YOUR CHANCE TO OWN A LITTLE BIT OF ETFC HISTORY...

If your an Enfield Town FC fan here is your chance to own a genuine piece of history regarding the club and it's all in aid of the very worthy cause of the @HelpforSam charity appeal. Please click on the below link to the ebay auction for a Number 22 Rudi Hall Testimonial Shirt which at present is priced at £20 with just over a day left to go.

Rudi Hall Testimonial Number 22 ebay auction

....or you can click here to see all the other collectable items available to raise funds for the Help For Sam appeal which includes an Enfield Town FC away shirt. All money raised goes to help Sam who has Cerebral Palsy. He needs funds to help him walk, study & lead an independent life. A very worthy cause indeed.

NO MORE RAIN PLEASE??

The question most non-league fans in the South of England have been asking over the last few days is will we see any football on Saturday. The above picture shows a local pitch in reasonable condition for all the rain that has fallen over the last week with many clubs struggling to keep pitches playable. Unfortunately more rain is forecast to fall for mostly all of Friday so there will be more postponements this weekend.

 

Haringey Borough are one of the worst affected clubs having only played five league home games as the rain and earlier FA Cup and Vase runs have put a huge dent in their Essex Senior fixture list. They are due to play Bowers and Pitsea on Saturday followed by midweek home games versus Barking (Tuesday) and Great Wakering Rovers (Thursday). Will any of these games take place?

 

 

 

    

CROCKENHILL FOOOTBALL CLUB - CAN THEY PICK UP A WIN SOON?

The playing record of Crockenhill Football Club has come to The Cold End's notice over the past few weeks. The club have the very unfortunate record of losing all of the seventeen games they have played this season. The Crocks are currently members of The Kent Invicta League (Step 6 of the non-league ladder) having played in The Kent County League for two decades having left The Kent League in 1999 as their ground didn't have floodlights. Manager Craig Clark and his team deserve full credit for battling away and hopefully a win will come soon. They welcome Glebe (11th place) this coming Saturday and then there is a basement battle with Eltham Palace (14th) on Saturday 8th February. Palace have won two of their fifteen league games so far which came away at Kent United Football Club (W 2-3) and at Meridian VP (W 1-3). The Cold End wishes The Crocks well and hopes they can pick up a win soon. Their Wested Meadow ground is well worth a visit as you can see here from Grounds For Concern which describes it as "A totally ramshackle ground, but no less beautiful for it. This venue really is a delight, &-as you will see- the bar is practically a mini-museum!"

 

Their playing record this season reads as follows -

 

DATE	OPPONENTS	SCORE
10/08/13	ORPINGTON	L 3-4
17/8/13	MERIDIAN VP	L 1-2
24/8/13	HOLLANDS & BLAIR	L 0-15
26/8/13	RUSTHALL	L 1-2
7/9/13	BEARSTED	L 0-10
14/9/13	SEVEN ACRES & SIDCUP	L 0-2
21/9/13	LEWISHAM BOROUGH	L 0-6
28/9/13	LYDD TOWN	L 0-4
12/10/13	SUTTON ATHLETIC	L 0-3
19/10/13	KENT FOOTBALL CLUB	L 0-12
2/11/13	FLEET LEISURE (CHALLENGE TROPHY)	L 0-7
16/11/13	MERIDIAN VP	L 1-3
23/11/13	BRIDON ROPES	L 1-7
30/11/13	HOLLANDS & BLAIR	L 0-13
14/12/13	FLEET LEISURE (CHALLENGE TROPHY)	L 1-7
28/12/13	RUSTHALL	L 0-4
25/1/14	ORPINGTON	L 0-5
1/2/14	GLEBE
8/2/14	ELTHAM PALACE
22/2/14	LYDD TOWN
8/3/14	BRIDON ROPES

AMATEUR FOOTBALL ALLIANCE SENIOR CUP

The Quarter-Finals of the prestigious Amateur Football Alliance Senior Cup are due to take place next Saturday 1st February. Five teams are representing the Glemnet Southern Amateur League and three come from The Amateur Football Combination.

