It’s ridiculous that we have to play twice in 72 hours, bemoans Cray assistant Joe Francis

Monday 23rd August 2010

CRAY WANDERERS assistant manager Joe Francis has criticised the Ryman League over the club’s congested opening week to the new season, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Wands opened their second Ryman Premier League campaign with a 1-0 defeat away to AFC Hornchurch on Saturday - and play two home games in 72 hours when Carshalton Athletic (Wednesday) and Tooting & Mitcham United (Friday) visit Hayes Lane.

The Safety Net Associates Kent League kicked off first on 7 August, before Conference clubs kicked off seven days later, but Ryman League clubs had to wait until the 21 August before they got their campaigns underway.

“It’s the longest pre-season we’ve ever hard, it’s been seven weeks,” Francis told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“It’s a week too long. We could’ve been playing last week, like everybody else.”

Francis is annoyed that his side have to play two games within 72 hours this week.

Hayes Lane was dormant at the weekend as landlords Bromley were away to Hampton & Richmond Borough and Francis felt Cray Wanderers should have been playing at home, instead of away to Hornchurch.

Bromley welcome Havant & Waterlooville (Tuesday) and Welling United (Saturday) to Hayes Lane in Blue Square Bet South this week.

“We had the same thing this time last year with the league telling us that we had to play down at Dartford and sometimes we feel that they can be a little bit more accommodating,” added Francis.

The Wands were forced to splash out around £1,000 to hire out Dartford’s Princes Park on Friday 21 August last year, after Billericay Town refused to play at Hayes Lane the scheduled Sunday, and Cray Wanderers couldn’t use Bromley’s ground on the Friday because of pre-booked functions.

Francis added: “To play two games in 72 hours, no other team in the league is doing that. It’s out of order really! I just find it strange! They know we share at Bromley, we’ve been sharing at Bromley for 12 years. Bromley were away on Saturday and we could’ve played our first home game then but both teams were away and then they schedule us for two games at home when their at home. It’s ridiculous!”

The Wands lost their first opening day game for the first time since August 2002, when prolific striker Martin Tuohy’s eleventh minute goal ensured Hornchurch sealed the points in Essex.

Reflecting on the game, Francis said: “Typical first season game really. Both sides were a bit scratchy. We had a poor first fifteen minutes trying to get up to game speed. We conceded a really sloppy goal, it was a good finish by Tuohy, but from our point of view it was sloppy.

“Apart from that we grew as the first half wore on. I think in all fairness we probably deserved to get something out of the game.

“I spoke to (Hornchurch manager) Jim McFarlane afterwards and he sort of said ‘it could’ve gone either way.’ It could have been a draw, so I’m a bit disappointed.”

The Wands handed former Tooting & Mitcham keeper Dave King his debut at the weekend, although summer signings, Allan McCleod (2 games) and Chris Saunders (3 games), both midfielders, were suspended.

“Dave King played really well Saturday, made some good saves and communicated well. He’s got loads of experience and he’s a great lad as well,” said Francis.

Francis added: “We’re missing two key midfield players, who are new signings this year, Ally McLeod and Chris Saunders. It’s sort of upset our shape a little bit as we had to play people out of position. They did a job but we just lacked that midfield nous and know-how so when they return they will provide a little bit more balance to the side.”

Looking ahead to their first home game, against Carshalton Athletic, Francis tells everyone to remain calm and when asked what he is looking for, he replied, “Well, just a reaction! People get a little bit, I think, unrealistic when you lose the first game. It’s like a calamity and it could be terrible.

“I just said to the players it’s just another game of football. The trouble is you’ve waited too long for that first game, you’ve got all that nervous tension and sometimes it all depends on how you manage it. The season’s off and running now so we’re all looking forward to Wednesday. Hopefully the surface will be a little bit better to allow us to play a little bit quicker and play our passing game.”

Tooting & Mitcham arrive with a new management team in Mark Beard and the Terrors secured their first opening day win since 2004 with a 4-3 home win over Hendon.

Thirteen of the fourteen players who made it onto the field were club debutants. On loan striker Kienan Mason-Hughes lead the line with a fine hat-trick.

“It’s always good to play against Tooting,” said Francis. “Obviously we had the connection with George and Billy (the previous management team of George Wakeling and Billy Smith), they’re not there anymore. We knew a lot of their players, Paul Vines (now at Bromley), Ally (McLeod) has come across (to us).

“I know they’ve got a lad I know very well, a lad from Millwall, who scored a hat-trick on Saturday, so they look like they’ve got goals in them, so it should be entertaining.”

When asked whether his side will be able to cope with the rigorous opening week to the new season, Francis replied, “Well, I think we’ll all agree that our players throughout pre-season are the fittest they’ve ever been. We were doing four sessions a week and five sessions a week in the first two weeks and they’re fit. Now, whether they can deal with two games in 72 hours is another thing. We’ll just have to see how they respond after Wednesday. It’s not ideal.”

When asked about other players, Francis replied, “Leigh Bremner is going to be out for about a month with a cartlidge and Ross Lover is on his way back. When you feel that you’ve got four key players missing it’s almost like four new signings when they come back.

“We’re really positive. We’ve got a really strong squad and have some good players. We’ve got pace in the team and experience in the team and we’ll be alright!”

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

Cray Wanderers v Carshalton Athletic

Ryman Premier League

Wednesday 25th August 2010

Kick Off 7:45pm

At Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EF