Cray Wanderers Vs Tonbridge Angels
PSF – Saturday 18th July, 2026 – 12 pm
Cray Wanderers move on to game four of pre-season on Saturday as Tonbridge Angels make it a third consecutive National South opponent visiting Flamingo Park for the second time. Please note the 12 pm kick off for this match.
The Wands come into the game in buoyant mood after an impressive come from behind victory against Isthmian Premier League Champions Folkestone Invicta on Tuesday night winning 3-1 and perhaps unfortunate to not score a fourth.
Invicta went ahead seven minutes before half time but Cray responded well and deserved parity in the 52nd minute when Ade Yussuf netted his second goal of pre-season with a well taken finish from Dan Ajakaiye’s cross. The Wands went in front in the 66th minute when another ex-Invicta player netted, Frankie Morgan who turned the ball in after Alex Hernandez’ shot was saved.
The scoring was completed in the 78th minute when Tade Kpotie, making his first team start after coming through the U18s/U23s last season made it 3-1 and topped off a fine performance from a team with experience for the first seventy minutes before young players showed their qualities in the latter stages.
Cray complete pre-season with home matches vs Cray Valley PM (21/7, 7.45 pm) and a Crystal Palace XI (25/7, 12 pm) wrapping things up at Faversham Town on 1st August (1 pm).
Since then the Isthmian Premier League fixtures have been released and the Wands will begin the 2026-27 campaign at Wingate & Finchley on 8th August. Cray will then play their first home game vs Cheshunt at Flamingo Park on Tuesday 11th August.
Tonbridge Angels will provide more stern opposition and Alan Dunne’s side are pretty much established in the National South since the 2019-20 season and finished 14th last season and were Kent Senior Cup finalists.
Angels look to have recruited well with five former Maidstone United players joining in the summer, goalkeeper Nathan Harness, Left back and ex-Wand Jephte Tanga, central defender Lexus Beeden, experienced midfielder Sam Corne and striker Lamar Reynolds who joins Angels from Enfield Town. Other signings include right back Harvey Lintott from Eastbourne Borough, midfielder Harry Gardner from Hampton & Richmond and striker Frankie Baker who joins from Millwall following a successful loan spell last season.
So far pre-season has seen a 1-0 win vs Biggleswade FC on 11th July but were beaten 0-2 by Sutton United on Tuesday. Tonbridge have home games vs Sittingbourne on Tuesday, against Dulwich Hamlet next Saturday, Eastbourne Borough on 28th July and finish off at Wingate & Finchley on 1st August.
Tonbridge begin their National South fixtures with a trip to Braintree Town on 8th August with the first home match vs Torquay United on 15th August.
Cray had some good battles with Tonbridge Angels in the Kent League days between 1990-1994 completing a league double in the 1990-91 season.
Meetings in the Isthmian League era have been fewer playing in Isthmian Division One in 2005-06 with a win apiece and two seasons in the Isthmian Premier between 2009-11 with Tonbridge beating Cray twice in 2009-10 but the Wands had a fine 4-0 win at Tonbridge in September 2010 with Lol Hamici scoring a hat-trick. Tonbridge though won at Hayes Lane, 1-0 in November 2010. The teams did meet in the 4th Qualifying Round of the FA Cup in 2023-24 at Flamingo Park which Angels won 1-0.
With the World Cup soon to be a distant memory the announcement of the league fixtures on Thursday whetted the appetite for the domestic season and already supporters are choosing their favourite games from the lists and which to look forward to. This should be a great game as all the pre-season matches have been so far which have seen four goals a game.
Admission £5 adults on gate or online at www.cray-wanderers.com/tickets with a printed match programme (£3), golden goal tickets (£1), merchandise, match programme store, hot and cold food/drinks, bars and large screen.