KINGS OLD BOYS (5th AFC SENIOR DIV 1) v ALBANIAN (3rd AFC SENIOR DIV 1) 
WEST WHICKHAM (8th GLEMNET DIV 1) v WINCHMORE HILL (1Oth GLEMNET DIV 1)
BB EAGLES (8th GLEMNET DIV 2)  v OLD WILSONIANS (3rd GLEMNET DIV 1)
ALLEYN OLD BOYS (6th GLEMNET DIV 1) v OLD SUTTONIANS (7th AFC PREMIER)

The game of the day for The Cold End comes in Burbage Road, Dulwich, SE24 in a Southern Amateur League v Amateur Football Combination game as Alleyn Old Boys face Cheam based Old Suttonians. The away side are without a win in four games since their last victory which came in the last round of the cup against Old Foresters (3-2 on Saturday 7th December). Alleyn Old Boys are on a winning run of five games which includes two victories in the cup over Honourable Artillery Company (1-2) and Lancing Old Boys (4-0).

Check out the results on the Glemnet Southern Amateur League here and the Amateur Football Combination  here. The leagues are thriving with over forty divisions being competed in this season across London and the surrounding counties. It really is grass-roots football as players pay for the right to play.

RYMAN PREMIER RELEGATION UPDATE

ALTERNATE RYMAN PREMIER DIVISION TABLE
bottom eight only

PTS	TEAM (GAMES PLAYED)	FORM
30	HARROW BROUGH (27)	LDDDWL
29
28	GRAYS ATHLETIC (23) WINGATE AND FINCHLEY (28)	GRAYS - LLLLLL W&F - LWLLLW
27
26	THAMESMEAD TOWN (30)	LDDWWL
----	---------------------------------------------------	------------------
25
24
23	EAST THURROCK UNITED (26)	LDLDLL
22
21
20
19
18	ENFIELD TOWN (26)	LLWDLD
17
16
15
14	CRAY WANDERERS (27) CARSHALTON ATHLETIC (26)	CW - LLLLLW CA - WLLLLL

No highlights of the Enfield Town v Canvey Island game from yesterday I'm afraid as it was another game I couldn't get too - I feel like a part-time supporter! Enfield Town went 1-0 up through Liam Hope but Canvey came back strongly in the second half and were leading 1-3 on 90 minutes. An amazing spell of football by Town capped off a tremendous fight back with goals from Liam Hope and Joe Stevens making it 3-3.

The Towners now have three games scheduled in a week - the results of which could prove pivitol in the race to keep out of the relegation zone. Other key results at the bottom of the table yesterday saw Cray Wanderers record a 0-2 victory over Carshalton Athletic and Wingate & Finchley gain a vital victory 3-1 home victory over Thamesmead Town. East Thurrock United lost 1-2 at home to AFC Hornchurch with Town's Tuesday night opponents Harrow Borough losing 3-2 at Dulwich Hamlet.

ENFIELD TOWN'S NEXT THREE SCHEDULED LEAGUE GAMES

TUES 28th - HARROW BOROUGH
SAT 1st - Thamesmead Town
MON 3rd - Hendon

SIX GOAL VICTORY FOR THE COD ARMY

Seventh played nineteenth in the Spartan South Midlands League Division One yesterday evening and the result went to form with Codicote recording a comfortable 6-0 home victory against Stony Stratford Town. The result leaves Stony with an away recorded of played eleven and lost 11 scoring just seven goals and letting in fifty-three. It has now been a full calender year since they won on the road in a league fixture back on Tuesday 8th January 2013 when they won 0-4 at New Bradwell St Peter. The only point they have picked up came in a 0-0 draw at Amersham Town on the 6th April. The visitors were very unlucky not to make the score 1-1 when a fantastic shot from outside of the box rebounded off the angle of bar and post.

