We're underachieving at the minute, admits Cray Wanderers boss Ian Jenkins

CRAY WANDERERS boss Ian Jenkins wants a happy Christmas to get his side back on track and pushing towards the play-offs in the New Year.


The Wands booked their place in the quarter-finals of the London Senior Cup (Sponsored by Coventry Scaffolding) following their 2-1 win over Thamesmead Town at Bayliss Avenue on Tuesday night.

Michael Power gave The Wands a 38^th minute lead against his old club, scoring a goal that would have graced the Premier League, but the Ryman League Division One North side levelled through Stuart Zanone’s 25^th goal of the season.

But Paul Vines sealed Cray Wanderers the victory with thirteen minutes remaining, lashing a shot into the top far corner from a tight angle after right-back Dan Parkinson set up both goals.

Cray Wanderers welcome East Thurrock United to Hayes Lane on Sunday afternoon, before playing their only Kent league derby, at Margate, on Boxing Day.  Jenkins then takes his side to Harrow Borough on Saturday, 29 December, before welcoming Essex side Concord Rangers to Hayes Lane on Wednesday 2 January 2013.

“Four games, top games as well aren’t they against teams up and around us so we need to take three wins out of four if we can,” said Jenkins.

“It would be nice to take maximum points because it pushes you right up there because we have fallen away in the last couple of weeks. We’re not playing particularly bad.  It’s disapointing but we need to get results now.  It doesn’t matter how we take them.”

Cray Wanderers presently sit in 12^th place in the Ryman Premier League table with 21 points from 16 games.

“I never look downwards, I always look upwards,” said Jenkins.

“I don’t look at points. I just look at where we can go and how good we are as a suad. 

“We’re underachieving at the minute on our position, not on our performances, but where we are.  We’re underachieving so we need to pick up results.”

Margate lead the table with 36 points from 18 games, while Whitehawk (33 points from 17), Wealdstone (31 from 15), Lowestoft Town (29 from 16) and Bognor Regis (29 from 17) occupy the four play-off berths.

When asked how many points his side need to collect to confirm a play-of place, Jenkins replied, “I don’t look at that. At the beginning of the season you look at an average of two points to get yopu promoted. When that sorts of dies away in this division I just look at it.  I think there’s so many strong sides in it. 

“I go down to where we are and below sides can still do well. I just think the league’s going to be won on the lowest amount of points this year I think and then the play-offs you can look at late 50s and 60s.”

And when asked what 2013 will bring his beloved club, the Cray Wanderers boss said: “Well hopefully it will bring a bit more joy with the new ground, that’s the priority. Whatever we do on the pitch is a bonus. If Gary (Hillman, the chairrman) gets the go-ahead with the ground somewhere the club would go upwards and upwards but until then we have to do our job, which we do well.”

Visit Cray Wanderers’ website:  www.pitchero.com/clubs/craywands  

Cray Wanderers  v  East Thurrock United
Ryman Premier League
Sunday 23^rd December 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EF