Kent derby: Ramsgate vs Cray Wanderers — Non League Premier – Isthmian, Regular Season – 13

Match preview · Compiled from live api-football data feed at the time of compilation

Non League Premier – Isthmian · Regular Season – 13
Tuesday 17 November, kickoff 19:45 · Southwood Stadium

Tuesday evening brings one of the most eagerly anticipated fixtures on the Isthmian Premier calendar, as Ramsgate welcome Cray Wanderers to Southwood Stadium for a genuine Kent derby under the floodlights. Kick-off is at 19:45 GMT, and with Ramsgate sitting comfortably in the top half of the table while their county rivals look to climb away from the lower reaches, there is plenty at stake for both sides in what promises to be a fiercely competitive local affair.

The form guide

Ramsgate head into this fixture having recorded three wins from their last five Isthmian Premier outings, though their recent run has been far from straightforward. Their last five read loss, win, loss, win, win from oldest to most recent, so they arrive on the back of two straight victories after an up-and-down spell. Manager B. Smith will be keen to iron out those dips and build on what has been a solid overall campaign. With a form rating of 60 per cent, Ramsgate are performing respectably, and their attacking and defensive ratings are evenly matched at 67 per cent apiece, pointing to a team that is competitive at both ends of the pitch.

Cray Wanderers arrive in Thanet in good recent form of their own. The visitors have taken three wins and a draw from their last five league matches, with their most recent sequence reading as a draw, win, loss, win, win — meaning they come into this derby on the back of back-to-back victories. That run has earned them a form rating of 67 per cent, and their attacking output has been particularly eye-catching, with a perfect 100 per cent attack rating across that five-game stretch. However, a defensive rating of just 53 per cent suggests they have been leaving themselves exposed at the back, something Ramsgate will be looking to exploit on home soil.

The head-to-head record

Date	Competition	Home	Score	Away
17 Sept 2023	FA Cup	Cray Wanderers	2-2	Ramsgate
20 Sept 2023	FA Cup	Ramsgate	3-2	Cray Wanderers
27 Sept 2025	Non League Premier – Isthmian	Ramsgate	1-1	Cray Wanderers
7 Feb 2026	Non League Premier – Isthmian	Cray Wanderers	1-1	Ramsgate

Recent meetings between these two Kent clubs have been remarkably tight affairs, with goals and drama in plentiful supply. The sides drew 2-2 when Cray Wanderers hosted Ramsgate in September 2023, and just days later the teams met again at Southwood Stadium, where Ramsgate edged a 3-2 thriller. When the clubs reconvened in September 2025, another 1-1 draw was the outcome at Ramsgate, and the most recent encounter — a February 2026 clash at Cray — also ended level at 1-1. The head-to-head data favours Ramsgate in terms of overall record across these meetings, though the sheer number of draws underlines just how evenly matched these two sides tend to be when they face one another. Supporters of both clubs will know better than to expect a straightforward evening.

The men in the dugout

Ramsgate are guided by B. Smith, who has steered the club to sixth place in the Isthmian Premier this season — a commendable position that reflects a well-organised and competitive squad. Smith will be looking to use home advantage to full effect and continue pushing his side towards the upper echelons of the division. In the visiting dugout, Cray Wanderers are managed by N. Smith, who will be encouraged by the upturn in form his side has shown in recent weeks. With Cray sitting in 17th place, N. Smith knows that results like a positive outcome in a derby fixture could prove pivotal in shaping the rest of the season.

Players to watch

Neither side has a standout individual scorer who has dominated the league scoring charts this season, which makes this derby something of an open contest in terms of where the goals might come from. That collective responsibility for goals could make this an intriguing tactical battle, with both managers likely to rely on team shape and movement rather than a single match-winner. Fans should keep an eye on whichever players step up in the big moments — derby nights have a habit of producing unlikely heroes.

The prediction

The numbers paint a genuinely fascinating picture ahead of this one. The prediction model puts a Ramsgate win at 45 per cent, a draw at 45 per cent and a Cray Wanderers win at 10 per cent. Cray’s superior recent attacking form and momentum give them genuine reason for optimism, while Ramsgate’s home advantage and stronger head-to-head record offer the hosts a platform to build on. With goals likely given both sides’ attacking outputs, a match with at least two goals seems probable. The most sensible forecast is a hard-fought contest that does not end in a Cray Wanderers victory — a Ramsgate win or a draw feels the likeliest outcome, though in a Kent derby under the lights, anything can happen.

League standings

#	Team	P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
4	Lewes	18	9	4	5	+4	31
5	Dartford	16	10	0	6	+5	30
6	Ramsgate	16	9	1	6	+17	28
7	Leatherhead	15	7	4	4	+7	25
8	Carshalton Athletic	17	8	1	8	-7	25

Preview data via api-football. Form, head-to-head, standings, manager and prediction figures sourced live at the time of compilation; squad and team-news availability subject to last-minute change.