RYMAN LEAGUE PLAY-OFF HEARTBREAK: Promotion is a must next year, says Jenkins

IAN JENKINS has vowed to lead Cray Wanderers to the Ryman League Division One South title next season, despite their play-off final heartbreak yesterday, writes Stephen McCartney.

Tooting & Mitcham United, a side that finished second, and suffered the heartbreak of losing twice in play-off’s in as many years, are promoted with champions Dover Athletic after beating Cray 1-0 at Imperial Fields.

The vital goal came eleven minutes from time when Jamie Byatt hit a corner to the near post. It was headed back to him and his deep cross found former Wands striker Paul Vines, who drilled the ball past Glen Knight and into the far corner.

The Surrey club, managed by former Bromley pair Billy Smith and George Wakeling, were defeated by Tonbridge Angels and Hastings United in play-off games in the past two seasons, and this is the second time that Cray Wanderers have fallen in the end of season lottery in five seasons since their promotion from the Kent League.

But Jenkins, speaking to Mike Green on BBC Radio Kent yesterday, vows to pick up the pieces of yesterday’s disappointment and lead the Hayes Lane club towards promotion in 12 months time.

He said: “I’ve got my players all together in a huddle and arms around each other and I said to them in the dressing room, this is us next year,

“Not play-off’s, lets go up as first, hopefully.”

Jenkins told his players to “respect” runners-up Tooting & Mitcham United and watched the trophy presentation.

“I wanted my players to show a little bit of respect in the end,” he said. “A lot of were walking about to get back into the changing room. You’ve got to be a good loser as well as an amicable winner.

“I’m focused on next year, hopefully the players are.”

Jenkins revealed that backers Gary Hillman and John Woolf are supporting him next season to ensure that the club are challenging for promotion.

When asked what his aims are for next term, Jenkins replied: “Promotion. That’s all we’ve got to do really.

“We’ve got a Cup Final to look forward to in pre-season with the Kent Cup (against Ebbsfleet United) so we’ve got to look forward to that so it’s promotion for us really.

“To be honest it’s been a long time now in the Ryman League (first division), five years, and we’ve got two blokes who back the club, Gary and John, and they’re looking to do it again next year so promotion is a must next year.”

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