Nineteen games unbeaten and Cray boss Jenkins says: Don't count my side out of title race

CRAY WANDERERS boss Ian Jenkins urges Tooting & Mitcham United to do his club a favour next weekend by beating Dover Athletic at Imperial Fields, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Wands extended their amazing unbeaten league run to nineteen games, courtesy of an early goal from former Millwall striker Tom Whitnell yesterday.

The 19-year-old netted the only goal of the game to see of Metropolitan Police at Hayes Lane and that result sees Jenkins’ side leapfrog over their opponents in third place in the Ryman League Division One South table with 12 games to play.

And Jenkins hasn’t lost the belief that his side can still catch league leaders Dover Athletic despite Andy Hessenthaler’s side enjoying a fifteen point lead over them.

“Dover have still got to go to (second placed) Tooting,” Jenkins told BBC Radio Kent.

“We’ve got two games in hand over them. If we win them two games we’ll be nine points behind them.

“If they lose the one at Tooting then it’s six points and then you’re thinking six points in how many games are left, six or seven after that.

“Until it’s mathematically impossible we’ll keep going for it (top spot).

But Jenkins is pleased with the emergency of striker Whitnell, whose been scoring goals for fun in the reserves since his release from Millwall.

He said: “Tom’s only nineteen, he played for the reserves at the beginning of the season. He was released by Millwall, we got him down, scored for the reserves for fun and he’s carried it on for me.

“I think he’s scored five goals now so he’s a good talent. Let’s hope we can keep him at the club.”

But Jenkins’ side are also five points behind Tooting & Mitcham, and wants to climb that one place to ensure both play-off matches are played at Hayes Lane.

“If we have to rely on the play-offs then hopefully we’ll get the home tie,” he said.

“A few years ago when we was in the play-off’s we went down to Horsham and that was a tough one (which we lost).

“We slipped down to fifth place so we had to go away so if we have to go in the play-off’s we will have to finish second and get the home tie.”

Jenkins is “well pleased” that yesterday’s victory sees them move up a place in the table.

He added: “To move up the table is nice, we’re unbeaten in nineteen but we did move down a position a few games ago and it was Metropolitan Police who overtook us.

“It’s nice to win the game and move up the table. We deserved that. I’m well pleased with the position and the way we’re playing.”

Before their trip to Whitstable Town next weekend, Cray Wanderers lock horns with their landlords Bromley for a place in the Kent Senior Cup final on Tuesday night.

Bromley were held to a 1-1 draw at Basingstoke Town yesterday. A Gareth Williams free-kick had cancelled out an opener from the Hampshire side from Scott Fitzgerald.

Manager Simon Osborn has been busy adding some new faces to his squad ahead of yesterday’s game, with two players arriving from their Blue Square South rivals Sutton United.

Jason Henry will add pace and movement to Bromley’s depleted front line. The livewire striker has also played for Croydon, Dulwich Hamlet and Croydon Athletic.

And highly-rated goalkeeper Gareth Williams has also signed from the Gander Green Lane club.

Meanwhile, academy forward Karl Douglin has signed Blue Square form after last Thursday night’s training session.

The youngster has already had a taste of first team football this season when he was named on the substitute’s bench against Aylesbury United in the FA Cup.

Meanwhile, Neil Smith’s brief spell with the club came to an end when the former Welling United manager decided to join Mike Woodward’s coaching staff at Blue Square Premier outfit Grays Athletic.

Visit club websites:

www.craywands.co.uk

www.bromleyfc.net
Bromley news courtesy of their official website

Ian Jenkins article was courtesy of BBC Radio Kent - 96.7fm and www.bbc.co.uk/kent

Cray Wanderers v Bromley
Kent Senior Cup Semi-Final
Tuesday 26^th February 2008
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EF