Kentish Football 
It's good to make history for the club, says Cray Valley boss Steve Chapman
The Eltham based side welcome Sussex County League side Lingfield to Badgers Sports Ground in the First Qualifying Round, with £500 up for grabs for the winner.
Cray Valley go into the game sitting in second place in the Kent Hurlimann Football League with three wins and a draw from their five league outings – five points behind early leaders Erith Town, who have a 100% record with 18 goals and five clean sheets to their name.
Lingfield go into the historic game in fifth-place in the top-flight of the Sussex County League, with three wins from their five league outings.
Chapman admits to being satisfied with his side’s start to the new season. However, he has been away for the last two weeks as he has been on a family holiday to Las Vegas so assistant manager, Darren Anslow, who managed Sevenoaks Town last season, temporarily took the reins.
Chapman said: “It’s a magnificent start. I didn’t realise until I got back that we were in second. I knew some of the results. It’s a brilliant start to the season.
“I think we finished the season really well. I said previously we didn’t go out to get too many players. We added some younger players. The players we’ve brought in have just made it a little bit stronger.”
One player that has performed well is striker Mo Conteh, who has scored four goals already this season.
Chapman said: “He’s a good lad. He was a bit of an unknown in the football world. Darren Anslow knew him from before so it’s down to Darren that we’ve got Mo down.
“He did brilliantly in pre-season and I think he’s got his confidence back now. He was always a good player apparently. He’s done really well.
“He’s been around for a while. He’s been with Cray Wanderers Academy. He’s a bit of an unknown. He didn’t really play last year. He fell out of love with the game and we managed to persuade him to play again. He’s lost a bit of weight and he’s playing very, very well.”
Chapman says his side and the club are ready to welcome Lingfield for their first ever FA Vase tie.
“Everyone except our secretary Dave Wilson, who hasn’t seen so much paperwork for a game before,” quipped Chapman.
“It’s our first ever game in the FA Vase so everyone is really looking forward to it.
“We’ve had them looked at and we’ve monitored their results. They beat Ashford 3-1 (in the FA Cup Preliminary Round) on Saturday and Ashford are a strong force in the Invicta League this year.
“I think it will be a very close game. I don’t want to say much, but we have had them looked at, yes.”
Long-serving stalwart Chapman revealed any prize money scooped from this season’s FA Vase run will go straight back into club funds.
He said: “The club has made it clear it goes into the club and not the players, which is fine. I’m happy with that and the players are happy with that.
“It’s good to be part of another part in the club’s history going into the Vase.”
Cray Valley will face either Dorking Wanderers or Eastbourne United at home in the next round on 15 September if they get past Lingfield.
Chapman refused to label his side as a dark horse for the Kent League title.
“It’s too early to be honest. We’ve got soundly beaten by VCD in our second game. They’re really organised and I’m surprised that they got beaten by Erith Town to be honest.
“As I’ve said, we need to improve on last year where we finished eleventh. If we can finish top-six this year that would be a great season for us but I think it’s too early to say we’re title contenders at this moment – ask that question again after Christmas!”
Meanwhile, Crown Alexandra’s home Kent Invicta League clash against Seven Acre & Sidcup on Saturday has been switched to their opponents ground, at Oxford Road in Sidcup.
The kick-off time has been brought forward to 11:30am – giving people an option to watching Cray Valley’s first ever FA Vase tie at 3 o’clock.
Visit Cray Valley’s website: www.cray-valley.co.uk
Cray Valley (Paper Mills) v Lingfield
The FA Carlsberg Vase First Qualifying Round
Saturday 1st September 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Badgers Sports, Middle Park Avenue, Eltham, London SE9 5HT
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