Could February be the month when Town gain three points of their travels as they have two trips to teams around them in the table Langford (20th place) and Arlesey Town Res (18th) - both have only one win in twenty one matches played. They also have trips to FC Broxbourne Borough and Bedford.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS ARE BELOW
inc all six goals scored

RYMAN PREMIER DIVISION - RACE FOR THE TITLE

RYMAN PREMIER DIVISION CURRENT TABLE
TOP TEN ONLY

TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS	WIN%	FORM
KINGSTONIAN	27	17	3	7	52	25	+27	54	62.96%	WLDWWL
MAIDSTONE UNITED	26	15	8	3	53	25	+28	53	57.69%	LWDWWD
WEALDSTONE	24	15	6	3	57	26	+31	51	62.50%	WWWWLL
DULWICH HAMLET	26	16	3	7	57	35	+22	51	61.54%	LWWLLD
BOGNOR REGIS TOWN	26	15	3	8	62	41	+21	48	57.69%	LLWWWW
AFC HORNCHURCH	25	14	5	6	48	31	+17	47	56.00%	WWWLLL
LOWESTOFT TOWN	27	12	7	8	43	29	+14	43	44.44%	WWWDLL
BURY TOWN	25	12	7	6	43	34	+9	43	48.00%	WDWWDW
LEWES	26	9	12	5	42	35	+7	39	36.62%	DLDDDDD
HENDON	25	11	4	10	57	41	+16	37	44.44%	LWLWDW
LEISTON	27	10	5	12	45	47	-2	35	37.08%	WLLWDW
CANVEY ISLAND	27	10	5	12	34	39	-5	35	37.08%	WLLLWD

With only three points between table topper's Kingstonian and fourth-placed Dulwich Hamlet the race for the Ryman Premier Division title is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in a number of seasons. Kingstonian's 1-2 home defeat versus in-form Metropolitan Police yesterday evening means that they could slip down the table tonight subject to Maidstone United's (away to Thamesmead Town) and Dulwich Hamlet's (away to Margate) results.  

AFC Hornchurch were right up in the title race but a run of three defeats in a row has seen them drop into fifth place with Bognor Regis Town's impressive current run of four wins on the trot lifting them into the play-off zone.

The way it looks at present is that one of Kingstonian, Maidstone United, Wealdstone or Dulwich Hamlet will win the tile and maybe you could cut this down to just the two Stones as they have only lost three games so far in contrast to the K's and Hamlet's seven defeats. Although Wealdstone have had a wobble of late suffering two defeats in a row against Hampton & Richmond Borough and Canvey Island.

With these four teams looking likely to finish in the top five could it be a race for just one more play-off place between Bognor Regis Town, AFC Hornchurch, Lowestoft Town and Bury Town?

KEY FORTHCOMING GAMES

Saturday 25th January
WEALDSTONE v BURY TOWN
Could in-form Bury Town (eight league games without a defeat) spring a surprise result at Grosvenor Vale?

Tuesday 28th January
LEWES v WEALDSTONE
Another tough away trip for The Stones. Lewes are the draw specialists with five of their last six league games finishing all square.

Saturday 1st February
AFC HORNCHURCH v DULWICH HAMLET
The Urchins will need to win to stay in touch with the play-off places and Hamlet will need a win to maintain their pursuit of first place.

KINGSTONIAN v MAIDSTONE UNITED
A massive game at the top of the table. Should attract a big crowd to Kingsmeadow.

Tuesday 4th February
LOWESTOFT TOWN v WEALDSTONE
A long midweek away trip for The Stones. There is no love lost between these two sides. The Trawlerboys will need to keep winning in order to be in with a chance to reach the play-offs.

Saturday 8th February
WEALDSTONE v LOWESTOFT TOWN
Whatever the result from Tuesday's game the two teams won't have long to wait to gain revenge.

Tuesday 11th February
BOGNOR REGIS TOWN v KINGSTONIAN
Another must win game for both sides.

RYMAN PREMIER RELEGATION ZONE - UPDATE

ALTERNATE RYMAN PREMIER DIVISION TABLE
bottom eight only

PTS	TEAM (GAMES PLAYED)	FORM
28	GRAYS ATHLETIC (28)	WLLLLL
27	HARROW BOROUGH (25)	LLLDDD
26
25	WINGATE & FINCHLEY (24)	LLLWLL
24
23	EAST THURROCK UNITED (24) GD -8	DDLDLD
-------------	-----------------------------------------------------	-------------
23	THAMESMEAD TOWN (28) GD -30	DWLDDW
22
21
20
19
18
17	ENFIELD TOWN (24)	DLLLWD
16
15
14	CARSHALTON ATHLETIC (24)	DLWLLL
13
12
11	CRAY WANDERERS (25)	LLLLLL

The 1-1 draw between East Thurrock United and Enfield Town yesterday favoured the home side as a loss for them would of put them in the relegation zone and just three points away from Enfield Town. As it stands The Rocks are level on points with Thamesmead Town (who recorded a very important 1-0 home win against Grays Athletic who lost their fifth league game in a row) but stay above the relegation zone on goal difference. Wingate and Finchley lost 0-1 at home to Leiston and Harrow Borough gained their third draw in a row in a 1-1 scoreline at Lewes.

