Jenkins plotting Trophy upset

Thursday 20th November 2008

CRAY WANDERERS go into Saturday’s FA Carlsberg Trophy home tie against Brackley Town in full flight, writes Stephen McCartney.

Since being knocked out of the Kent Senior Cup by Ramsgate last week, Ian Jenkins side have trounced Corinthian-Casuals (8-1) last weekend and came away from local rivals Whyteleafe with a 3-1 win in midweek.

Jenkins was able to celebrate the club’s largest ever win as a Ryman League club with former television personality Jimmy Hill in the clubhouse at Corinthian-Casuals last weekend.

Jenkins, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk this lunchtime, admitted the scoreline should have been a lot more.

"One of those games to be honest with you," said Jenkins. "Should have been more. Sixteen would have been the right score."

When asked whether it was a case of an excellent performance from his side – or a poor showing from the Tolworth outfit, Jenkins replied: "A bit of both I suppose. You have to beat the teams that are put in front of you.

"We played well but on another day it could have been even more."

Jenkins had to settle for just three goals at Church Road on Tuesday night, but it still takes his side to within four points of leaders Kingstonian at the top of the Ryman League Division One South table.

"It was a good game, tough old game that was," reflected Jenkins. "I’m happy with the three points.

"It’s always tough down there, I think, especially the midweek games. I’m well happy with the result.

"I know (Whyteleafe manager) Stuart Massey quite well so it was always going to be one of those games where they know us and we know them.

"We sat our stall out to be nice and compact and strong and got the ball forward a little bit quicker than we normally do and it worked in our favour.

"It's nice to be sitting in a decent position having a break (in the league) this weekend."

Attention now turns to their FA Carlsberg Trophy third qualifying round tie against a Brackley Town side that aren’t doing too well in the British Gas Business Premier League.

Reaching the first round proper of the FA Cup has hampered the Northamptonshire outfit’s league campaign and they only have Hitchin Town, Bashley and Rugby Town below them in the table.

And Jenkins expects his side to raise their game against higher-league opposition.

"I’ve said it before, playing against teams from higher levels we normally do well against, so we’ll be well up for it Saturday," he said.

Jenkins will make a decision after tonight’s training session to decide who comes in for striker Leigh Bremner (who is cup-tied having played in the competition for Carshalton Athletic) and the suspended, central midfielder, Jamie Kempster.

And Jenkins wants his side to get past Brackley "to play one of the big boys in non-league" in the first round proper.

With his side in goalscoring form, Jenkins urges fans to flock through the Hayes Lane turnstiles on Saturday.

"Come and watch a good game of football," said Jenkins. "One team (are) happy to play the game the way it should be played.

"I don’t know how Brackley play myself, come and enjoy the game."

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this game.

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

Cray Wanderers v Brackley Town
FA Carlsberg Trophy Third Qualifying Round
Saturday 22^nd November 2008
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EF