FA Trophy · Third Qualifying Round
Saturday 26 September, kickoff 15:00
Correction — 26 September 2026: An earlier version of this preview, published on 24 September, described this match as the FA Trophy final. It was a third qualifying round tie. The round was mislabelled in the data feed used to compile the preview. The preview has been amended; it also gave the Cray Wanderers manager a first name that was not in our data, and miscounted the head-to-head record, which have been corrected. The error is recorded on our Corrections page.
Cray Wanderers travel to Cheshunt on Saturday for an FA Trophy third qualifying round tie, with kick-off scheduled for 15:00 BST. The winners will go into the draw for the first round proper, which is scheduled for Saturday 24 October, and N. Smith’s side will be looking to stay in the competition.
The form guide
Recent league form data for both sides is not available in the conventional sense, making it difficult to draw firm conclusions from recent results alone. As a one-off knockout tie, the occasion will demand that both sides produce their best regardless of what has come before in recent weeks.
The head-to-head record
| Date | Competition | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Oct 2021 | Non League Premier – Isthmian | Cheshunt | 4-0 | Cray Wanderers |
| 5 Mar 2022 | Non League Premier – Isthmian | Cray Wanderers | 1-1 | Cheshunt |
| 23 Sept 2023 | Non League Premier – Isthmian | Cray Wanderers | 2-1 | Cheshunt |
| 17 Feb 2024 | Non League Premier – Isthmian | Cheshunt | 0-1 | Cray Wanderers |
The head-to-head record favours the Kent side. Of the four most recent meetings with a recorded result, Cray Wanderers have won two, drawn one and lost one. Most recently, in February 2024, the Wands won 1-0 at Cheshunt, the venue for Saturday’s tie. Before that, Cray Wanderers won 2-1 at home in September 2023, and the sides drew 1-1 in March 2022. The one defeat in that run came in October 2021, when Cheshunt won 4-0.
The men in the dugout
Cheshunt
Cray WanderersCheshunt will be guided by C. Edwards, while Cray Wanderers manager N. Smith will be looking to take his side into the first round proper. In a single knockout tie the margins are fine, and the tactical battle between the two dugouts could prove just as intriguing as the action on the pitch.
Players to watch
With no standout individual scoring data available for either side, the focus is likely to fall on collective performances rather than individual brilliance. Knockout ties often turn on a single moment, and both squads will have players looking to seize it.
The prediction
Bookmaker advice: Double chance : draw or Cray Wanderers
The prediction model points to an evenly contested tie, with the head-to-head record giving Cray Wanderers an edge: they won the last two meetings, including a 1-0 win at Cheshunt in February 2024. A draw at full time remains a genuine possibility in a tight knockout contest, but on balance the Kent side look capable of edging it. Expect a hard-fought afternoon.
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.