All is most definitely lost for the sides at the bottom of the table although Cray's current run of seven defeats in a row where they have scored only one goal versus Thamesmead Town and conceded twenty-four indicates they are odds-on favourites to finish somewhere in the bottom four at the end of the season. It would take a remarkable turn around in form for The Wands to stay up.

For Enfield Town there are SIXTY-SIX points still to play for so plenty of time to make a climb up the table.

RYMAN PREMIER DIVISION MIDWEEK FIXTURES
Monday 20th January
Kingstonian v Met Police

Tuesday 21st January
AFC Hornchurch v Enfield Town
Billericay Town v Hendon
Bury Town v Grays Athletic
Canvey Island v Leiston
Cray Wanderers v Bognor Regis Town
Hampton and Richmond Borough v Wingate and Finchley
Harrow Borough v Carshalton Athletic
Lowestoft Town v East Thurrock United
Margate v Dulwich Hamlet
Thamesmead Town v Margate

Every game is important for the sides at the bottom of the table but there are some key games coming up as follows -

Tuesday 21st January (current league positions in brackets)
Harrow Borough (18th) v Carshalton Athletic (23rd)
If The Robins want any hope of staying up they will look at this game as a must win. The home side will be looking at gettting three points to steer clear of the relegation zone.

Saturday 25th January
Carshalton Athletic (23rd) v Cray Wanderers (24th)
Another MUST WIN game for both sides! A draw wouldn't do either side any favours.

Wingate and Finchley (19th) v Thamesmead Town (21st)
A win here for The Mead could lift them out of the relegation zone and pull W&F further down the table. A real relegation six pointer!

Tuesday 28th January
Carshalton Atheltic (23rd) v Grays Athletic (17th)
Enfield Town (22nd ) v Harrow Borough (18th)
Two massive games where the results of which will shape who is in the relegation zone at 10pm.

Saturday 1st February 
Thamesmead Town (21st) v Enfield Town (22nd)
Another relegation six-pointer!

HOLMER GREEN LATE WINNER GAINS THREE POINTS

Hatfield Town are having a season to forget in the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division and went into this match with just two wins in their twenty-three league games. The wins had come way back in August at local rival's Hertford Town (2-4) on the opening day of the season and at home to Stotfold (2-1) on Saturday 24th August. Since then their form had read LLLLDLLLLDLLLLLLDDL so a win in this game played on Tuesday night would of been their first in twenty league games. They had won a Challenge Trophy Round One game at Arlesey Town Reserves (2-3) on Wednesday 2nd October which was the last game they won meaning it was sixteen league and cup matches without a win going into this game against Holmer Green.

Holmer Green were on a impressive run of form which had pulled them up into the mid-table positions and away from the relegation zone. They had won just two of their opening thirteen league games but since have won seven of nine games with just one defeat (narrowly 1-2) to title favourite's Hanwell Town.

This game was evenly matched game played on a very heavy Gosling Stadium pitch which is unsurprising with all the heavy rain that has fallen of late. The half-time score was 1-1 with Holmer scoring early and then The Blue Boys equalising just after with a well taken volley from the edge of the six yard box. Hatfield had the best chances in the second half and it looked with around ten minutes left the game would end all square but for an 83rd minute goal from Holmer which took the points for the away side and continued their good run of form. It was cruel blow for the Hatfield Town team who had worked hard on the night and ultimately would get nothing from the game.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS ARE BELOW



THE COLD END TAKS TO MICKY NATHAN

After the game it was announced by Hatfield Town they had parted company by mutual consent with Manager Micky Nathan who had been in charge of team affairs for just over one year. The Cold End caught up with him and asked him a few question about his time with the club -

Your thoughts on the game?
I thought the game was tight, both teams were going for the victory. I think that, on the night, we looked the more composed and the team more likely to take the three points only to be caught by a sucker punch at the end. That's how our season has gone so far, no luck at all. I think that we played very well, kept possession well, counter attacked at pace with Adam Murad looking dangerous and Karl Lewis on the wings, Fabian Brown and Charncey Dash up front always looking to cause problems. On another night we score five or six. I could not fault their work rate and desire at all, but we as a team need to be more clinical in front of goal. 

