Guest Posting: Cray Wanderers vs Chatham Town

So choosing the Isthmian Premier Division match between play-off hopefuls Cray Wanderers and Chatham Town was the right distance to drive and a game with something in it for both teams.

Cray have finally stopped wandering and put down some roots at Flamingo Park in Sidcup, where they proudly advertise themselves as the Oldest Club in London.

They have laid out a very good artificial pitch with one modest stand to one side, but as of yet no other cover from the elements. However, they do boast an impressive clubhouse from it’s past incarnation as a sports club with a huge bar and function room upstairs which has an excellent refurbished balcony from which you can get an excellent bird’s eye view of the game.

A large concrete and tarmacked concourse greets you as you enter through the turnstiles with plenty of wooden picnic tables, a great place to mingle with a pint.

Everyone was suitably cheery at the sunny if cold weather, the odd few seemingly less interested in the football and more so in the visiting support but nothing doing there.

On the pitch, there were two contrasting styles of play, the Wands set up to move the ball quickly using intelligent wing play and driving runs through the middle of the park whilst the Chats backed off and parked players behind the ball.

In contrast the visitors played it around the back four before sending it forward to their lone striker but the smallest man on the park wasn’t getting any change out of the experienced Tom Bonner.

The second half soon degenerated into a scrappy affair as each side’s efforts to make a difference cancelled each other out, both sides not really wanting to drop any points this afternoon. The visitors grabbed an undeserved lead with 12 minutes to play, one of the lost souls of English football and one time Premier League striker Nile Ranger prodded the ball home.

The Wands picked up an equaliser through a penalty from Alex Hernandez, the last few minutes played out at a tired pace and with just five added minutes when more should have been shown on the board.

It was an interesting and even game if not overly exciting. Both teams would probably potter along in the lower reaches of the National League South if promoted, Cray being the more attractive to watch whilst Chatham more likely to grind out the ugly results.

What however did attract my attention was the constant injury problems the Chatham keeper seemed to suffer from, something that has seemingly invited itself into the game and there are very few teams that fail to use the ‘tactic’ to get information onto the pitch.

It’s certainly something the game changers need to get rid from the 90 minutes, especially when the wasted time isn’t being fully added on to either half, would love an explanation as to why. The Chats keeper did pick up a second half yellow card for time wasting, rarely do you see one issued in the first half when nipping it in the bud would stop some of the groans coming from the crowd and less time needed to be added on.

What I did find interesting that you don’t find at every club was a coffee machine! Not the full on barista experience but with the usual Maxwell House style offering in the tea huts this was a welcome upgrade, twice the price as downstairs but worth every penny.

The old girl almost made it home by the way but came to a halt just short of the finishing line, that recovery truck was needed for me but for both sides on show still plenty left to play for over the final few months of the season.