Aris remains upbeat over Wands' play-off chances

STEVE ARIS knows all about having home comforts in the lottery of the Ryman League Division One South play-off’s, writes Stephen McCartney.

The defender was a member of the promotion winning Tonbridge Angels side three years ago, who defeated Tooting & Mitcham United and Dover Athletic at Longmead Stadium to seal promotion.

But the Cray Wanderers defender suffered last season as Tooting & Mitcham United gained revenge on him as they won last season’s winner-takes-all showdown at Imperial Fields.

The Wands will have to go through the play-off’s if they are to join champions-elect Kingstonian in the Ryman Premier League next season.

But league victories over basement boys Crowborough Athletic and Eastbourne Town will seal home advantage in both play-off games - if they get there.

However, all four sides that currently occupy the play-off places will be hoping for much better luck this time out.

Cray Wanderers and Fleet Town will be in the play-off lottery for the third time, Worthing have been there once before, but spare a though for Metropolitan Police, who have suffered on three previous occasions.

Aris, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk hopes last season’s final disappointment at Imperial Fields will spur his team-mates onto victory this time around.

“I hope the disappointment of last year is still with the boys, because it’s a hard thing to take,” said the former Millwall, Fisher Athletic and Tonbridge Angels defender.

“Most of us are still here (and) it took a lot to get over it.

“We go to Crowborough, hopefully (we’ll) get back to winning ways and (we have) another game at home against Eastbourne to secure second place so we’re at home for the two (play-off) games.

“We’ve got four games to go, and if we win all four, we’re going up.”

Aris recalls the day when Tony Dolby’s Tonbridge Angels won a five-goal thriller against Clive Walker’s Dover Athletic at a packed Longmead Stadium three years ago.

“Home advantage counted that day I feel, but what a great experience that was, winning the play-off’s,” he said.

But he experienced heartbreak last season.

“I suffered in the wrong end last season and it takes a lot to get over. It’s still in the back of our minds and we don’t want to go through that again,” added Aris.

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

Crowborough Athletic v Cray Wanderers
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 18^th April 2009
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Crowborough Community Stadium, Alderbrook Recreation Ground, Fermor Road, Crowborough, East Sussex TN6 3DJ