hamlet (1-1) and Cray Valley PM (1-1). Their only home defeat came against Wingate & Finchley (2-3) on 18th October. Away from home Cheshunt have won at Canvey Island (4-1) and St Albans City (2-1) and drawn at Billiericay Town. Their only away defeats came at Chatham Town and Lewes. In the FA Trophy, Cheshunt have won twice away from home to advance to the 2nd Round winning at Carshalton Athletic (2-1) and Wingate & Finchley (1-0) to set up a Hertfordshire derby with Bishop’s Stortford. In the FA Cup, Cheshunt were beaten at home by Leiston in the 1st Qualifying Round but have advanced in the London Senior and Hertfordshire County Cups. So far three players have three goals for the season, Sam Granville, Antonis Vasiliou and Dequane Wilson-Braithwaite.
Last season’s encounters were closely fought affairs with Cray winning both matches. The Wands won 1-0 at Cheshunt on 26th October for the second straight season with a rather fortuitous goal from Charlie Edwards which in many ways began the start of Cray’s eventual rise away from the relegation places. Cray also won 2-1 at Flamingo Park on 15th February after ex-Wand Kenny Coker gave the Ambers the lead, goals from Nyren Clunis and Soul Kader won a hard earned three points.
The sides had met on a number of occasions back in the 1950’s and 60’s in the London Senior League and Aetolian Leagues. They also met in Cray’s run to the Quarter Finals of the FA Vase in 1980 with Cray winning 2-1 at Oxford Road. The sides have met eleven times in the Isthmian League era either in the North or Premier with Cray winning seven, Cheshunt two and two draws.
With the summer months now firmly behind us and with the match likely to finish in darkness this is always a fascinating point of the season going into November with some teams still in the FA Cup and FA Trophy but the afternoon’s/nights get colder and the points sometimes can be harder to attain. This should be a good watch for supporters and neutrals alike between two sides perhaps not fancied to be in the higher reaches of the league but have done so on merit.
DiRECTIONS TO CHESHUNT FC & ADMISSION PRICES
Address:
The Stadium, Theobalds Lane, Cheshunt, Waltham Cross, Herts EN8 8RU
Adult: — £15.00 (£12 online until 10 am on 1st November)
Concessions: – £10.00 (£8 online until 10 am on 1st November)
U17-U13s – £ 6.00 (£4 online until 10 am on 1st November)
Under 12 – £2.00
https://cheshuntfc.ktckts.com/event/chn2526h08/cheshunt-vs-cray-wanderers
Pitch: Grass
Programme: Printed
BY ROAD
From the M25 motorway exit at Junction 25 taking the A10 (Great Cambridge Road) north following signs for Hertford. At the first roundabout take the third exit following signs for Cheshunt/Waltham Cross A121 (Winston Churchill Way). At the next roundabout take the first exit following signs for Cheshunt B176 (High Street). Continue under the Railway Bridge and turn left at the next mini roundabout into Theobalds Lane. Cheshunt Stadium is 800 yards along on the right hand side. The ground has a car park with spaces for 200 vehicles.
By Rail:
Theobalds Grove Station is a 5 minute walk away on the corner of the High Street and Theobalds Lane and enjoys a half hourly service to Seven Sisters (Victoria Line) and Liverpool Street. Please note that Cheshunt Station is not the nearest station to the ground.
Trains leave Liverpool Street at 15 & 45 minutes past the hour and takes 35 minutes to get there. Returns are at 05 & 35 minutes past the hour. For those that would prefer to travel via London Victoria, the Victoria Line looks to be running ok and you can catch a tube to Seven Sisters at 03 and 33 past the hour taking 16 minutes to get there. Theobalds Grove is in Travel Card Zone 7.
From the station walk east on the Arches and at roundabout take the 2nd exit onto High Street/B176. At the roundabout take the 1st exit onto Theobalds Lane for 0.5 miles then turn right onto Great Cambridge Road/A10 for 0.2 miles and to the ground.
By Bus:
Bus routes 310, 310a (Waltham Cross to Hertford) 242 (Waltham Cross to Potters Bar) and 251 (Waltham Abbey to Cheshunt) all stop at Theobalds Grove Station.
The nearest pubs to the ground are close to Theobalds Grove Station. The Vine, Coach & Horses and The Wheatsheaf are in Waltham Cross High Street and perhaps going the other way to the direction of the ground and good if you have plenty of time on your hands.
The Wheatsheaf – 273 High Street, Waltham Cross EN8 7BG – 0.5 miles – 10 mins walk
The Coach and Horses – 36 Crossbrook Street, Waltham Cross – 0.5 miles (10 mins walk, straight over the roundabout)
The Vine – 207a High Street, Waltham Cross EN8 7AY – 0.7 miles (15 mins walk)
Cheshunt is a commuter town in the Hertfordshire borough of Broxbourne and is fairly close by rail links to London and is located in the Lea Valley. It is also home to Tesco’s head office and also the home headquarters of Lotus Cars and as the home of legendary singer, Cliff Richard. Queen Elizabeth I lived there as a young Princess.
If you have time on your hands Cedar Park, a short walk to the ground which includes the lavish Theobalds Palace which was a favourite residence of Kings James I is well worth a visit. It covers 19 acres and includes gardens, a maze, monuments and a mini zoo (the smallest in the UK). Many years ago it was the home of the Temple Bar Gate which has since been moved to London.
