Francis wary of opening day shock

CRAY WANDERERS open their Ryman League Division One South campaign with a visit from newly transfered side Godalming Town - and assistant manager Joe Francis warns his title-chasing side against complacency, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Wands started last season poorly but went on to a 31-match unbeaten run but their promotion hopes were ended by Tooting & Mitcham in the play-off final.

Boss Ian Jenkins and Francis knows their side are expected to beat Godalming Town at Hayes Lane on Saturday.

But Francis, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk tonight, said: “Well, it’s a home game that we’ve had for the last three campaigns and you always want to start at home.

“We’ve got to be careful because they’re a newly promoted side, who obviously want to impress.

“We know from our own experience when we came up from the Kent League that can go in your favour because you’re an unknown commodity, so we’ll pay them the utmost respect and look for a positive start.

“I think we’re as strong as we’ve ever been in terms of our squad and the permutations that we have with the players that we have.

“We have strength in depth and also alternatives to change a game with different personnel.”

Sides face a busy start to the new season with four games in a nine day period. The Wands travel to Metropolitan Police on Tuesday night before travelling to Leatherhead (23^rd August) before welcoming another promoted side in Merstham to Hayes Lane two days later.

These are games that Cray need to win if they’re to take a lucrative place in the Ryman Premier League next season.

“You never try to predict and then you come unstuck by making bold statements,” said Francis.

“There’s four games in 9 days and we’re just looking for the players to fulfil their obvious potential and get off to a good start but we take nothing for granted.

“We’ve got 19 in the squad, more than happy. I say no bold predictions. If you look at our first 11 games last season we lost five and then we didn’t lose for 31, one in 31. We want to improve our start, be more professional at the start of the season.

“We’ve got a good mixture of experience and a good mixture of players that have played at a higher level and they’ve responded very well pre-season.

“Our results haven’t been great but you don’t look for results in pre-season, you look at performances and development and we’ve got better and better.”

Francis is looking forward to playing on the lush playing service at Metropolitan Police’s Imber Court Ground in Ember Lane, East Molesey on Tuesday night.

This is expected to produce a very entertaining game and Francis is looking forward to playing Jim Coopers’ side.

“I’ve spoken to one or two people about Met Police and they look quite an exciting, experienced side with good players and we look forward to going over and playing on a nice football surface,” said Francis.

“I have a lot of respect for Jim Cooper as it’s always a good game.”

Visit Cray Wanderers’ website: www.craywands.co.uk

Cray Wanderers v Godalming Town
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 16^th August 2008
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EF

UPDATE:
Please note that Godalming Town have been transferred back into the Ryman League Division One South, having finished mid-table in their one and only campaign in the British Gas Business League South & West division.