PITCHING-IN ISTHMIAN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
CRAY VALLEY (PM) 3 CHATHAM TOWN 3 - 26 DEC 2024 - ATT 308
Goals: CV - Coker 37, Shomotun 45+2, Beere 85
CT - Mongoy 3, Cooper 53, Evans 71 (pen)

Match Report by Steve Chapman

Tom Beere came off the bench to snatch a late equaliser as both teams served up a Christmas classic at the Artic Stadium. Beere missed the Millers excellent away victory at Dulwich Hamlet though illness but had clearly recovered sufficiently to evade his marker to stab home a Matt Vigor cross in the 85th minute to secure a deserved point and maintain the gap between the two promotion seeking teams to 10 points.

Valley slipped a place to third as Billercray Town won their home fixture over Canvey Island but still have a game in hand as a result of the abandoned fixture against Lewes.

The 308 fans that ventured out on Boxing Day didn’t have long to wait for the goal feast to start. After only 3 minutes a mix up in the home sides penalty box left Jordy Mongay with the goal begging and he fired the Chats ahead. Giving an early lead away spurred the home side on and they went in pursuit of an equaliser. Their first chance saw Adam Coombes tamely head into the arms of keeper Joe Wright and soon after Vigor fired his shot over the bar. The majority of the play was down the Cray left side with Shomotun shining with some dazzling dribbles. Coombs had another opportunity when he combined well with Shomoton but once again was thwarted by Wright.

The first yellow card of the day was awarded to Sid Nelson when he crudely clattered Coombes from behind on the half way line. The former Millwall defender was very fortunate not to see red when once again he fouled Coombes on the edge of the Chats penalty box in the 37th minute. Andre Coker took the resultant free kick and lifted the ball over the wall into the top corner giving Wright no chance.

With the scores level at 1-1 the game entered into added time at the end of an already entertaining first half. However, there was still time for some drama at both ends of the pitch. Firstly Valley’s captain Kiki Oshilaja uncharacteristically let a harmless through ball slip under his foot which left the much travelled Freddie Sears with just Max Ovenden to beat. Much to the amazement of the travelling fans although he lifted the ball of Ovenden, his shot agonisingly went the wrong side of the post. Valley immediately went down the other end of the pitch with the excellent Shomotun having his a shot deflected over the bar by Miguel Scarlett before he put his side ahead. Elliott McKimm, in for the injured Clem Asiedu, crossed from the left and Wright could only palm the ball out to Shomotun who drilled his left footed shot low in the bottom corner.

The second half was as equally enthralling with both sides looking to secure the three points to close the gap on league leaders Dover. The Chats started the second half with more intent than the home side, who found themselves pegged back for long periods. It only took until the 53rd minute for the scores to be level again. Long serving skipper Jack Evans floated a free kick into a packed penalty box and Simon Copper managed to find space to head past Ovenden from close range. Once again Cray raised their game and both sides played their part as the ball constantly switched from box to box. Referee Lawrence Torz-Brown could have awarded a penalty when Oshilaja clashed with Evans but the latter was quite rightly booked for simulation for diving. Shortly after Rowan Liburd failed to make Barney Williams pay for a mistake when he fired wildly over the bar. The away side were on the ascendancy and should have taken the lead when McKimm failed to clear his lines which led to Ovenden making a magnificent double save.

The pressure finally took its toll in the 71st minute under bizarre circumstances. As left back Kasim Aidoo drove towards the Millers goal he was clearly fouled by Oshilaja. The referee immediately awarded a free kick on the edge of the area but following a barrage of protests from the entire Chatham team, he consulted with his assistant referee who was officiating from the opposite half, before reversing his decision and awarding a penalty. Evans stepped up the smash the ball into the roof of the net putting the visitors ahead again.

Manager Steve McKimm made some immediate changes to his starting line up bringing on Freddie Parker for Adam Coombs and Tom Beere for his son Elliott. Denzel Gayle had earlier replaced Coker, as he continues his recuperation from his long term groin injury.

All three of the substitutes played their part in the final goal of this thoroughly entertaining game. With the visitors looking to extend their lead to secure the points Valley broke away on the counter attack with Vigor bringing the ball out of the defence. He played the ball to Gayle who charged down the wing before retuning the ball to Vigor. The young midfielder crossed the ball low into the box where the defence were focusing on Parkers run which left the unmarked Beere to tap the ball into an empty net at the far post.

Both teams had further chances to win the game but a draw was probably a fair result on the day.

MATCH RATING *****
MAN OF THE MATCH – Funmi Shomotun (Cray Valley)

Fumnaya Shomotun fires the Millers into a 2-1 lead on the stroke of half time

Millers: Ovenden, Williams, Oshilaja (c), Bowry, McKimm (Beere 72), Coker (Gayle 64), Black, Waldren, Vigor (Ademiluyi 89), Shomotun (Barrington 79), Coombes (Parker 72)
Cautions: Barrington, Bowry, Black

Chats: Wright, Scarlett, Cooper, Nelson (Fernandes 88), Aidoo, Robins, O'Keefe (Isiaka 90+6), Evans, Sears, Mongoy (Anokye Boadi 89), Liburd, Subs not used: Garlinge, Sene Richardson
Cautions: Nelson, O'Keefe, Evans

Referee: Lawrence Torz-Brown
Assistants: Liam Chick and Christopher Murray

Post Match Interview - Steve McKimm
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/post-match-interview--steve-mckimm-reflects-on-the-33-home-draw-against-chatham-town-fc-261224-207265.html

Match Photos courtesy of Sutts Photographer
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/photos/millers-v-chatham-town-261224-photos-courtesy-of-sutts-photographer-1126092.html