No disrespect to the London Cup, but promotion is our priority, says Ian Jenkins

CRAY WANDERERS manager Ian Jenkins says tomorrow’s trip to Kingstonian in the semi-finals of the London Senior Cup is low on his list of priorities.


The timing of the semi-final and the final has come at the wrong time for the promotion chasing Kent club.

The Wands presently occupy the final play-off berth in the Ryman Premier League table and Jenkins admitted his side’s crucial, must-win showdown against sixth-placed Lewes at Hayes Lane on Saturday, is far more important than reaching the London Senior Cup Final for the very first time in the club’s illustrious history.

Lewes make the trip to Hayes Lane level on points with Cray Wanderers and Jenkins knows his side must not slip up in their last four league outings.

The winners of tomorrow night’s semi-final will meet their Ryman Premier League rivals Hendon in the showpiece final next Wednesday, 18^th April, at Metropolitan Police’s Imber Court ground, Ember Lane, East Molesey, Surrey.

Jenkins’ side then play make-or-break showdowns against play-off challengers, Suffolk club’s Bury Town (away, 21 April), before welcoming Lowestoft Town to Hayes Lane on 24 April, before welcoming already relegated Horsham to Hayes Lane on the final day of the season.

When asked what sort of squad he is taking to Kingsmeadow tomorrow night, Jenkins revealed, “I’m talking a full-strength squad, but I’m just adding a couple of additions to it.

“I’ve got a couple of youth boys who have been sitting on the bench for the majority of the season.”

Jenkins added: “I’ve got Steve Lozano coming back. He rung me up the other day and he’s interested coming back to the club.  He’s already signed, so he’s going to come over and take part in the game.

“It’s a semi-final, so we want to get to the final.  I won’t be going full strength (for the final) because we’ve got some big games coming up for us, but we’ll be going out to win.”

Jenkins, 44, will have to be careful with his team selection if they are to play two London Senior Cup ties in the next week, as promotion into Conference South for the very first time in the club’s history is very much on.

“It’s not going to help us,” he said of his side’s fixture congestion.

“If we do get through we’ll be playing a weakened side in the final because our priority is promotion.

“If we get a great result on Saturday over Lewes we’re right in it and it’s in our hands.  Promotion is the most important thing.”

Jenkins agreed that the Kent County Football Association and the London Football Association have to carefully slot in their cup ties during the course of the season so managers treat both competitions with the respect that they deserve.

“It’s a shame, but that’s what happens with these cups because they creep up on you,” said Jenkins, whose side have only beaten Bromley to reach the stage of the competition after they received a walkover following Croydon Athletic’s demise.

“You don’t play too many games in it because we’re a senior side, one of the higher sides in it and all off a sudden you’re playing a semi-final within a week of the final.

“This is the way they do things.  They should get through them earlier on in the season, but they like to upset clubs, don’t they?”

Jenkins would love to promote his beloved Cray Wanderers into Conference South for the first time ever and his side are more than capable of going on a six-match winning run.

He said:  “By the time we play Lowestoft we’ll know whether we’re in it or not. It’s just one of them, we have to have two good results against Lewes and Bury and see what happens.

“I’ll take promotion all day long.  If I can guarantee us getting into the play-offs, I’d throw the London Cup out. If I had a reserve team I would probably send them over to the game, no disrespect to the London Cup.

“We play 42 League games and that’s what it’s all about.”

Jenkins, who is running the London Marathon for charity on Sunday, 22 April, will miss influential players Joe Vines (central defender), Aaron Day (centre midfielder) and striker Leigh Bremner this weekend.

Jenkins said: “We’ve got three key players injured and they are three key players, straight down the middle of our side, who we will miss.  

“We need to win games. If we lose one we’ll drop out of the play-offs and that’s a fact.  You won’t expect teams below us to lose games as well as us. 

“We need to win every game that we play in the league.”

Meanwhile, Kingstonian have reduced admission prices for the game on Thursday night.
Adults: £7
Seniors:  £4
Students: £2
Juniors: Free

Due to building works at the Kingston Road End, entry for this game will be made via the turnstiles at the Athletics End of the ground.

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

Kingstonian  v  Cray Wanderers
London Senior Cup (Sponsored by Coventry Scaffolding) Semi-Final
Thursday 12^th April 2012
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Kingsmeadow Stadium, Jack Goodchild Way, 422a Kingston Road, Kingston-Upon-Thames, Surrey KT1 3PB