We must raise the bar, says promotion chasing Francis

UNLIKE the weather, the race for promotion out of Ryman One South is heating up, and Cray Wanderers’ assistant manager Joe Francis has urged his side to raise the bar for their remaining fourteen games of the season, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Wands climbed up one spot into fifth place - the final play-off berth - following tonight’s last-gasp 2-1 win over Leatherhead at Hayes Lane.

The Tanners deserved to go into the break a goal up, following Kev Terry’s 43^rd minute opener, a three-man move, which started from a Cray corner.

But the half-time introduction of 18-year-old striker Richmond Kissi brought the Kent side back into life and he set up the returning Lewis Wood to score from a yard out to bring the Wands back on level terms on 53 minutes, before Kissi himself scored a late winner.

Ian Jenkins’ side are now only two points behind leaders Kingstonian, although the Surrey giants have four games in hand.

Kingstonian (50 points), Ashford Town (49), Metropolitan Police (49), Fleet Town (48) and Cray Wanderers (48) currently make up the play-off places, and Francis wants his side to claim back-to-back wins when Burgess Hill Town visit Hayes Lane on Saturday.

The Hillians are smarting from tonight’s 5-0 home defeat to Whitstable Town.

The Oystermen secured their third successive win at Leylands Park, which means Marc Seager’s side are now nine points clear off the relegation zone.

But for Francis, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk tonight, he wants his side to pile more misery on the west Sussex outfit.

“There’s no easy games in this league,” warned Francis. “We went to Burgess Hill earlier in the season and there was nothing in the game, a night where we missed a penalty.

“I just think you’ve only got to concern yourself with how well you set yourself up, how well you approach the game.

“We’re looking at nothing other than 100% from our boys on Saturday.”

This is a time for maximum effort from a side that only performed during the second half against a Leatherhead side that impressed during the first 45 minutes.

Had it not been for goalkeeper Glen Knight, who made a string of fine saves, then Cray Wanderers’ hopes of promotion would have been dashed.

And Francis agreed, saying, “We’ve got a real opportunity now, every game is crucial and it’s really tight at the top, there’s seven or eight teams that are separated by three or four points.

“Teams are going into form and we have got to maintain our home record and being bright, being positive and continue to pass and enjoy every ninety minutes.”

Francis challenged his side to add to Burgess Hill’s woes but warns their opponents will react in one way or another.

“We will look for that reaction and we have to turn up here and be 100%, bubbly and bright and look to pass and look to play, win tackles and put teams on the back foot,” said Francis.

“I mean, all you can do is win the games; I said to the boys every ninety minutes counts now between now and the end off the season.

"Every single ninety minutes you play, you’ve got to be concentrating, sharp, you’ve got to be aggressive and you’ve got to have that winning mentality and who knows that (win over Leatherhead) might be a little turning cover for us. Who knows, we can go on a run now.”

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

Cray Wanderers v Burgess Hill Town
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 14^th February 2009
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EF