Hashtag United v Cray Wanderers – Isthmian Premier – Saturday 17th January, 3 pm – Match Preview
Cray Wanderers make the first of two visits to Parkside in 2026 on Saturday as the Wands visit Hashtag United in a match with importance at both ends of the Isthmian Premier League table. Kick off 3 pm.
Cray will kick off in 6th place in the table level on 41 points with 5th placed Dartford and do have a five point buffer on 7th placed Burgess Hill Town. Tim O’Shea’s side will look to bounce back from the first defeat of 2026 last Friday as the in-form side in the league Aveley finished the game strongly to win 3-0 but perhaps didn’t quite reflect on what was a tight encounter until the last ten minutes.
The Wands had come close to scoring twice through Jordy Mongoy who caused the Millers problems especially in the first half, debutant loanee signing Harry Bridle, Frankie Raymond who hit the post and also Lateef Adaja was unlucky not to score so there were opportunities on the night.
Cray have bounced back well from defeats this season and will certainly look to continue a fine away record this season and have won four of the last five on the road and have just one defeat in thirteen and that was to the league leaders Folkestone Invicta in November.
Hashtag United require points at the other end of the table and Jay Devereux’s side are 19th in the table on 25 points, seven clear of Welling United in 20th place but have been in good league form and are unbeaten in three league games which saw a 2-2 draw with Aveley followed by a 2-1 win at Billericay Town and then last Friday picked up a vital point with a 2-2 draw at home to Dartford with Evans Kouassi scoring twice including a ninety sixth minute equaliser to grab a point. In between the Billericay and Dartford games, Hashtag reached the semi-final of the Velocity League Cup after a fine 5-1 win at Burgess Hill Town. United though do come into the game on a back of a 1-2 home defeat to Great Wakering Rovers in the Essex Senior Cup on Tuesday night.
At home this season Hashtag United have beaten Welling United (2-1), Folkestone Invicta (2-1) and Canvey Island (4-0) and drew with Potters Bar Town (0-0), Whitehawk (1-1), Lewes (3-3), Aveley (2-2) and Dartford (2-2). They were beaten at home by Chichester City (1-2), Billericay Town (2-3), Wingate & Finchley (0-1), Chatham Town (0-6) and Ramsgate (1-4).
The match pits the oldest and youngest clubs in the league and have only met in league competition since the 2023-24 season. Hashtag beat Cray twice that season while Cray did the double over United in 2024-25.
The teams fought out a cracker earlier in the season on 20th September at Flamingo Park with Cray coming back from 1-3 down at half time after goals from Bradley Sach, Evans Kouassi and top scorer Luke May-Parrott but a brace from Lateef Adaja and then two late Alex Hernandez goals including the 93rd minute won the game for the Wands.
Whether Saturday’s game meets that level of excitement remains to be seen but will be a tough match to call between two sides playing well and should be a game to savour.
DIRECTIONS TO HASHTAG UNITED
Parkside, Park Lane, Aveley, Essex RM15 4PX
Admission Prices
£12- Adults
£7- Concessions (12-17/Seniors over 65/Students)
£3- U12s
U16 – must be accompanied by an adult (max 3 u-16 in a party to one adult)
Gates will open at 1.45 pm. Cash or contactless payment is accepted.
Match Programme: Online/Digital
Playing Surface: 3G
Driving Directions:
Clockwise on M25:
– At junction 30/31, Use the 2nd from the left lane to take the A13 exit to Dagenham/Tilbury/Thurrock (Lakeside).
– Take Ship Lane to Park Lane in Aveley
: At Mar Dyke Interchange, take the 2nd exit
: At the roundabout, exit onto Ship Lane
: At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto High Street
: Continue onto Stifford Rd
: At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Aveley Bypass/B1335
: At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit
: Merge onto Park Lane. Parkside will be on the right
Anti-Clockwise on M25:
– Merge onto M25
– Use the left 2 lanes to take the M25 N exit
– Merge onto M25
– Take the A2(E) exit toward Dartford/A225/Canterbury/M2
Via the A13
Follow the A13 until reaching the junction with the A1306. Turn left (Rainham/Wennington) then immediately turn right into Sandy Lane (B1335) to Aveley. At the next roundabout go straight over onto the Aveley bypass (B1335). At the next roundabout take the first exit on the left onto Park Lane, the entrance to the ground is 300 yards on the right hand side.
By Train:
C2C stations Ockendon and Rainham are the closest and most accessible to get to Parkside. Available to access from both Fenchurch Street/Liverpool Street and Southend Central.
Ockendon Station: The station is around 2.9miles away from Parkside, however, on Saturdays the Number 22 Bus runs from Elan Road to Hanford Road and the ground is a 3 minute walk from the Hanford Road bus stop. From Fenchurch Street trains leave at 23 & 53 mins past the hour and returns at 08 & 38 past the hour. You could get there via West Ham and trains leave at 03 and 33 past the hour.
Rainham Station: The station is around 4 miles away, and on matchdays there are 3 TFL 372 Buses an hour that take around 15 minutes to get to St Pauls Close and into Aveley, followed by a ten minute walk either through the Village centre or down the Aveley Bypass. Trains leave Fenchurch Street at 07 or 37 past the hour and returns as above at 03 & 33 past the hour.
Nearest Pubs are Sir Henrys (Romford Road, Aveley RM15 4XB or the Park Tavern also on Romford Road/Usk Road and The Top House, Purfleet Road, RM15 4DL. The Aveley Chippy in the High Street is the nearest Fish and Chip shop. If you get off at Rainham Station then close to the station are The Phoenix Pub (The Broadway) and close by the Angel Inn and also the Albion (2 Rainham Road) if you have time on your hands.
Aveley is fairly near for Wands supporters to travel and we have done so on a few occasions over the years playing Aveley, Grays and now Hashtag United.
Aveley is a town lying just on the edge of Greater London and part of Thurrock Unitary Authority and a Church of England Parish. St Michaels Church in Aveley is a Grade I listed building. There are a number of Grade II listed buildings in the town and has an agricultural background in that part of Essex hence the nickname for Aveley FC. Aveley moved to the Parkside ground, which was the site of an old gravel pit in 2017 and has helped rejuvenate the club and area.