How do you feel after leaving the club? 
I feel okay. Not great as I would have liked to have left the club in a better position of course. I get on great with the chairman Chris. We have a great relationship. I think he has done wonders for this club and I hope he stays. He gave me a shot when probably no one else would have. I have all my coaching badges but no experience as a manger. So for that I have to thank him. The club is fantastic, it really is, it just needs to get its own clubhouse and ground and it will be set. I know that is what Chris is working towards.

What was the best result why you were with the club? 
Personally the first game of this season away to Hertford Town, my old team where I was skipper for two seasons. They are a great club and the fans are very vocal so to go there and win like we did on the opening day of the season was great. But if I was being honest then I would say my first game in charge last season, just taken over, reserves had just folded, chairman on holiday, not won in eighteen matches and we were at home to Ampthill Town FC. We were underdogs... I brought in a few new faces to the side and, bit of experience and we won 3-1. A great game to be a part of and to see the faces of the players in the dressing room after was great.

What next for Micky Nathan? I see you might be pulling your boots back on for Broxbourne Borough? 
For me I have no idea, putting my boots back on is a option, although I might need someone to tie my shoelaces up for me. Yes Broxbourne Borough have been in touch, I know the Gaffer Mark Beels very well, I played under him for many years and he is a fantastic coach and first class manager. He has contacted me and asked me to go over and help them as they need to rebuild after what has happened over the last few weeks. It will give me a chance to see some old faces and go back and play where I played many years ago. I have to remember that I am not getting any younger and that my head is saying one thing and legs are saying the completely opposite!!  

What next for Hatfield Town?
Hatfield Town FC will see out the season under the guidance of Neil Ewing who is a first class manager and coach. He knows everything to know at this level of football. I am sure with a little bit of luck and a lot of hard work they will be just fine. They have some excellent players and if they stay then every chance that will fight off relegation and stay in the Premier Division for next season. I really hope that they do.

Thanks to Micky for talking to The Cold End and I wish him the best of luck for the future. The Cold End also wishes Hatfield Town the best of luck for the rest of the season. Their scheduled local derby at St Margaretsbury tomorrow afternoon has already been called off due to a waterlogged pitch. Will it ever stop raining? Their next game is due to be played on Tuesday 21st January when they travel to Hanwell Town who I mentioned before a league title favourites. Could they spring a surprise and win against all the odds?

RACE FOR THE TITLE - ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE

Essex Senior League Current Table - Top Three Only

POSN	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
1.	GREAT WAKERING ROVERS	19	14	2	3	51	20	+31	44
2.	ENFIELD 1893 FC	18	14	2	2	44	15	+29	44
3.	TOWER HAMLETS	19	14	2	3	38	25	+13	44

The race for the title in the Essex Senior League is shaping up to be a very close one with Great Wakering Rovers, Enfield 1893 FC and Tower Hamlets currently all level on 44 points each. Takeley are in fourth on 42 points but have played 22 games indicating that for any team to come from below third place to finish top there would of had to have been a big turnaround with the wheels falling off all the top teams at present.

Key fixtures coming up over the next few weeks

Thursday 16th January
Haringey Borough v Enfield 1893 FC
Weather permitting a local derby takes place this Thursday at Coles Park. Borough have a good home league record winning four of their five games played so far scoring 14 and letting in just 3 goals. The pitch at White Hart Lane has suffered in recent years with the bad weather and this season is no different with the rain water-logging the surface of late.

Saturday 18th January
Great Wakering Rovers v Clapton
Backed by the Clapton Ultras The Ton's are having their best for a a number of years. Could they spring a surprise result at Burroughs Park

Saturday 25th January
Great Wakering Rovers v Enfield 1893 FC
1st v 2nd says it all really. The result of this match could have a real bearing on who wins the title. 1893 won 2-1 at Goldsdown Road on the 28th September.

