After five consecutive home league games in January Cray Wanderers thoughts now turn to three straight away games and begin on Tuesday 25th January with a trip to 3rd place Lewes at the Dripping Pan. Kick off is 7.45pm.
BROMLEY, GREATER LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 22: Cray Wanderers’s Cameron Brodie scores his team’s first goal to make the score 1-2 during The Pitching In Isthmian Premier League match between Cray Wanderers and Carshalton Athletic at Hayes Lane on January 22, 2022 in Bromley, Greater London, England . (Photo: © Jon Hilliger / HilligerPix)
The Wands confidence will certainly be high following the remarkable 5-4 win against Carshalton Athletic on Saturday which was a real rollercoaster of emotions for players, management and supporters alike.
After going two nil down fairly early on Cray staged a dramatic fight back before half time and scored three goals in the last eleven minutes with two superb Cameron Brodie strikes taking his tally in 2022 to four goals and a Chris Dickson strike in between Carshalton scoring a third.
BROMLEY, GREATER LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 22: Cray Wanderers’s Chris Dickson scores his team’s second goal to make the score 2-3 during The Pitching In Isthmian Premier League match between Cray Wanderers and Carshalton Athletic at Hayes Lane on January 22, 2022 in Bromley, Greater London, England . (Photo: © Jon Hilliger / HilligerPix)
After falling behind again early in the second half, quality finishes from Luca Albon, his first goal for Cray and Jamie Yila taking his tally to the season to ten capped a fine comeback and moved Cray out of the bottom three onto 23 points.
The team showed great character and fight to beat Carshalton and also claim their first league double of the season. Other key moments include three excellent saves from Bailey Vose, the return of Jai Reason and the impact he gives the team while Jacob Munting looks a fine signing and was a like for like swap for Reason in the second half. Yila was unplayable at times especially after the break but Brodie too was exceptional including a key block in his own area early in the second half.
BROMLEY, GREATER LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 22: Cray Wanderers’s goalkeeper, Bailey Vose, drops to his left to make a point blank save during The Pitching In Isthmian Premier League match between Cray Wanderers and Carshalton Athletic at Hayes Lane on January 22, 2022 in Bromley, Greater London, England . (Photo: © Jon Hilliger / HilligerPix)
There is no doubt about it that one tough game follows another and Cray will have to be at their very best to beat a Lewes side who have been one of the form sides during December-January. The Rooks currently sit 3rd in the table on 47 points, 7 behind leader Worthing and are the top scorers in the division with 64 goals.
Mind you, Cray produced one of their best performances of the season on the opening day beating Lewes 3-1 at Hayes Lane with Anthony Cook scoring twice and Jamie Yila scoring a third with Ollie Tanner replying for Lewes. That hot August afternoon seems a very long time ago now but the Wands under Grant Basey can go into the match with a bit of heart and the confidence to try and repeat that performance.
BROMLEY, ENGLAND – August 14: Cray Wanderers’s Jamie Yila lines up a shot during the Isthmian Premier League match between Cray Wanderers and Lewes at Hayes Lane on August 14, 2021 in Bromley, England . (Photo: © Jon Hilliger / HilligerPix)
Tony Russell’s Lewes side on Saturday drew 2-2 with Brightlingsea Regent after being two nil up in the first twelve minutes. Another ex-Wand Joe Taylor scored both goals and took his tally to the season to an impressive 25 with still three months of the season to go.
Home form has been pretty decent all season and have picked up wins against Enfield Town (4-1), Leatherhead (5-0), Carshalton Athletic (1-0), Haringey Borough (4-2), Folkestone Invicta (3-0), Bognor Regis Town (2-0) and Merstham (3-0). Lewes drew with Cheshunt (2-2), Horsham (0-0) and Brightlingsea Regent (2-2). Their only defeats at home were against Hornchurch (1-3), Corinthian Casuals (1-2) and Potters Bar Town (1-5). Away from home Lewes won at Potters Bar Town (3-1), Merstham (3-1), Brightlingsea Regent (3-0), Margate (6-2), Bowers & Pitsea (3-1), Horsham (3-1) and Enfield Town (4-1). They drew at Bishop’s Stortford and Wingate & Finchley and were beaten at Cray Wanderers, Worthing, East Thurrock United and Kingstonian. In the cups, Lewes were beaten at home by Met Police in the FA Cup 1QR and at Bishop’s Stortford in the FA Trophy.
