Cray Wanderers face the second of three consecutive home games on Saturday as the Wands take on Walton Casuals for the first time at Hayes Lane since April 2009.  Kick off at Hayes Lane is 3pm.

The match sees a battle of the teams in 10th and 11th in the Isthmian League South table, both on 57 points and looking for an improvement in form.   Cray are without a win in five games and have lost their last three games at home.  Walton meanwhile who after beating Cray 5-1 at home in January were on the verge of the playoffs at that time have won one of their last five games during February.

Where there could be no argument with the results against Lewes and Tooting & Mitcham United,  Cray were extremely unfortunate not to pick up at least a point against Corinthian Casuals on Wednesday night, twice digging deep to come from behind to level the game before being pipped by Shaun Okojie’s header six minutes from time.   The Wands played as well going forward as they have for some time and perhaps with better fortune in front of goal could have won the game.  Perhaps the main concern from Wednesday were injuries to Danny Haynes and Jay Leader in the second half , especially unfortunate for Jay who has played every minute of every game this season until going off three minutes from time.  Brandon Scott made a positive impact when he came on as a substitute and before that, the Luke Medley/Danny Haynes partnership once again looked a potent pairing.  Nathan Fox showed great character to bounce back after his early own goal and performed extremely well in only his second game back with the club.

The Wands opponents on Saturday, Walton Casuals are also a very high scoring team with 82 scored in 37 games.  They have also conceded 77 which shows that their games are usually exciting, high scoring matches.  Their last two home games have seen Anthony Gale’s side lost 3-7 to East Grinstead Town and draw 4-4 with Herne Bay.  Away from home, Walton have won five games including an impressive 2-0 win at Lewes as well as a 6-1 win at Godalming and 4-1 at Chatham Town.  They have also been well beaten, 5-0 at Carshalton, 5-1 at Faversham and South Park and 6-1 at Hythe, so their games are seldom dull.

When the two teams met on 11th January, Cray got off to a fine start with Karl Dent giving the Wands the lead.  However, Walton turned the game around and goals from Malachi Hudson, two from Jack Sammoutis, a superb free kick strike from Jordan Cheadle and a late Gabriel Odunaike goal gave the home side perhaps a rather flattering 5-1 win against a ten man Wands side at the end.  Odunaike is the leading scorer with 19 league goals but they do seem to share goals around the side and Sammoutis looks a confident player.

The teams last met at Hayes Lane on 11th April 2009 with Cray winning 3-0 with two goals by Lewis Wood and a Colin Luckett strike. 

With both teams nine points behind the playoff places there are plenty of points still available for a late push but certainly this game promises to be another lively affair which Cray will just be grateful to win and then go on to the game against Herne Bay on Wednesday, also at Hayes Lane with confidence. 

Admission prices are £10.00 adults, £4.00 concessions/U16s