Saturday 1st February
Tower Hamlets v Sporting Bengal United
The big East-End derby which will attract a decent crowd to the Mile End Stadium. United will want to de-rail Hamlet's title challenge.

Takeley v Great Wakering Rovers
Another big game for Rovers as they travel to current 4th placed Takeley.

The League Cup is also getting down to the business end with three out of the four semi-finalists known. Sporting Bengal United play Basildon United in one and Takeley play the winners of the Enfield 1893 v Great Wakering Rovers tie which is due to be played just four days (Tuesday 28th January) after the league clash between the two sides.

In the league's other knockout competition The Gordon Brasted Trophy there are London APSA, Hullbridge Sports and Southend Manor through to the Third Round stage. The following games are yet to be played - Eton Manor v Clapton, Greenhouse London v Enfield 1893, Haringey Borough v Great Wakering Rovers and Sawbridgeworth Town v Stansted.

VITAL VICTORY FOR TOWNERS

As Town's new manager walked with his team over to the Enfield Town fans and Ultras to thank them for the support after the all important 1-0 victory it was clear to see the love affair George Borg had with supporters of the old Enfield FC during the 1990's is well and truly back on. Borg has transformed a team that was low on confidence and this was a hard fought victory that should of been more comfortable if Town could of been more clinical in front of goal or had a little bit of luck on their side. Having said that Cray could of nicked a point right at the end of the game with their best chance when Alex Stavrinou's shot from the edge of the box went very close just over the bar.

Above - Bertie's takes his goal. 
Despite the last ditch tackle of Wanderer's tall defender Jide Maduako and the dive of goalkeeper Darren Bercet.

After a great ball from Liam Hope it was Bertie Brayley's impressively casual finish just after the break that was the difference between the two sides which sealed Town's first Ryman Premier Division victory since Saturday 31st August.

If this game which pitted 23rd v 24th was must win then next Saturday's away game at East Thurrock United (currently in 20th place with a scheduled home game versus Wealdstone on Tuesday evening) is a MUST MUST win in the battle to avoid the drop.

Above - Town fans gather in the first half

A quick mention for the  @etfc_ultras who were absolutely fantastic in creating a brilliant atmosphere at the ground yesterday. If your local to Enfield get involved and get following them on twitter. Support you local club and keep them in the Ryman Premier Division!! As one Cray Wanderer's fan who spoke to me afterwards stated 'It's brilliant...It's like you've won the FA Cup."  We both wished each other good luck for the rest of the season - They are a tremendous club with much history so I sincerely hope they get a ground to call their own very soon.

 

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS ARE BELOW

 

Above - Fans behind the Cray goal in the first half and two very loyal away supporters during the second half.  

THE OLDEST FOOTBALL CLUB IN LONDON VISIT ENFIELD ON SATURDAY

Cray Wanderers visit Enfield Town on Saturday in what is real crunch match at the bottom of the Ryman Premier Division.

TRADITION AND HISTORY

Cray Wanderers are very proudly the oldest Association Football Club in London and the second oldest in the world having been founded way back in 1860 which is an amazing 45 years prior to when Premier League giant's Chelsea were formed in 1905. A little known fact is that when The Wands were crowned Kent League champions in 1902 they were a professional club and acted as a feeder team to their local football league side Woolwich Arsenal in nearby Plumstead - look what happened to them?

Cray's spiritual home lies in the St Mary Cray area of Orpington where in 1972 they lost their Grassmede stadium due to a housing development. They moved to Oxford Road on the edge of Sidcup where they played until 1998 when the Kent League ruled member clubs would need floodlights something which that ground lacked. They have been grateful to Bromley where they have ground shared since.

The club have put in planning permission to build a new ground on Sandy Lane to the North of St Mary Cray but after five years hard work the initial application was denied. Many people at the club are working hard to move back to St Mary Cray and secure the future of one of the most important clubs in the history of London football.

All the Enfield Town fans will wish The Wands the best and hope they get their own ground to call home very soon.

THE WAND'S SEASON SO FAR

This a real must win match for both sides as 23rd plays 24th in the table. Both sides have had a change in management with Keith Bird moving form landlord's Bromley (where he was reserve manager) in place of long serving Ian Jenkins at Cray and, of course, George Borg recently taking over the reigns at Town in place of Steve Newing.

