Cray Wanderers vs Herne Bay – Kent Senior Cup 1st Round – Tuesday 9th September, 7.45 pm
Cray Wanderers take a break from league fixtures on Tuesday as the Wands host Herne Bay in the 1st Round of the Kent Senior Cup at Flamingo Park. Kick off 7.45 pm with the tie to be decided on penalties if level after 90 minutes. The winners will be at home to Maidstone United in the 2nd Round.
The Wands despite the defeat in the FA Cup to Hanwell Town a week ago bounced back on Saturday to pick up a gritty and merited point at Lewes after coming back from two down to draw 2-2.
Cray were not really at the races in the first half but were much more determined after the break and with three substitutions at half time with Quade Taylor, Frankie Raymond and Ashley Nzala coming on certainly made a difference and helped lever a chance for Cray to get back into the game.
Lewes were reduced to ten men just after the hour but Cray kept going and Nzala grabbed his first league goal for the club twelve minutes from time.
There was just over ten minutes additional time and half way through the Wands levelled with another first goal, this time Quade Taylor making it 2-2. Taylor could even have won it at the end but most supporters would have bitten your arm off at half time to get a point from the game.
For the visit of Herne Bay and keeping in recent tradition with the Kent Senior Cup we could see a handful of first team players maybe requiring minutes and regain sharpness to feature as well as a mixture of the Wands talented U23s and U18s gaining experience against what is expected to be a determined and strong Herne Bay side.
Liam Friend’s side have made a solid start to the Isthmian South-East season and have already played a game in the Kent Senior Cup having defeated Sheppey United at home in the Preliminary Round. After a goalless first half second half strikes from Friend, Kamani McFarlane and Monty Saunders saw the Bay through 3-0.
Herne Bay currently sit 6th in the Isthmian South-East. They began with a 2-3 defeat at Hassocks on the opening day but bounced back to beat Sheppey United, 4-2 at home. They then drew 0-0 at Broadbridge Heath and won 2-1 at Erith Town on Bank Holiday Monday. Their last league game ended in a 1-2 defeat at home to Deal Town. On Saturday, Herne Bay were at home to Ashford United in the 1st Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy but were beaten 0-3 with all three goals coming after half time.
The Wands and Herne Bay have met many times in league football through the decades and in more recent times in the Isthmian League with meetings in the Isthmian South and South-East and last time out in the Isthmian Premier in 2022-23 with Cray winning both meetings, 3-0 at Hayes Lane on New Year’s Day 2003 with goals from Danny Bassett, Tom Derry and Jalen Jones. Then on 10th April during the Wands run to the playoffs won 5-3 in an exciting encounter with Nyren Clunis (2), Sam Wood, Jones and Rio Campbell scoring for Cray.
The sides have met twice in the Kent Senior Cup but not for a while with Herne Bay winning both matches at home, 5-2 in December 1955 and 3-1 in January 1964. During the Kent League years the sides met in the sister Kent Senior Trophy competition. Neither side have won the competition with Cray finalists twice.
This should be an entertaining evening and admission prices are reduced for this match priced £8 adults, £4 concessions and U18s and youths free. There will be a printed programme, hot and cold food and drinks, bars and the Serbia vs England, World Cup Qualifier will be shown on the large screen on the Sun Terrace. Radio Commentary available on Radio Wands from 7.35 pm.
The Pre-Match Thoughts of Tim O’Shea
Hello Tosh. Let’s look back to Saturday and the point we gained from Lewes from being two down and also lost Prosper Keto to injury shortly after half time. Not for the first time this season we have gained from positive use of the subs bench.
Without a doubt, I thought the boys were magnificent. It took us all of the first half really to get to grips with Lewes’ formation and the way they played. I thought Lewes did it very well first half and we realised we had to change our shape a bit and personnel and try and nullify that.
We knew that the next goal was going to be an important one but we kept going and I thought we deserved a point. Without doubt they were the better side in the first half and we were in the second even before they were reduced to ten men.
We got back into it through Ashley Nzala’s first goal for the club. I felt he has deserved it over the first few weeks and not always got his just rewards but seemed to enjoy his first goal.
That’s right. He did have a chance prior to his goal, I think it was Alex or Lateef put a great ball across the box to the far post area and he fluffed his lines on that one. Fair play to him though he went again and got his goal. I am pleased for him. He had a great pre-season but had a slow start to the league season. I said to the boys it isn’t about 11 players it is 16 and it has shown in the last few games when we have had to make substitutions.
Then we get ten minutes of injury time and half way through we level through Quade Taylor’s first goal for the club. I feel he has been playing out of his skin this season and towards the back end of last season. Perhaps our Mr. Versatile and great that he should earn us the point with his goal.
Quade is fundamental in any success we may have. I know this is non-league but he is a true professional, he trains well, he does what you ask of him or where we want him to play. He is a great lad and I’m not sure if you noticed but he went over to Robert Iuliano on our bench whose father passed away last week and that is testament to him as he ran straight over and said “that was for your Dad”. He is phenomenal and we are lucky to have him.
We could have won it at the end as there were still minutes left but as you say a point was about the right outcome in the end.
Definitely. I know there was ten added minutes but a lot of that was down to Lewes as they spent a lot of time on the ground and okay a bit of gamesmanship but sometimes that can come back and bite you. We did have one or two other chances after the second goal to win it though.
Let’s now look to tonight and the Kent Senior Cup and the visit of Herne Bay. Usually these games can be a great showcase for some of our younger players but could there be a chance of some first team players requiring minutes making an appearance.
I think most definitely it will be a mixture of both. We can probably afford to have around four or five so called first team squad players partaking tonight. Plus some of our talented U23s and U18s can make up the rest. We picked up another injury at Lewes with PK with Frankie Morgan also out. Tom Bonner will be away but Remi is making his way back from a hamstring injury and played nearly 75 minutes on Saturday. The likes of Remi and Frankie Raymond need a rest so probably tonight four or five first team players and the rest being U23s & U18s.
Just in closing I wanted to make mention of an important and vital member of our club, Ally Maloney. On Saturday we had a situation where one of our supporters, Brian Dean had an accident and a tumble down the terrace steps. Ally for the duration of the first half looked after and tended for Brian along with the Lewes stewards until the paramedics arrived. This shows the professionalism and class that Ally has and is such an incredible asset to the club.
Most definitely, without a doubt. As you know she is very loyal to Cray Wanderers because I know she had a very big association with SE Dons. We are very lucky to have Ally with us, she works tirelessly, she’s an all-round beautiful person and Saturday wasn’t the first time she has been asked to attend an incident with a supporter after an incident with a youngster who had a fall a couple of weeks ago. She is very good at her job but other than that she is an absolutely fantastic person.
From myself and management we wish Brian a speedy recovery and hope to see him soon. If he is having a hip replacement, I have had two and still kicking a ball about so not the end of the world for him.
DIRECTIONS FOR NEWCOMERS TO FLAMINGO PARK
DIRECTIONS TO FLAMINGO PARK
DIRECTIONS TO FLAMINGO PARK FOR NEWCOMERS
Flamingo Park Sports & Leisure – Sidcup By-Pass, Chislehurst, Kent BR7 6HL
THIS EVENINGS ADMISSION PRICES
£8 adults, £4 concessions, U18s-Youth Free. Pay on gate only and no online sales for this match
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, Academy side and the club house hosts live music and private events. For the 2024-25 season Bexley FC will 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 – 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.
