Cray Wanderers vs Bromley XI – PSF – Friday 18th July – 7.45 pm – Match Preview
Cray Wanderers continue pre-season this evening as Tim O’Shea’s side host a Bromley XI at Flamingo Park. Kick off, 7.45 pm.
The Wands have made a positive start to pre-season with a win against Beckenham Town and last Saturday drew 1-1 with a Crystal Palace XI with at the end the average age of the squad was 19.2. This gave some of the U23s players virtually a full second half and looked the part against a full time trained Palace side.
With the league fixtures now thankfully received and the supporters ready to go, the Wands team have been gelling nicely in the early stages of pre-season and new arrivals like Ashley Nzala, Alex Hernandez, Tyrese Briscoe, Prosper Keto, Frankie Morgan and Harry Seaden all making impacts as well as some of last seasons stalwarts like Lateef Adaja, Remi Sutton and Josh Williams who scored against Palace last Saturday.
Bromley FC are one of the most upwardly mobile clubs in the country and this is reflected in a strong U23s/Professional Development/B side who will be visiting Flamingo Park this evening. Bromley U23s won the Suburban League and a number of players could get first team experience in cup ties this season with Bromley now ensconced in the Football League.
Cray Wanderers have benefited from loan signings of Bromley Academy and fringe first team players over the last few seasons with the likes of Kellen Fisher, Ben Krauhaus, Sam Skeffington and Marcus Sablier making an impact during the 2022-23 season and last season Frankie Moralee and George Penn both starred in the 1-0 win at Dover in December 2024. Soul Kader who now seems set for a first team run after recovering from injury netted ten goals for Cray in ten games towards the end of last season.
The teams met in pre-season last season with Cray winning 4-2 on 20th July with Alex Teniola and Nyren Clunis amongst the scorers.
Bromley’s first team finished 11th in their first season in the EFL League 2 and were only four points behind 7th placed Chesterfield in the final playoff place. Andy Woodman’s side travel to Shrewsbury Town in their season opener on 2nd August followed by a home game against newly promoted Barnet on 9th August. Bromley host Ipswich Town who were in the Premier League last season in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday 12th August.
After tonight, the Wands face Kent opposition all the way to the end of pre-season with visits from Sittingbourne (Tuesday 22nd July, 7.45 pm), Ashford United (Saturday 26th July, 3 pm) and Maidstone United (Saturday 2nd August, 3 pm) before the season opener at home to Canvey Island on 9th August.
Admission £12 adults, £8 concessions, £4 U16’s-U13s on gate or online at www.cray-wanderers.com/tickets/ with season tickets valid for Wands fans. Match Programme priced £2 available at the turnstile with older programmes in the bar. Hot and cold food and drinks/beers available.