Bird brought with a number of new players and made an instant impact with a debut 4-1 home win over the Metropolitan Police on Saturday 5th October and a unexpected 0-2 away win at Lowestoft Town on Saturday 9th November.  Since then they have drawn one and lost eight in nine games and in their last match (played on Saturday 28th December) they lost 0-6 at home to Dulwich Hamlet.

Since that game there has been some player's shipped out and shipped in at Hayes Lane with youngster's Charlie Grainger, Jack Sharrat and Elyon Marshall-Katung finishing their loan spells and returning to League One Leyton Orient. Also leaving are Tommy Whitnell, Danny Young, Jason Henry, Manny Williams and Dan Hughes (who has joined Kent League side Holmesdale on loan). A total of eight new players have been brought in as follows -

Goalkeeper Darren Behcet has joined from Harlow Town. The 27 year old counts West Ham United, Yeovil Town, Cambridge United, Dorchester Town, AFC Hornchurch and Tooting and Mitcham as previous clubs.

Centre Back Jide Maduako (aged 19) who was an Arsenal youth player. He makes the opposite journey some of the players made from Cray to Woolwich Arsenal in the early 1900s. He had been on Ipswich Town's books of late. 
Steve Smith (aged 19) who can play at the back or in midfield. He has played at Bromley and Hayes and Yeading.

Jordan Bird (aged 20) is described at a quality left sided player who has played for Sutton United and Metropolitan Police.

A player to look out for on Saturday is centre-forward Morgan Ferrier (another young player aged 19) who spent time at Arsenal at youth player and then at Nottingham Forest and West Bromwich Albion. Championship side Bolton Wanderers were apparently interested in him in the summer but he is currently unattached to a league club so has signed for Cray. Ferrier is a player with potential to play at a higher level.

Another centre-forward in the experienced Paul Vines has also joined. He counts Tooting & Mitcham, Bromley, Kingstonian, Carshalton Athletic, Dulwich Hamlet and Margate as his former clubs.
Two ex Cray Wanderer's players has also re-joined in Joshua Oyinsan (19 year old centre forward), Aaron Rhule (19 year old left sided forward player).

The above signings make for an intriguing game on Saturday afternoon. Donkey Lane is the only place to be at 3pm!

NO SURPRISES AS MORE POSTPONEMENTS TONIGHT

The majority of tonight's local football games have been postponed with pitches still waterlogged and the rain still falling. Enfield Town's home game versus Harrow Borough is off after a 1pm pitch inspection. The above picture shows the current condition of the surface at Hertford Town's Hertingfordbury Park. No surprises their home local derby game versus St Margaretsbury has been called off!!

In the Ryman Premier Division Leison's home game versus Dulwich Hamlet is definately ON at present with all other OFF aside from Wingate and Finchley's home game versus Maidstone United which is subject to a 3pm pitch inspection. @WinFinchleyFC  reported around 3 hours ago "it's not looking to great out there".

Enfield Town's next scheduled game is on Saturday and it's a big one pitting 23rd against 24th in the table in a a real relegation six pointer against Cray Wanderers.

SATURDAY ROUND-UP

No surprises that only a handful of non-league games took place on Saturday afternoon in the local area with waterlogged pitches causing most games to be postponed. In the Ryman Premier Division just two games took place where Thamesmead Town went in at half time with a 3-1 lead at home to Billericay Town and were looking at gaining there fifth league win of the season. The Blues fought back and thanks to their centre-forward Ricky Sappleton's equaliser in the 4th minute of injury time they picked up a well earned point. The ex Bishops Stortford player bagged a brace on the day along with a goal from Richard Halle. The Mead's goals came from Shamir Mullings, Rashid Kamara and Baff Adae. This game was watched by a crowd of 146 which is The Mead's second highest league attendance of the season so far behind the 202 which watched their local derby game versus Dulwich Hamlet.

The other game was played on the 3G surface at The Gallagher Stadium where Hendon gained a very respectable point against Maidstone United. The away side went down to 10 men just prior to half time when Jefferson Louis was red carded but that didn't stop them going 0-1 up via Carl McCluskey just after the break. Zac Attwood equalised for the home side in front of 1,583. Ex Towner Adam Wallace featured for Hendon coming on as a 84th minute subsitute for Anthony Thomas.

