Cray Wanderers vs Aveley – Isthmian Premier – Friday 9th January, 7.45 pm – Match Preview
Photos Steve Cullum and Jon Hilliger.
Cray Wanderers first home game of 2026 sees Friday night action as two playoff contenders clash as the Wands in 5th host 4th placed Aveley in a match pitting two teams in good form.
Please note this match is available to stream via https://www.clubbertv.co.uk
The Wands sit on 41 points with three wins in a row and after scoring nine goals in the last two games as the 5-0 win v Cray Valley PM was followed by a superb 4-1 win at Brentwood Town last Saturday.
Cray came out of the traps very quickly at Brentwood with Soul Kader scoring in the sixth minute while Alex Hernandez made if four goals in three matches with another superb free kick on the half hour. A second Soul Kader goal was the perfect way for his month long loan to come to an end two minutes later. Then Lateef Adaja on the stroke of half time made it 4-0 with another impressive strike. A gritty second half display sealed the win and a real signal of intent going into the game.
Aveley though are the form team in the Isthmian Premier and on Tuesday night were 1-0 winners at league leaders Folkestone Invicta with Ollie Peters goal before half time. Aveley who came back down from the National South after a two seasons stay are unbeaten in fifteen games dating back to September and are unbeaten away from home. The Millers have 42 points but have three games in hand on the league leaders.
So far Aveley have won at Welling United (1-0), Canvey Island (2-1), Potters Bar Town (2-1), Cray Valley PM (4-1), Whitehawk (1-0), Burgess Hill Town (5-2) and Folkestone Invicta (1-0) and drew at Dulwich Hamlet (3-3), Carshalton Athletic (1-1), Brentwood Town (3-3) and Hashtag United (2-2). Their last league defeat was at home to Folkestone on 15th September.
The teams have a decent history of matches in the past but in the Isthmian Premier there have been just the two matches both in the 2022-23 season with Cray winning both, 2-1 at Hayes Lane on 5th November 2022 with goals from Tom Derry and Mitch Chapman and Derry netted the winner in a 1-0 win at Aveley on 21st January, 2023. This was the season both sides reached the playoffs with Aveley eventually earning promotion.
BROMLEY, GREATER LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 05: The Pitching In Isthmian Premier League match between Cray Wanderers and Aveley FC at Hayes Lane on November 05, 2022 in Bromley, Greater London, England . (Photo: © Jon Hilliger / HilligerPix)
With both teams high on confidence this will be a big test for both sides and although likely to be very cold should provide enough heat for a great match.
Admission £15 adults, £10 concessions, £5 u18s/students – Premier League/EFL Season ticket holders free while bring a friend for £5. On the gate or online at www.cray-wanderers.com/tickets/
