WOMEN’S MATCH REPORT

By Charlie Bradford

Cray Wanderers Women 2

(Gregory 52, Symonds 90)

Saltdean United Women Development 6

(Macleod 2, 6, 69, Towner 8, Moore 14, Hutchinson 32)

Sunday 24th August 2025, 1:30 PM @ Flamingo Park

They say a week is a long time in politics but how about two weeks for Cray Wanderers Women?! That’s when they last played when they were humbled in a 10-0 loss to Bromley at home in an afternoon they will be keen to forget.

Since then, however, Cray have had a couple of friendlies cancelled as well as players leave the club for pastures new which meant a long period between games had been added to with other issues…! The team would have therefore been itching to get out onto the field today and put things right in their latest pre season friendly….

Today’s friendly saw them come up against Saltdean United Women Development in a hastily arranged game against the side who will play in the London & South East Regional Women’s Division One South this upcoming campaign – the level above Cray Wanderers and where Cray can perhaps aim to aspire to be in 2026 / 2027.

For now though, Danny Stanton’s chargers knew they would be in for a tough test against higher league opponents and a side who finished third last season.

As it proved out it was a very tough test indeed and visitors Saltdean took the lead in just the second minute when Macleod placed a shot into the bottom right and out of the reach of Cray goalkeeper Jess Cox.

Four minutes later and Macleod had her second when a corner from the left saw her head the ball powerfully into the top left corner.

And a bad start got even worse for Cray just two minutes later when Towner managed to find the bottom left corner for Saltdean in a well placed finish.

The fourteenth minute saw Saltdean score a fourth when the ball was squared from the right and, after seeing her initial effort saved by Jess Cox, Moore put the ball home at the second attempt.

With then a bit of a lull in the game, Saltdean eventually completed a nap hand in the 32nd minute when, after dragging a shot wide moments before, Hutchinson superbly lobbed Jess Cox from inside the box.

Cray also had to see out further Saltdean chances with Hutchinson dragging a shot past the right post, Moore striking over the top left, and Cray’s Frankie Mardon giving the ball away but Moore was denied by a good save by Jess Cox one on one.

The half ended with a couple of half chances for Cray – Olivia Gregory striking wide from 20 yards before Millie Main struck a cut back over the bar.

HT: 0-5.

Moore almost scored for Saltdean but was denied by the foot of Jess Cox but Cray got on the scoreboard in the 52nd minute – Olivia Gregory with a cross shot from the right which sailed into the top left corner.

However Saltdean restored a five goal cushion in the 69th minute when Cray could not clear their lines at a corner and Macleod pounced to find the bottom left corner for her hat trick.

Jess Cox made further saves for Cray who managed to score a consolation in the 90th minute when a short corner found Emily Symonds in some room and she placed a shot into the bottom left corner.

Overall however another Cray friendly they will perhaps be keen to forget but there were certainly positives to take from the second half display into their final pre-season friendly against Epsom & Ewell next week.

FT: 2-6

Player of the Match: Emily Symonds