Tonight's victory saw the young Millers clinch the Marsh Isthmian Youth League East Division title for the second consecutive year. They go top virtue of a superior goal difference over runners up Welling United. Having checked the rules prior to the game the task was clear victory would bring them level on points at the top and ensure they were crowned champions.

The goals took a while to come thanks to a superb goalkeeping display from the Sheppey keeper Noel Hutchings along with some indifferent finishing but eventually they did and Valley ran out convincing winners.

The opening goal came in the 17th minute when Alex Jones fired in a 25 yard free kick up and over the wall and into the back of the net. The Sheppey keeper then preceded to make a series of excellent saves, a double to deny Emmanuel Eyin and Obinna Igwe before holding onto Victor Damyanov's drive. Shortly after another Eyin effort was blocked by the keeper as Valley started to take control. Malachy Turner was also denied after his shot from a well worked corner routine was again saved.

The second eventually came not long before the interval, Igwe went through on goal and after stumbling under the challenge of the keeper somehow managed to slot the ball home. Immediately after the break Valley added a third, an Oliver Knight corner kick was met by the arriving Turner to power a header into the back of the net from 8 yards out.

On 54 minutes Jones scored his second and Valley's fourth, receiving a ball from Turner 20 yards out, a sublime drag back to take the ball past the defender was followed by a low shot into the bottom corner. 79 minutes gone and Arinze Chukwujekwu on as a substitute latched onto a ball headed on, moved into the penalty area and fired a shot past the keeper into the roof of the net from 10 yards.

After Turner was again denied by the keeper in a repeat of the corner routine the final goal came with six minutes remaining. Riley Woods collected Jones pass on the left and his low cross was met by Turner on the six yard line to slot home.

See video link: https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/malachy-turner-converts-riley-woods-cross-for-the-sixth-200922.html

The young Millers now enter the Champions of Champions Trophy which they won last year and await news of their semi final opponents and whether they will be home or away. The other semi finalists are the winners of the other three divisions, South - Worthing, West - Woking and Central - Metropolitan Police.

Millers: Wicks, Knight (Boyle 75), Hutchings, Fashanu, Woods (c), Damyanov, Gilchrist, Jones, Turner, Eyin (Egharevba 60), Igwe (Chukwujekwu 70) Subs not used: McKenna, Devile

Video: Millers celebrate winning their league - https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/young-millers--league-winners-200924.html

Match Photos: Inspire Socials:
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/photos/youth-u18--millers-v-sheppey-united-22424-photos-inspire-socials-1100781.html

Semi Final Draw Update:

Metropolitan Police v Cray Valley (PM) to be played on the ground of the team drawn at home on Friday 3rd May ko 19.45pm
Worthing v Woking to be played on the ground of the team drawn at home on Thursday 2nd May ko 19.45pm