Jenkins' pleased with start to new campaign

CRAY WANDERERS boss Ian Jenkins says he has a score to settle at Walton Casuals on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.

On their last visit to the Franklin Road Sports Ground, on the banks of the River Thames, Jenkins’ men found themselves 2-0 down at the break, but goals from Colin Luckett and the now departed Lewis Wood earned them a point.

“We always had a sort of banana skin against them,” Jenkins told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

"They’re always a tough team to beat, especially at their place.

“They’ve had a good start in the league, but with the squad I’ve got, I’ll be going there to get three points.”

Cray Wanderers have collected seven points from their opening four Ryman League Division One South games - a better start than last season.

“We had a bit of a blip at the start, although we’re one point better off than (this time) last year,” said Jenkins.

A Kent derby against Whitstable Town follows at Hayes Lane next Tuesday, before travelling to Ryman Premier League side Sutton United in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round next Saturday.

Jenkins, would, however, swap an extended run in the FA Cup for promotion come the end of this season.

His side finished third last term but tasted a heartbreaking play-off final defeat by Tooting & Mitcham United - the only goal being scored by former Wands striker Paul Vines.

“Promotion, that’s what we’ve set our stall out to do,” said Jenkins. “That’s why the chairman funds the club and gives me a budget to get us promoted.”

For midfielder Jamie Kempster, 35, who scored his 60^th career goal for the club during last Sunday’s 4-1 win over Chichester City United in the FA Cup, he knows maximum points must be collected if the club are to join the Surrey side in that division next term.

Speaking about their trip to Walton Casuals, the midfielder is expecting a tough time.

“It’s quite a difficult place to go, as it goes,” he said. “I think they give some teams hard games, especially at home.

“Last year we went over there and we were 2-0 down at half-time. We’ve been on a good run and they gave us a bit of a fright and we got a bit of a rollicking from Jenko and Joe (Francis) at half-time and we got ourselves back into it.”

Kempster, meanwhile, is relishing next Tuesday’s game against Whitstable Town at Hayes Lane - a side managed by Marc Seager - his team mate when they won the FA Vase for Deal Town at the old Wembley Stadium eight years ago.

“We played them a few times last year because we had them in a couple of Cup competitions,” recalled Kempster.

“The last game we played them was in the league down there and we drew as they’d improved through the season.

“Sometimes it takes you a bit of time to adapt to the league, the change in league.

“Marc Seager is a good fella, straight as, and will get them up for the game anyway.

“I’ll be looking to get one over him but whenever I go out on the pitch I always try and give 100% and want to win whoever I play to be honest.”

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering the Kent derby between Cray Wanderers and Whitstable Town next Tuesday.

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

Walton Casuals v Cray Wanderers
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 6^th September 2008
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Franklin Road Sports Ground, Waterside Drive, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey KT12 2JP