In the Ryman Division One (North) Soham Town Rangers went second in the table thanks to a 4-1 home victory over Redbridge and Dereham Town played out a 2-2 draw at home to Brentwood Town.

In the Calor League Premier Division St Albans City beat the conditions and got their home game versus Frome Town played. It was worth it as they ran out 4-0 winners in front of 363 people.

All games in the Essex Senior League and Spartan South Midlands League were called off.

A number of games were played in the Middlesex County League thanks mainly to the 3G pitches that were available. A great game took place in the Premier Division where 3rd placed Sporting Hackney won 4-3 against 2nd placed Cricklewood Wanderers on the artificial surface at Mabley Green. Hackney had been 2-3 down on 85 minutes but made it 3-3 and then 4-3 in the 94th minute.

In the eight Essex Olympian League divisions just two games took place both on 3G pitches. In the Senior Division Two Ryan lost 3-5 to Tody at Wadham Lodge and in Reserve Division One Canning Town Res recorded a 2-1 home victory versus White Ensign Reserves at The West Ham Community Pitches in Beckton.

Just one game took place in the Hertfordshire Senior County League in the Premier Division where Bushey Sports Club continued their good form thrashing Standon and Puckeridge 5-0.

More rain is forecast to fall over the next few days so some of the scheduled midweek games may be called off as well with some clubs now facing big fixture backlogs and it hasn't even snowed yet!!!

FA CARLSBERG SUNDAY CUP - UPDATE

 

The FA Carlsberg Sunday Cup is down to the fourth round stage with the draw being made as follows -

* Ties are due to be played on Sunday 19 January 2014
Winlaton Commercial or Witton Park Rose and Crown v Oyster Martyrs
Humbledon Plains Farm v Mariners
Allerton v Whitwick Compass
Thornhill Lees v Chapel Town Fforde Grene
AYFCS v Plough FC Wellington
Hundred Acre v FC Houghton Centre
New Salamis v Branksome Railway
Lebeq Tavern Courage v Upshire

There is still local interest in the competition with Upshire (currently top of the Orc Sports Mercury Waltham League) travelling West to play Bristol based Lebeq Tavern Courage who are currently in the second place of The Bristol Premier Sunday Football League in association with ikon sports. This game is scheduled to be played at The Creek which is the home of ToolStation Western League side Bristol Manor Farm. Lebeq showed they are a very good side by beating Aylesbury based Two Touch FC in the previous round. Two Touch have an outstanding record of nine wins from nine games scoring 79 and letting in just 4 goals in their league. This will be a tough game for Upshire but they have shown by getting to the Semi-Final last season and beating last season's finalist's Barnes Albion in the last round they are well capable of returning back to Hertfordshire with the win that would get them to the Quarter-Final stage.

New Salamis (currently fourth in the Kopa League Division One with games in hand over the top three teams) entertain Branksome Railway FC of the Bournemouth Hayward Sunday League. Branksome have so far won seven and drawn one of the eight league games they have played so far scoring 56 and letting in just 6 goals. On Sunday 8th December they won 0-16 at bottom club Horse and Jockey.

AYFCS (also known at Aylesbury FC Sunday) are currently in second place to the aforementioned Two Touch FC in the Aylsesbury Sunday Football Combination. They play Plough FC Wellington of The Telford Sunday Football League Premier Division who have eight wins from eight in their league fixtures so far.

Other ties include 2009 runner's up, 2011 winners and current holder's Oyster Martyrs of the Liverpool and District Sunday League travel the winners of the match between Gateshead and District League side Winlaton Commercial or Wear Valley Sunday League side Witton Park Rose and Crown.

Another Liverpool and Distrct Premier Division side Allerton FC welcome Charnwood Sunday League side Whitwick Compass along with Thornhill Lees (of the Heavy Woollen Sunday League - based around the Dewsbury, Ossett and Batley area of West Yorkshire) welcoming Leeds Sunday Football League side Chapel Town Fforde Grene for a real Yorkshire derby that will attract a decent crowd.

For some up to date information on The FA Carlsberg Sunday Cup check out a great twitter feed - @FASunday_Cup