A Dan Bowry headed goal from a Tom Beere corner in the 37th minute sealed the deal and secured a play off spot for the Millers in their first season of Isthmian Premier football. They will now be away to either Dartford, Horsham or Billericay Town in the play off semi final on Wednesday 30th April.

The Chats forced Valley to defend well at times and whilst Harrison Chamberlain was rarely called into action there were some nervy moments with a first half strike whizzing past the post and with fifteen minutes to go a header from a corner hit the crossbar. Valley had chances of their own, Crossley Lema heading over in the first half from a Tom Chambers corner, just before the Bowry goal. Around the 70th minute they probably should have put the game to bed, Sonny Black was clean though on goal, squared to Tom Beere but the moment had gone and his shot was blocked.

As the clock ticked down Chamberlain got down low to save a Harry Webster effort and at the other end Marcel Barrington tapped home the rebound from substitute Andre Coker's shot but the assistant's flag was up for offside.

In the final moments of the six minutes of added time the Chats won a corner and Henry Molyneux their keeper joined the attack, the ball swung in but somehow the Millers defence stayed firm and kept the ball out. Final whistle and to the delight for all Millers present at the Bauvill ground the three points had been secured.

Millers: Chamberlain, Lema, Bowry, Oshilaja (c), Chambers (Waldren 70), Barrington, Black, Beere (Vigor 79), Cumberbatch (Shomotun 89), Aileru (Ademiluyi 71), Coombes (Coker 83)
Cautions: Ademiluyi, Lema

Chats: Molyneux, Webster, Aidoo, Robins (Isiaka 59), Butler, Nelson (Cooper 89), Evans (c), Sears, Chambers (Sangare 53), Mongoy (Ufuah 67), Bryan (Yila 54)
Cautions: Bryan, Evans, Isiaka, Butler

Referee: Oliver Kaya
Assistants: Emre Arslan and Jordan Dixon-Walker

Congratulations to Tom Chambers who made his 100th appearance for the Millers

Nature Watch: An iphone birds eye view of the black headed gulls at the Bauvill Stadium today.

Video: Goal - Dan Bowry heads the only goal of the game
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/goal--play-off-spot-secured-210561.html

Match Highlights:
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/chats-final-home-game-of-the-season--isthmian-league-chats-01-cray-valley-pm-210663.html

Post match Interview - Steve McKimm
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/post-match-interview--steve-mckimm-delighted-with-a-10-victory-over-chatham-town-fc-to-secure-a-play-off-spot-210525.html

Post match interview - Danny Waldren
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/post-match-interview--danny-waldren-reflects-on-the-10-victory-against-chatham-town-fc-21425-210602.html

The Preston Perspective - Additional Match Report by Cray Valley (PM) supporter Preston Lee-Willott

"Chats Chastened by Bowry Bullet-header!!"
Chatham Town 0 - 1 Cray Valley PM

Given that the hosts were in the promotion play-off final last season, I don't think many would have wagered against being there or thereabouts again this season and I for one certainly tipped them for a top 5 finish at least. I think it fair to say therefore that things just haven't quite clicked for them this season having been very much mid-table and struggling to find any consistency.

Not that we were coming to town to do them any favours ; we had business of our own to attend to by trying to secure our own berth in this season's play-off places, and with Chatham's recent upturn in form we knew we'd have to be sharp to get a result down here in the Medway. Set to be encouraged by a 1500+ partisan crowd, with Reece Butler organising the defence , captain Jack Evans martialling the midfield and Freddie Sears up front, they were keen to finish their season strongly in front of their own fans

Once the action got underway, it did feel a little tense. Chatham were playing with a bit of confidence, although conscious of our ability to hit them on the break down the flanks, and although they pressed quite hard , the Millers defence did a solid job and our man in the sticks didn't have too much to do.

Living in the Medway myself, I get to see The Chats a few times most seasons, and if they've had one weakness this season, it's been an inability to cope with high balls into the box, and hence it was little surprise that a well taken corner kick floated in just right met the head of Dan Bowry for 0-1 not long before half-time

I felt we actually played some better football in the second half to be fair ; and Marcel Barrington did have the ball in the net only for an offside flag to be raised, and elsewhere a goalbound shot from Tommy Beere was brilliantly blocked by Sid Nelson.

So 0-1 it was to be ; Chatham did try to throw the kitchen sink at us as the match drew to a close, their 'keeper rushing upfield to join in the antics with a couple of late corners in the 7 minutes of added on time, but we weren't to be denied and we closed the game out and confirmed our participation in the promotion play-offs by doing so.

Before the season got underway I was optimistic we'd finish 8th - 12th ........ but I never dared dream we'd be competing for and getting into the top 5 ; it really has been a fantastic team effort from the boys in green and we can now look forward to the Folkestone game and see who awaits in the play-off semi-final !

ISMWT !!!!!

Match Photos: Inspire Socials
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/photos/chatham-town-v-millers-21425-photos-inspire-socials-1138019.html