Cray’s record at Lewes isn’t great but did win the last time the sides met there in October 2019, 3-2 where Mitchell Nelson and Taylor who both now play for the Rooks scored along with an Andre Coker goal in the season that was null and voided.
This game doesn’t really need a big build up as has been a match Wands fans have been looking forward too but there is no doubt about it, it will be a tough test in East Sussex on Tuesday night but should be a great football match between two attractive sides.
DIRECTIONS TO LEWES FC.
Admission prices: Adults £11
Concessions £7
Under 16s GO FREE – Must be accompanied by an adult
Online tickets: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/lewesfootballclub2/
Programme: Online
DIRECTIONS TO LEWES FC
The Dripping Pan
7 Mountfield Road
Lewes
East Sussex
SAT NAV CODE: BN7 2XA
By Car.
The Dripping Pan is at the very start of Mountfield Road, directly behind the station. If you are coming from the north or west, turn off the A27 for Lewes and turn right (signposted Rodmell and Piddinghoe) after about a mile at the first set of traffic lights, adjacent to the prison. Follow that road until you get to a mini roundabout by The Swan pub and turn left. Continue along this road and over the mini-roundabout straight into Mountfield Road where the ground is on your right hand side.
Parking
Metered street parking is available and there is a pay and display car park directly outside the ground (operating 9am-5pm Monday to Saturday) but please be aware that Lewes has quite a number of ‘keen’ traffic wardens patrolling the town so please purchase a ticket where required. To use it, you will also need to have the RingGo app on your phone: iPhone version Android version
There are two bays in the car park for people with Disability Permits. But it should also be noted that this car park does not belong to the club so unfortunately, we cannot reserve any spaces.
Train
For direct train services midweek, London Bridge will be your best bet. There are trains at 26 and 56 past the hour which go direct and takes about 1 hr 01 min. If you wish to go from Victoria you will need a change of train at East Croydon at 07 and 37 past the hour. For returns to London Bridge, there are trains at 21:57 and 22:27 which is the last direct train. After that you will need to change at Brighton for connections to London. You can also get
Lewes railway station is about a two minute walk from the Dripping Pan. When you exit the main entrance, turn left and follow the path over the bridge then bear left at the roundabout. The ground will be in front of you.
The Dripping Pan is one of the great away days anywhere in football and if you have time on your hands there is much to see. The ground itself is quite unique with its steep banking and legend states the ground gets its name from when the area had a Salt making industry run by monks from Lewes Priory used to dry water from the river to make salf and accounts for the fact the stadium is sunk into the ground.
For those that like a pre match drink then Lewes is the place for you. Similar in many ways to Faversham as it has links to the Brewing industry with the Harveys Brewery a prominent part of the town just by the river Ouse. The nearest to the ground is probably the Lansdown Arms across from the station while the High Street and Southover Road are fairly close to the ground and includes the Brewers Arms, The Royal Oak, The Pelham Arms, The Rights of Man, Elephant & Castle and the Lamb of Lewes will at least offer you surely something to satisfy. These all come highly recommended and serve real ales and good food with fresh local produce. Please be aware from previous visits and going to the High Street this is a fairly steep and parts cobbly climb so make sure you are feeling fit for the walk.
For those that like a chippy then the Lewes Fish Bar in the High Street could be what you are looking for.
Lewes is a historic market town and the county town of East Sussex. The town is home to a medieval castle within the South Downs and was used during the Battle of Lewes in 1264. There are remains of Lewes Priory which was part destroyed during the battle and also Wealdon Hall House, a timber framed house which is also known as Anne of Cleves House after Henry VIII’s fourth wife although it is a matter of some conjecture whether she actually visited or stayed at the house. Lewes is also close to the home of the Glyndebourne classical music festival and every November 5th is home to the largest bonfire night celebrations in the UK.
The Dripping Pan is one of the more iconic grounds in non-league football and has been their home since 1885 and has also hosted cricket matches and Athletics down the years. It is believed to have its name deriving from being used as a salt mine for the now destroyed Lewes Priory, the remains of which can be seen adjacent to the ground. A bit of a shame the game is not being played on a Saturday as not quite the same midweek unless you have spent the whole day there/
