PITCHING-IN ISTHMIAN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
CRAY VALLEY (PM) 2 DOVER ATHLETIC 1 - 15 MARCH 2025 - ATT 388
Goals: CV - Barrington 59, Beere 73
DA - Soares-Junior 56

Match Report by Steve Chapman for the NLP

The Millers came from behind to snatch a valuable 3 points in a pulsating match at the Artic stadium where both teams desperately needed a win to consolidate their place in the play off’s. Once again Tom Beere was the match winner when he found space in a packed penalty box to score his 13th goal of the season in the 73rd minute.

Cray had the opportunity to score one of the fastest goals in the club’s history after only 12 seconds when they were awarded a penalty when Boakye - Sarfo fouled Freddie Parker after Jeremiah Gyebi misjudged a long ball from keeper Harrison Chamberlain. However, Boakye-Sarfo atoned for his error of judgement when he dived to his right to save Parker’s low spot kick. The remainder of the first half was very cagey as both defences nullified any goal scoring opportunities.

After the interval it was a different affair as the sides came out with more purpose. It was the Whites that took the lead after 56 minutes when Ruben Soares-Junior converted a well worked move for his 19th goal of the season. The lead only lasted 3 minutes as Beere found himself in space on the edge of the box and his lofted cross was headed home at the far post by Marcel Barrington. Denzel Gayle replaced Barrington shortly after and his mazy runs at the oppositions defence were an instant threat as the home side started to control the game before Beere scored what proved to be the winner when he slotted home from close range after his initial shot was blocked.

Needless to say, Steve McKimm was the happier of the two managers and commented “ A fantastic result. We took the game to Dover from the outset and credit to the players after going behind. We did everything with a purpose today and thoroughly deserved the win. I thought our makeshift back line did really well to reduce their potent strike force to one shot on target.” Meanwhile Dover’s Jake Leberi lamented “ I am really disappointed with the result and in particular with our performance. We improved in the second half but I’m dissatisfied with the manner of the goals we conceded. We now need to move on quickly to Tuesday’s game against Chatham”.

MAN OF THE MATCH – Danny Waldren (Cray Valley)

Millers: Chamberlain, Williams, Lema, Waldren (c), Asiedu, Barrington (Gayle 66), Beere, Edwards, Cumberbatch, Aileru (Shomotun 90), Parker (Coombes 68) Subs not used: Chambers, Coker
Cautions: Edwards, Williams

Whites: Boakye-Sarfo, Charles-Cook, Sesay (Amgbaduba T 86), Gyebi, Tennent (Mensah 86), Cocoracchio (Mampolo 77), Baptiste (Amgbaduba E 86), Matthews, Nikaj, Soares-Junior (c), Hanson (Pont 90)
Caution: Boakye-Sarfo

Referee: Daniel Blades
Assistants: Luke Morley and Michael Corderoy

Post Match Interview - Steve McKimm
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/post-match-interview--steve-mckimm-very-pleased-with-a-21-victory-over-dover-athletic-fc-209371.html

Two debutants today for the Millers, Welcome Crossley and Charlie