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Cray Valley aim to reach FA Cup First Round in only their eighth season in the competition against Maidenhead United

Cray Valley’s biggest-ever FA Cup tie will be played behind closed doors.

This is only the eighth season Cray have featured in the FA Cup after making their debuts against Lancing in 2013.

Cray Valley coach Kevin James. Picture: Keith Gillard
Cray Valley coach Kevin James. Picture: Keith Gillard

Their best previous run was to the Second Qualifying Round in 2018 when they lost 5-0 at Oxford City so it’s no surprise that they are relishing the prospect of travelling to National League Maidenhead on Saturday.

Cray coach Kevin James said: “Maidenhead are classed as an ‘elite’ club, sitting in the National League, it’ll be a tough draw.

“We’d have preferred it to be at home, but we’ve got to go there and give a good account of ourselves - play the way that we normally play.

“It’d be stupid for us not to watch them. We’ve identified some of their threats and we’ll do our best to not only be thinking about them, but thinking about us and how we can impose ourselves, and how positive we can be and stamp our authority on the game.”

Cray have beaten VCD (6-0), Burgess Hill (3-1), Harrow Borough (5-1) and Aveley (2-0) to reach this stage.

They sit 12th in Isthmian South East while Maidenhead’s last result in the National League was a 3-2 win at Notts County – a former Football League outfit.

After losing their first three league matches, Maidenhead have also won at Wrexham this season.

Supporters will not be admitted to York Road as Maidenhead, like all clubs at Step 1 and 2, have to play their matches behind closed doors. Supporters can pay £10 to watch a live stream of the tie.

Read more: All the latest sports news in Kent

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