We've dropped below our high standards, admits Francis

CRAY WANDERERS' number two, Joe Francis, has told his players to be more adventurous in the final third against Tilbury at Hayes Lane tomorrow night, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Wands escaped from Essex with a 1-1 draw on Saturday and have been given a second chance in their FA Carlsberg Trophy First Qualifying Round tie.

The Kent side took the lead, courtesy of Scott Kinch’s thumping header, following a Tony Dolby corner, but Tilbury, who fielded former Wands defender Junior Baker, levelled through Chris Stones’ header.

Francis, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk tonight, knows his side need to improve if they’re to travel to Worthing to play Ryman Premier League side Horsham in the next round on the first day of November.

“We know we’ve got to improve, but we’ve been given another chance,” said Francis.

When asked if his side are favourites for the Hayes Lane showdown tomorrow night and whether they were surprised by the Essex side, Francis replied: “I wouldn’t say we’re favourites (tomorrow) - it’s a cup game isn’t it.

“What can I say, we weren’t surprised. They’re the same level as us and they gave us a good game.”

Matt Lee, who was expected to make his return on Saturday, following an 18-month injury lay off due to a broken leg, wasn’t risked. Aaron Day, who hurt his groin at Chadfields on Saturday, has also been ruled out.

But Cray Wanderers should have enough about them to beat their Ryman One North opponents on home soil.

And Francis said: “In the last three performances we’ve been a bit, the word is scratchy, and the players know what that means.

“We’ve set our standards quite high, when you fall below them, only marginally, you want to get back on track don’t you?

“So we’re looking to be a bit more adventurous in the last third and we go into the game positively tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, striker, Jamie Wood, 30, played his 400^th game for the club on Saturday.

Wood has scored 113 goals in his ten years with the Wands.  He was a member of the team that won the Kent League championship for two consecutive seasons in 2003 and 2004, and he scored both the goals in the Kent League Cup Final when Cray beat VCD Athletic 2-0.

The Wands reached the quarter final of the FA Vase in 2004, with Wood being remembered for his spectacular long-range goal that gained a 1-0 win at West Allotment Celtic, up in Newcastle, during that exciting cup run.

Wood has been a key member of the Cray team under manager Ian Jenkins that is now in its fifth season of Ryman League football after winning promotion up from the Kent League.

Jenkins himself has a career record of 468 games and 78 goals for Cray Wanderers, having joined them as a player in 1993 and was appointed manager five years later.

However, the all-time record of appearances for the Wands is held by John Dorey who played circa 500 games for the club in the 1960’s.

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

Cray Wanderers v Tilbury
FA Carlsberg Trophy First Qualifying Round Replay
Tuesday 21^st October 2008
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EF