'Cray aim to make history'

[Coffin Ender]

From kentishfootball.co.uk...

 

Cray Wanderers can make FA Cup history for themselves if they knock Ryman Premier League draw specialists Margate out of the competition on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Wands have never reached the fourth and final qualifying round of the world's best cup competition before in their 145-year history, and travel to Hartsdown Park to play a side that have drawn eight of their first ten league games.

But Cray's form has slumped since they defeated Kingstonian (4-1) in their FA Cup first qualifying round tie in September.

Ian Jenkins' side have lost to Hastings United (0-4) and Dover Athletic (1-2), both on their travels, but returned to winning ways with a 4-1 win at The Courage Stadium against Ryman League second division side Camberley Town in the last round.

But three league defeats against Fleet Town (0-2), Croydon Athletic (1-2) and Dulwich Hamlet (0-1) on Tuesday night has seen the club drop to thirteenth place in the table, and this poor form is concerning the club's assistant manager, Joe Francis.

In an EXCLUSIVE interview with www.kentishfootball.co.uk he said: "We've had big disruptions to the side, people seem to be forgetting that.

"Two bad performances against Hastings and Fleet but since then two good performances against Croydon Athletic and at Dulwich on Tuesday night, but no luck.

"So we go into the Margate game positive and ever hopeful.

"It's just a big test. Maybe we look forward to Saturday like any team would do in our position?."

It has been a very long time since Cray have gone five league games without winning - certainly before Francis arrived at the club.

"It's our worse slump for five years," admitted Francis. 

"Jenko (Ian Jenkins) and I have never lost four games in a row so it's new territory for us but we know what it will take to turn it around - hard work and concentration."

Francis knows what is at stake at Hartsdown Park.  "We know if we win on Saturday we can make history for the club," he said.

"It's the biggest game in the club's history, you cannot underestimate it. It's even bigger than our FA Vase quarter-final tie against Sudbury.

"We are going to have a big training session as we always do tonight (Thursday), no different to any other week and we go positive.

"I look forward to seeing Chris Kinnear, who is an old friend from years ago and we look forward to a good game of football at the new Hartsdown Park - we are really looking forward to playing there."

Francis, however, takes heart from last season when they were beating Margate 3-0 in the Kent Senior Cup at Homelands before the game was abandoned early in the second half.  

Although Kinnear's side has changed from the one that lifted the Kent Senior Cup for the third successive season in May.

"We've got players that can win games and it's familiar territory as we played them twice last year.

"We were 3-0 up at half-time and it got fogged off, which was our best 45 minutes of the season last year, but a lot has changed since then."

[Porka]

They are going to be either really up for it or they will bottle it and freeze on the day. "Biggest game in the club's history". He's not playing it down is he?

[JeremyJacobs]

I remember before the Spurs game we entertained Brett Sports in the Kent Senior Cup. It was their Cup Final as the crowd was large (getting tickets) and Margate were professional opposition. Cray will be going out on Saturday.

[michael]

The difference being that Cray are very much a 'proper' side ,strong and physical and playing at a standard similar to mfc.

 

This is a real real game.

 

Indeed, i think the odds flatter Margate.

 

I'd say it is evens,and with the injury crisis,possibly make Cray favourites.I would be pleased to come away with any win

[Coffin Ender]

Brett Sports finished fourth in the Kent League in 72/73, so they weren't completely hopeless. In fact I think we had only got a draw at their place and the game at Hartsdown was a replay.

There seems to be an 'injury crisis' before every Margate game, I wonder how much of it is CK kidology. Could be a tough tie, but we should have enough to go through.

[JeremyJacobs]

Agreed. Let's hope for a bit of luck in the 4QR draw

[Cookie]

Dont say that JJ as I am very supersticious. Dont lets tempt fate now. One step at a time. Lets win first if we can and talk about the draw afterwards. Silly I know as what will be will be,the futures not ours to see, QUE SERA SERA.

[Hempstead Gaz]

Hi, Tony. Tough game for you tomorrow. in any case the 4th qual.round draw is rigged!!! We are playing the winners of your game, then either southend or Gillingham in the 1st round.

Good luck

 

CG

[Cookie]

You jest of course but putting you out in the next round would be something special,again assuming we get through this round that is.

 

Any cup game,as you well know Gary is a hard game to win no matter what league you are in and Cray proved last year just how good they can be. We have to give it all and more in order to continue in this competition. Too many times teams below us have caught us out but this year the attitude seems to be right so maybe this time the favourites can win through.

[JeremyJacobs]

Cookie, I'm afraid I'm still living in the past when 1st round qualication for Margate was a given. I can't beleive it took MFC from 1973 to 1997 to do it again

[Dutch_Mike]

I agree with you, cookie. Think it will be a tough game tomorrow and i do not want to tempt fate by talking about who we might get in the next round. Cray gave us 2 good games last season (dont think anyone will forget the fog incident), and i think their league form is a poor reflection of how they will play. Although i predict a slender Gate win, i certainly think it will be a tough game.

[JohnKirby]

i think there has been a spelling error on this post, obviously chatham gary meant that after we play gravesend, we'll go on to play either gillingham or southend.

 

just thought i'd clear that up for everyone

[Hempstead Gaz]

Sorry, John, but I used Microsoft spellchecker. deffo the Fleet to win. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

[JohnKirby]

god damn Bill Gates!