Our league position is good on the eye, says Jenkins

Friday 05th February 2010

CRAY WANDERERS boss Ian Jenkins says his side’s current league position is very pleasing on the eye, writes Stephen McCartney.

Back-to-back wins against strugglers Hendon and Waltham Abbey has lifted the Hayes Lane based outfit four places above the Ryman Premier League relegation zone and confidence has been lifted ahead of the visit of mid-table side AFC Hornchurch tomorrow.

“Very pleased with them, two clean sheets as well,” Jenkins told www.kentishfootball.co.uk today.

“It’s taken us up the table a bit as well, which is good for the eye.

“I’ve said all along I can’t see us being in that bottom four at the end. It’s always nice to get out with a few games to go so we’ve got the points on the board and the others have to get the points to overtake us.

“It’s always nice when you look at the table and you get a couple wins and you’ve gone up a few places. It’s like anything really, you get your rewards don’t you. Once you get your rewards and you see something happening, it’s always nice.”

Jenkins has told his side not to slip up when Essex side AFC Hornchurch visit Hayes Lane.

The Urchins are presently in tenth place in the table, whilst the Wands are five places lower with five fewer points.

“It’s going to be tough,” warned the long-serving Cray boss. “We played them down their place and beat them 2-0 earlier in the season. It was a tough game. It was a wonder strike from Ross Lover that really, really nicked the game for us.

“I’ve said before everyone in this league can beat everyone. We’ve got to be at it tomorrow. If we’re at it we’ll get the result.”

Dean Carpenter is expected to be included tomorrow, especially as Tyrone Sterling, 20, has signed for Hastings United, a side managed by former Cray player, Tony Dolby, and at present are sitting in third place in the table.

“I left him out of the squad last week and spoke to him about things and came to an agreement that he was going to talk to a couple of other clubs and last Sunday he signed for Hastings,” explained Jenkins.

“Good luck to Tyrone. He’s done brilliant for the club and hopefully in the future we can hopefully get him back. He’s a young lad with a good future ahead of him.

“We’ve signed Dean Carpenter and he’ll be in the squad tomorrow,” added Jenkins. “He was at Dulwich Hamlet, he used to play for Leatherhead, he’s played for a few clubs, played for Carshalton a few years ago.

“He’s a left-sided player. It’s a good replacement for Tyrone and he’s got good experience at this level, a lot of experience for this level.”

Jenkins takes his side down the A21 to Tonbridge Angels next Tuesday, looking to do much better than their second league game of the season, when Tommy Warrilow’s side romped to a comfortable 3-1 win at Hayes Lane.

“I’m looking forward to it,” said Jenkins. “I always like playing against Tommy’s teams. I get on really well with Tom and we’re looking to get three points down there.

“It will be a tough game. Any game away from home in this league is going to be tough. I’d be looking forward to that game. If we get three points Saturday we’ll be going to Tonbridge confident that we can go to Tonbridge and get a result.”

Reflecting on their earlier meeting, Jenkins admitted: “It was an experience for us! We were straight into the league and we’re being beat 3-0 at half-time and it could quite easily have been 6-0.

“We’ve come back quite well second half, we could have got something out of the game, undeservedly. It was an eye opener that game and Tonbridge were on form that day. I just hope their no-where near that form next Tuesday!”

Continuing their good run of form this week will see Cray climb further up the league table, but having played the most games (26) than the rest of the sides in the division, Jenkins knows teams can easily overtake them.

“We’ll look up obviously but we’ll keep an eye out on the teams around us because teams have games in hand,” he said.

“A few results went against us in the week, Billericay beating Dartford and Carshalton getting a result as well, buit we know anyone can beat anyone but we’ve got to take care of our own games.”

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

Cray Wanderers v AFC Hornchurch

Ryman Premier League

Saturday 6th February 2010

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EF