Their opponents were Dulwich Hamlet and this game was chosen as the match to officially open the new floodlights that have been installed at this Kent Hurlimann League club, however due to a huge downpour that started late afternoon the game was moved to the pitch behind the main pitch as the main pitch was waterlogged.
Apart
from home games at Champion Hill this was supposed to be the easiest
journey of the season with the ground being fairly close ground to my
house and should of been 1 direct bus. However after a short wait for a
bus the total journey took me over an hour as the traffic and the
weather contrived against me and I arrived at the ground's entrance 5 minutes after kick off.
I have been here before a few years back when I played in a summer 5 a side tournament and the ground has changed completely. There is a sparking new large club house & dressing rooms, a railed off pitch complete with 2 covered stands opposite each other. It's a really decent looking Kent County league set up and there is obviously money going into the club. There was a funeral reception going on in the main bar (but to be honest it was more like a party than a funeral), so the committee bar was open to all and what a nice bar it is, full of signed photo's and memorabilia from sports stars from yesteryear and last season's signed Millwall squad photo.
This game was a perfect opportunity to see the 'Hamlet in action for the first time since that horrible play off defeat to Bognor Regis Town back in May and to see if any of the new faces will be on display as well as seeing how Gavin and Junior line up at the back without the ever popular Francis Duku, who has been let go due to the small playing budget of the squad. However the 'Hamlet line up included only 2 players from last season in a starting X1 that included as many trialists as it did youth players. This was opposite what I presume was a near full strength Cray Valley team.
The hosts took to the weather much better than Dulwich and were quickest to the ball and stronger in the challenge. the game ebbed and flowed with Cray Valley gradually getting on top and deservedly taking the lead after a long shot was fired in hard and low from the left that the trailist keeper (Albanian I believe) got down well to save before palming it into the path of an on rushing player who duly tapped it into the empty net. A few minutes later and just before half time they should of had a 2nd but the home player missed the goal when it looked easier to score after being put through. As the rain continued to fall the ref blew he's whistle for half time.
A quick turn around by both teams caught a lot of the supporters out as they headed to the bar to seek some comfort from the never ending rain, myself included. When I reappeared Dulwich had leaked 2 more goals as well as scoring 1 to make it 3-1. The rain continued, a few subs were made to make a total of 4 Dulwich first teamers on the pitch at the end of the game which ended 3-1 to Cray Valley.
After retiring again to the bar area for a few more beers it was finally time to leave for home at around 11.15pm, thankfully the journey home took me just 20 mintues...pity the journey there wasn't the same time. All in all I was impressed with the set up that Cray Valley now have and I am sure there season could be fruitful looking at the commitment that some of the players showed all be it in a pre season game on a very wet evening.
The hosts took to the weather much better than Dulwich and were quickest to the ball and stronger in the challenge. the game ebbed and flowed with Cray Valley gradually getting on top and deservedly taking the lead after a long shot was fired in hard and low from the left that the trailist keeper (Albanian I believe) got down well to save before palming it into the path of an on rushing player who duly tapped it into the empty net. A few minutes later and just before half time they should of had a 2nd but the home player missed the goal when it looked easier to score after being put through. As the rain continued to fall the ref blew he's whistle for half time.
A quick turn around by both teams caught a lot of the supporters out as they headed to the bar to seek some comfort from the never ending rain, myself included. When I reappeared Dulwich had leaked 2 more goals as well as scoring 1 to make it 3-1. The rain continued, a few subs were made to make a total of 4 Dulwich first teamers on the pitch at the end of the game which ended 3-1 to Cray Valley.
After retiring again to the bar area for a few more beers it was finally time to leave for home at around 11.15pm, thankfully the journey home took me just 20 mintues...pity the journey there wasn't the same time. All in all I was impressed with the set up that Cray Valley now have and I am sure there season could be fruitful looking at the commitment that some of the players showed all be it in a pre season game on a very wet evening.
Tonight's game starts the season for me and one in which I hope to finally complete the 92 league grounds starting on Saturday with my trip to Burton for their home friendly with Aston Villa.
Til the next time
Til the next time
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