The Blues will be back on their travels this weekend, as we take the journey to South East London to face Cray Valley PM for the first time this season. Awaiting the Blues will be a side who, despite only being promoted into the Isthmian Premier League this season, are sat in 3rd place in the table after an excellent start to life at step three. A tricky test for the Blues as the festive football period begins in earnest. Safe journey to all travelling fans!
Our Opponents
Cray Valley PM have been a member of the non-league pyramid for over 100 years. More recent history has seen some of their most successful years of their long history. The Millers started the 2000s in the Kent County League, promoted into the Kent County Premier Division in 2002/03, a level at which they remained for 15 years (later renamed the Southern Counties East Premier - step 5 of the non-league pyramid). In 2018/19, a successful season saw the Millers promoted as champions as well as reaching the FA Vase final. In 2020/21, now members of the Isthmian South East division, the club reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup for the first time, losing to Havant & Waterlooville.
Last season, The Millers managed to repeat this feat, reaching the FA Cup First Round again to set up an amazing local tie against Charlton Athletic, against whom they managed to secure a draw at The Valley to set up a home replay, where they succumbed 6-1 to the League One side. It wasn't just FA Cup action where the Millers had success last season, as they were crowned champions of the Isthmian South East division with 95 points from their 38 matches.
During the summer, Cray Valley lost one of their stars of last season in Kyrell Lisbie (son of Kevin) who moved into the NLS with Braintree Town. However, the Millers were able to keep much of the squad together, with six of the starting XI from the final game of 2023/24 starting on the opening game of this season. From that consistent squad, there have been numerous excellent performances this season which sees them sat in 3rd place with 35 points (W10 D5 L3).
Head to Head
Delving into the archives, the last time that these two sides faced each other was in 2014/15, in a London Senior Cup clash with the Millers securing a home 2-1 win in February 2015, Jack Read with the goal for the Blues on that day. No league fixtures have taken place between the sides in recent years.
Last Time Out
Wingate & Finchley's last game was a home clash against Billericay Town in the midst of Storm Darragh. The wind caused tricky playing conditions but both sides battled well and despite the Blues' strong first half performance, a scrappy goal in the second half was enough for the visitors to take all three points and overtake the Millers into 2nd place.
Saturday's game for Cray Valley PM was abandoned due to an injury to a visiting Lewes player - all at Wingate & Finchley wish him well, the score at the time being 2-0 to Lewes. Prior to this, it was a top of the table clash as Cray Valley PM visited Dover Athletic, securing a 2-2 draw thanks to goals from Matthew Vigor and a 99th minute equaliser by Mohammed Oshilaja. The Millers went unbeaten throughout November with four wins and three draws.
Players To Watch
The Millers' top scorer so far this season is Freddie Parker who has 12 goals in all competitions including a hat-trick against Bognor in a 3-2 win in October. The number 9 has, however, gone on a run without scoring in recent weeks, and therefore will be pushing to get his name back on the scoresheet on Saturday. The 23-year old forward came through Millwall's academy and has also played for the likes of Cray Wanderers, Lewes and Sevenoaks.
In midfield, a vital part of the Millers' promotion side last year was Danny Waldren. The experienced campaigner, now 35, counts the likes of Bromley, Billericay and Welling United amongst his past clubs, with National League South experience including securing promotion to the National League with Bromley back in 2014/15.
For the Blues, Arthur Iontton made his first league start since September against Billericay and looked assured in the midfield, with the ex-Stevenage man demonstrating his usual technical playing style, having recovered from an injury which kept him out earlier in the season. Blues fans will be keeping an eye on him to see if he can continue his run in the side and help us return to winning ways.
Meanwhile, Saturday saw the return of forward Ben Ward-Cochrane. He made a brief cameo from the bench at the weekend, having returned to the club from Potters Bar last week. Ward-Cochrane made a handful of appearances for Wingate & Finchley at the start of 2023/24 before joining Potters Bar this season where he scored 3 goals in 17 appearances. We look forward to seeing Ben back in a Blues shirt - welcome back!
Photos courtesy of Martin Addison.
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