PITCHING-IN ISTHMIAN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION PLAY OFF SEMI-FINAL
DARTFORD 4 CRAY VALLEY (PM) 3 AFTER EXTRA TIME (SCORE AT 90 MINS 2-2) - 30 APRIL 2025 - ATT 2,002
Goals: D - Carruthers 70 (pen), Odaudu 90+8, Bullas 95 extra time, Whitefield 103 extra time
CV - Waldren 7, 48 Coombes 118 extra time
Sent off - Lema 70 (CV)

Waldren's header nestles in the back of the net for the Millers opening goal

On what turned out to be a dramatic night at Princes Park in front of 2,000 fans saw the Darts equalise with the last kick of normal time in the 98th minute to take the game into extra time. Danny Waldren had given the Milles a two goal lead both with headers from corners, the first on 7 minutes and the second just after the interval on 48 minutes. A key moment and turning point of the game came in the 70th minutes, the assistant flagging to draw the referee's attention to an elbow in the back, leading to Crossley Lema receiving a red card and Samir Carruthers scoring from the penalty to pull a goal back for the darts.

Match Key Moment: - video sending off and penalty
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/lema-elbows-jones-in-the-box-and-samir-converts-the-penalty-to-pull-a-goal-back-for-dartford-210811.html

The Millers looked to have secured the win as they fought a rearguard action down to ten men for the last part of normal time only to see the Darts snatch a last gasp equaliser in the 8th minute of added time. Handball on the edge of the box led to free kick in a dangerous position and Sam Odaudu low shot took a wicked deflection off a boot in the wall and looped up over Harrison Chamberlain in the Millers goal into the top corner.

Match Key Moment: - Last gasp equaliser for the Darts in added time.
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/sam-odaudu-scores-with-the-last-kick-in-normal-time-for-dartford-to-send-the-match-into-extra-time-210813.html

This took the game into extra time and with the Millers visibly and understandably downhearted the Darts took advantage and scored twice in the first period through Hayden Bullas and George Whitfield. Substitute Adam Coombes pulled a goal back to make it 4-3 near the close but it wasn't to be and it is the Darts who will now host Dover Athletic (who beat Billericay Town) in Monday's play off final.

Steve McKimm, his management team along with all the players can be proud of their efforts both in tonight's game and for a remarkable successful first season at step 3. Roll on next season.

Millers: Chamberlain, Williams, Oshilaja (c), Bowry, Crossley, Gayle (McKimm T 105 et), Beere (Black 74), Waldren, Vigor (Cumberbatch 81), Aileru (Coombes 86), Parker (Barrington 81)
Sent Off: Crossley 70
Cautions: Bowry, Waldren, Chamberlain, Coombes, Cumberbatch

Darts: Marsden, Odaudu, Hill (c) (Nayler 112et), Whitefield, Jones, Olopade, Box (Dunne 99et), Okoye (Carruthers 62, Christian-Law 107et)), Pinder (Dsane 54), Williams, Bullas
Cautions: Jones, Hill, Bullas, Odaudu

Referee: Dan Blades
Assistants: George Lowe and Ben Al-Shaikh

Video - Match Highlights:
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/playoff-pandemonium-at-the-park-as-darts-win-thriller--playoff-highlights--300425-210827.html

Video - From the Stands -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbGWjbg9III

Post Match Interview: Steve McKimm
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/post-match-interview--steve-mckimm-disappointed-after-the-43-defeat-to-dartford-in-the-play-off-semifinal-210815.html

Additional match report and managers comments Matthew Panting Kent Online
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/bexley-and-bromley/sport/millers-boss-mckimm-gracious-in-defeat-323673/

The Preston Perspective Match Report by Preston Lee-Willott Cray Valley (PM) supporter
" A dart to the heart ! "
Dartford 4 - 3 Cray Valley PM (aet)
Att : 2,002
Football can be a very cruel mistress
An equaliser right at the very end of time added on to time added on broke Millers hearts in the most agonising fashion, as it came courtesy of a deflection.
It had all been looking so promising for us as Danny Waldren's header from a corner on the 7th minute got our noses in front, and there were 2 more close calls where we could have added to the advantage in that opening quarter of an hour
Dartford settled though and were arguably the stronger side over the rest of the first 45 without really ever testing Harrison Chamberlain in goal as the Millers defence snuffed out the attacks with resolve
It got even better shortly after the break as another Waldren header from a corner looped over the Dartford defence for 0 - 2 on 48 minutes and now we really felt the excitement and dared to believe we really could make the play-off final
And then came the turning point in the game. After a Darts attack had come to nothing and the ref seemingly waving play-on, his linesman called him over ; and after a consultation he awarded a penalty and gave Crossley Lema a red card
The penalty was converted , the majority of the home support woke up and came alive and now we knew the last 20 minutes we would be under siege ....... and we were.
A minimum of 5 minutes time added on , and we were beyond that and I'd guess I wasn't the only one thinking "we're gonna hang on and do this!" when that deflected free-kick burst our balloon.
Now we had to face a further half hour with a man down and the momentum of the night taking things the Dartford way. I missed their next goal due to a visit to the bathroom, but when their 4th went in we sensed it was all over and we were lamenting what lady luck had dished out to us
Huge respect though to our lads ; they still dug in and strained every sinew to get back into the game, and the home supporters nerved must have frayed a little when Adam Coombes did indeed pull one back with a few minutes to go.
But sadly from our perspective , the mountain to climb on this occasion was just too steep.
I guess on reflection sitting here scribing some 2 days after the dramatic night at Princes Park that it just wasn't meant to be, and with Dartford having finished above us in the league , maybe it's helping to soothe things. I doubt Billericay fans ( finished 2nd and knocked out by 5th placed Dover ) will share that sentiment.
But boy .... it hurt that night ........ and the morning after ....... and I can only imagine just how much more it will have hurt the Gaffer, the coaching staff, and the lads themselves after all they gave not just that night, but throughout the season. None of them deserved that kind of cruel heartbreak after what they've achieved this season.
I can speak for everyone when I say we're super super proud of our players and the Gaffer for what's been achieved this season, finishing 4th in our first ever season at this level is monumental ; and those of us who've been on the road to the away games this season have thoroughly enjoyed the ride.
Up the Millers
ISMWT