Cray Wanderers vs Lewes – FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round Replay – Tuesday 8th September – 7.45 pm
Tuesday night sees FA Cup action ending under the lights as Cray Wanderers and Lewes must go again after the dramatic finish on Saturday which saw the match at the Dripping Pan end in a 2-2 draw. The winners will have a big incentive with a home tie vs current National South League leaders Maidstone United on 19th September. Please note the game must be played to a finish via extra-time if level after ninety minutes or a penalty shoot-out.
Lewes will definitely be the happier to have a second bite at the cherry after Cray had led 2-0 after seventy eight minutes. A first half header from Ade Yusuff, his fourth of the season gave the Wands the lead and this was doubled with Soul Kader netting his first goal in his fourth stint on loan with a typical clipped finish.
However, Cray’s record at the Dripping Pan is not great and two goals in two minutes in added time from substitute Charlie Walker put the Rooks on level terms and ensured another dramatic cup night at Flamingo Park. This is the third straight season and the fourth in five where Cray have required a replay in the 1st Qualifying Round.
Unlike the FA Cup proper stages the non-league rounds of the FA Cup still require replays and as such is more in tradition with the history of this great competition that there should at least be one extra game to decide a cup tie. Such was the intensity and respect for the competition last weekend this match will be one of ten involving Isthmian Premier League clubs that require a replay.
The Isthmian Premier sides to advance definitely into the 2nd Qualifying Round were Aveley, Dulwich Hamlet, Chatham Town, Enfield Town, Leatherhead, Ramsgate and Eastbourne Borough. The Wands, Lewes, Carshalton Athletic, Burgess Hill Town, Brentwood Town, AFC Whyteleafe, Welling United, St. Albans City, Stanway Rovers, Dartford and Wingate & Finchley all will be in midweek action looking to advance but know at least with the 2nd Qualifying Round draw what awaits them if they win.
This will be the first FA Cup meeting hosted by Cray Wanderers vs Lewes but the teams have met twice in the league at Flamingo Park with a win apiece for both teams.
As stated, Maidstone United await the winners a club that folded when in the Football League in 1992 but reformed and met Cray in the old Kent League days with many a classic battle. The Wands famously beat the old Maidstone United in the FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round almost fifty years ago in October 1976, 2-1 at Oxford Road when the Stones were a leading Southern League club. Lewes have never met Maidstone in the FA Cup so would be a new experience for the Rooks to host the Stones.
Please note season tickets are not valid for this fixture. Admission £15 adults, £10 concessions, £5 U17s-18s, £20 Family Group ticket (for 5, 2 adults, 3 u16s) Admission on the gate or via the Cray Wanderers website – https://www.cray-wanderers.com/tickets/ There will be a printed A4 programme costing £1. Plus Merchandise, hot and cold food, drinks, Football on the big screen.
If Saturday proved anything is that the lure of the FA Cup is still alive and well and midweek replay action is something that adds magic, intrigue and tension to the competition.
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. AFC Whyteleafe also play their Isthmian Premier League 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. FOR LEWES SUPPORTERS TRAVELLING BY TRAIN DEPENDING ON WHAT TIME THE MATCH FINISHES THERE IS THE 22.06 TRAIN FROM NEW ELTHAM WHICH REQUIRES CHANGES AT LONDON BRIDGE & EAST CROYDON WHICH SHOULD GET YOU TO LEWES AT 00.10. Please check National Rail Enquiries for other options.
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. Please be wary though if using the footpath at night.
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.
