PITCHING-IN ISTHMIAN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
CRAY VALLEY (PM) 5 WINGATE & FINCHLEY 3 - 14 DEC 2024 - ATT 177
Goals: CV - Black 9, Parker 25 (pen), 88, 90+7, Gayle 90+5
W&F - Obi 41, 81. Restrepo 54

A dramatic finish sees Valley come out on top in a topsy turvey eight goal thriller at the Artic Stadium.

Match Action

Match Report by Steve Chapman

Striker Freddie Parker scored his second hat-trick of the season as Valley game from behind to secure all 3 points in a great advert for non-league football. With the game looking to be heading towards a draw, deep into added time winger Denzel Dayle, who was returning from a long absence with an injury, cut in from the right to power a low shot into bottom corner in 90 plus 5. Two minutes later Parker completed his hat-trick when he charged down a clearance from Wingate’s keeper Charlie Grainger to win the sprint to the loose ball and tap in on the line. Millers manager Steve McKimm was over the moon with his sides late come back and commented “ Two excellent sides. They showed character coming from 2 goals down but we showed even more by winning the match in added time”.

The Millers started the game strongly and took the lead in the 9th minute when Micheal Ademiluyi’s trickery led to him being fouled on the edge of the box. Fumnaya Shomotun took the resulting free kick which was converted by Sonny Black with a header from 6 yards out. The lead was doubled in the 25th minute when Shomotun jinxed his way into the box and won an undisputed penalty when tripped. Freddie Parker atoned for his recent miss at Dover by sending Charlie Grainger the wrong way.

The visitors reduced the arrears four minutes before half time with a rather fortuitous goal. A corner was punched clear by Max Ovenden but it hit a defender on the back of the head and fell conveniently for Blues striker Ogo Obi to tap home from close range.

The Blues took control after the interval and turned the game around with goals from Camilo Restrepo after 54 minutes and a second from Obi 9 minutes from time. With 2 minutes remaining Andre Coker had a speculative shot which was intercepted by Parker who swivelled to beat Grainger to level the scores and set up the dramatic finish.

Blues manager Ahmet Rifat reflected after the game “ I thought it was a well contested game between two good sides and although I was impressed with my players attitude in coming back from 2 goals down, the result wasn’t a true reflection of the match”.

MATCH RATING *****

MAN OF THE MATCH – Freddie Parker (Cray Valley) - nominated by todays match sponsors - Cray Valley (PM) Original Legends

Millers: Ovenden, Williams (c), Tumkaya (Waldren 69), Bowry, Asiedu, Ademiluyi (Gayle 68), Black (Barrington 88), Beere, Vigor (Anau 79), Shomotun (Coker 68), Parker
Cautions: Tumkaya, Coker

Blues: Grainger, Garrett-Douglas, Byron, Lontton, Webb, Lowe (c) (Kpakpe 78), Keller (Roberts 86), Restrepo (Briscoe 87), Obi, Georgiou ( Newton), Drakes-Thomas
Caution: Lowe

Referee: Ross Murphy
Assistants: Dele Sotimirin and Daniel Whale

Video: Goal Cam - Five Golden Moments
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/goal-cam--five-golden-moments-207124.html

Video: Freddie Parker scores from the penalty spot.
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/freddie-parker-scoring-from-the-penalty-spot-207022.html

Post Match Interview: Millers legend Denzel Gayle
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/post-match-interview--denzel-gayle-gives-his-thoughts-after-the-53-victory-against-wingate--finchley-141224-207151.html

Video: Post Match Interview - Steve McKimm
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/post-match-interview--steve-mckimm-delighted-with-the-53-victory-at-home-against-wingate--finchley-fc-141224-207023.html

Alternative Match Report Courtesy of Cray Valley Supporter Preston Willott .. extracted from his Facebook posting, thanks Preston.

What a match !!!!

3rd v 4th today in the Isthmian Premier as Cray Valley PM took on Wingate & Finchley ........ and what a spectacle was served up for the 177 spectators who braved the cold and absconded from Christmas shopping sprees.

The Millers were quickly into their stride and took a deserved lead on the 9th minute as Sonny Black headed past the 'keeper. The home side took a stranglehold on the game from thence onwards and it was little surprise really when further dominance lead to a penalty award that was duly converted by talismanic striker Freddy Parker on the 23rd minute.

Despite further pressure , further chances to add to the lead were either blocked or missed .... and then 5 minutes before half time came the sucker punch as the visitors stole a goal from nowhere. They might have considered themselves unlucky not to have gone in at the break on level terms as a gilt edged chance for them soon afterwards somehow was either saved or went wide ..... but having conceded a goal to a side that was clearly doing well in the league having been in the play-off picture last season, I was a trifle concerned that we'd be given a stern test in the second 45.

I wasn't wrong as the equaliser came on 54 minutes , and there then followed one of the most intriguiging and absorbing periods of football I've seen all season as both sides pushed to get their noses back in front , it really was end to end stuff.

Firstly Cray Valley thought they'd done it when Freddy managed to elude the rugby tackle-esque challenges of not one, but 2 defenders to stay on his feet and slot the ball past the advancing 'keeper only to wheel away seeing the referee awarding a free kick against him for the second challenge .......... in fairness we were as baffled as he was

Into the final 10 minutes, and the visitors played a great move and scored and took the lead. But I've said it before and I'll say it again, a Steve Mckimm side never knows when its beaten , and having failed with several floated balls into the box to get back on level terms, some great passing interplay with 2 minutes left on the clock saw Freddy tuck in the equaliser.

It was no less than they deserved ; but they weren't finished as in injury time to the delight of the home fans, Denzel Gayle not long back after a long injury lay-off got a reward for one of his probing runs cutting in from the right wing and slotted home.

There was further excitement yet, as a clumsy clearance from the 'keeper saw the ball gifted to Freddy Parker who then came out the right side of a physical tussle with the Wingate 'keeper albeit minus one boot and we watched from behind the goal enthralled as the one-booted Freddy was now in a race versus the Goalie and a defender to get to the ball ........... and Freddy won !!!

So Freddy got his hat trick, Cray Valley recorded a 5-3 win to send us all home pretty breathless and ecstatic and this amazing season continues to deliver some unbelievable afternoons, and we're loving it.

Match Photos: Inspire Socials
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/photos/millers-v-wingate--finchley-1125173.html