Jenkins' pleased with emergence of reserve trio

THE EMERGENCE of three reserve players has enabled Cray Wanderers manager Ian Jenkins to add to his first team squad, writes Stephen McCartney.

Midfielders Scott Manzi (5 appearances), Jamel McCann (3) and central defender, Michael Munday (2) have all stepped up from Mark Hanscombe’s reserve side in recent weeks.

Jenkins, whose side were dumped out of the Kent Senior Cup by Ramsgate in midweek, told www.kentishfootball.co.uk :  “We had a bit of a blip earlier on, three or four weeks ago when players were injured and we don’t have the budget to go and get any more players.

“I have to release a couple to get one (Leigh Bremner) in but then when you look at the reserves and you think can we get anyone out of that and fair play to Mark Hanscombe, the man has dished up three decent players who can quite hold their own in this standard of football and they’ve done well for me and they’ll be part of my squad now.

“We’ve got a big squad so they’re going to be used, they’re young lads as well so they’re going to be the future for us.”

Midweek Cup action has seen Jenkins’ side drop one place to fourth in the Ryman League Division One South table, but Jenkins wants to continue his good record at Corinthian-Casuals on Saturday.

The famous Surrey outfit are currently in 18th place in the table with a record of 3 wins and 4 draws from 16 games

But Cray’s flattering 4-0 defeat at home to Fleet Town last weekend now means that they’re nine points adrift of league leaders Kingstonian after 15 games and can’t afford to slip up in Tolworth at the weekend.

“We’ve got quite a good record at Corinthian-Casuals (the) three or four times that we’ve played them - we’ve never lost there so we’re going there positive,” said Jenkins.

“My squad’s taking shape now, the three boys that I’ve taken from the reserves have been absolutely fantastic (and) we’re looking strong now.

“The squad’s looking strong after being depleted a few weeks ago. We went to Worthing a few weeks ago with only 12 men and now we’ve got a squad of 18-19 people knocking on the door, (there’s) competition for places, hopefully we can go on a run.”

Visit Cray Wanderer’s website:  www.craywands.co.uk

ARTICLE UPDATE:
This game will now kick off at 1pm due to the home club experiencing problems with their floodlighting

Corinthian-Casuals v Cray Wanderers
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 15^th November 2008
Kick Off 1:00pm
At King George’s Field, Hook Rise South, Tolworth, Surrey KT6 7NA