As we reach the final three league games of the season the Millers retain hope of reaching the play offs for the second season running. Obviously with aspirations to go further this time around.

Momentum is often key in football and being on “a good run” always preferable to “can’t buy a win at the moment”. If you are winning it looks easy, conversely if you are losing that too becomes all too easy.

The Millers league season 2022/23 broken down shows an indifferent league start intermingled with some decent cup results, followed by “a good run” then a “can’t buy a win” run and more recently thankfully another “good run”.

Breaking down the league results stats:
13th August – 15th October P8 W2 D3 L3 PTS 8
22nd October – 21st January P12 W9 D3 L0 PTS 30
28th January – 18th February P6 W0 D1 L5 PTS 1
25th February – 8th April P9 W7 D1 L1 PTS 22

Total to date P35 W18 D8 L9 PTS 62 with 3 games to play.

INDIFFERENT START

Defeat on opening day at Ramsgate was not the most auspicious start, a penalty given in dubious circumstances just three minutes in, Barney Williams on his debut somewhat shocked to be shown a red card in the second half, contributed to a miserable afternoon. Two narrow victories followed at home to East Grinstead and away at Corinthian either side of a home draw against Whitehawk. Cups always feature early on and FA Cup victories were achieved against Glebe and Isthmian Premier side Hastings United both 3-0 before bowing out at home to Hanwell Town 2-1. There was a first ever win in the FA Trophy when Lancing were beaten 4-1 at the home of the Sussex FA headquarters.

In the league a trip to Beckenham Town yielded just a point in a goalless draw despite the Millers dominating possession. It brought about one of my favourite twitter comments of the season when then manager Kevin Watson replied to a club message about inconsiderate parking upsetting the local residents, “Agree. I was hoping someone would move the bus parked in front of your goal as well”

A second victory in the FA Trophy against East Thurrock and a first ever win in the Kent Senior Cup away at Folkestone Invicta continued the cup success. A return to Lancing but this time in the league ended all square. For the third season running we exited the FA Trophy on penalties this time against Isthmian Premier Carshalton Athletic. Of more concern were successive league defeats at home to Sittingbourne and away at Ashford United which saw the team fall to 14th place. Defeat also in the London Senior Cup, narrowly going down 1-0 against Welling United

A GOOD RUN

With most of the cups out of the way and some useful prize money earned, now was the time to focus on putting a run together in the league. It started in some style as the Artic Stadium witnessed a 5-0 win against Haywards Heath Town with two goals each from Tom Chambers and Adam Coombes with Cem Tumkaya adding a fifth. A feisty affair brought a second successive win 3-2 against Three Bridges with short term loanee debutant defender Finn O'Mara from Hastings United receiving a second yellow. Two draws followed away at Hythe Town on a boggy pitch after heavy pre match rain and at home to Littlehampton Town. Off the field at the latter game extra security guards had been drafted in following Intelligence received of an expected infiltration of undesirables which fortunately didn’t materialise.

Tuesday 15th November 2022, the Artic Stadium had witnessed it’s second 5-0 win of the season with Ade Adeyemo grabbing a hat trick. However, it was the aftermath news that followed the final whistle that drew most attention. Kevin Watson the Millers most successful manager had announced his tenure was at an end after five and half seasons. It was unexpected and fair to say a pivotal point in the season.

Tommy Osborne and Paul Lorraine were given the chance of steadying the ship and maintaining course as a flood of 7 dayers hit on the back of the news. It is to the credit of the management team and players that there was only one departure, Antone Douglas to Faversham Town which was in fact already in the pipeline. What followed was remarkable, eight games unbeaten including seven victories.

Their first game in charge was a difficult away trip to Chichester City who at the time were unbeaten in the league at home. In light of it being the longest journey for the Millers in the Isthmian South East Division a rare opportunity to travel together by coach. Goalless at half time, a tactical switch to the formation at the back worked wonders and goals from Dan Bennett and Adam Coombes led to a 2-0 win. It was the perfect start and an opportunity to galvanise team spirit on the journey home.

A Kent Senior Cup victory against a young Bromley side by the only goal was followed up by two outstanding performances with Sheppey United beaten 3-1 at Holm Park with goals from Dan Bennett 2 and Ade Adeyemo and the following Saturday at home to Chatham Town again 3-1 with a Denzel Gayle double and an Adam Coombes penalty.

A goalless draw on Boxing Day at the Artic Stadium to Corinthian brought a halt to the run of wins but fortunately this proved short lived as VCD Athletic were beaten 4-0 at Oakwood in the opening game of 2023. Victory over Ramsgate who were top of the league at the time was another notable performance. On a wet and windy day at the Artic Stadium, second half goals from Cem Tumkaya and Barney Williams secured the points and maintained the Millers third place position in the table.

The unbeaten run was stretched to twelve games with a 2-0 home victory against Hythe Town, goals from Dan Bennett and Denzel Gayle. Worth mentioning man of the match, goalkeeper Chris Lewington who along with the defence helped extend the number of clean sheets to four consecutive and just two goals conceded in nine games. After missing the previous two games captain Connor Dymond came on as a 70th minute substitute in what turned out to be his last appearance for the Millers as he left and joined Herne Bay. Denzel Gayle officially took over the captaincy.

CAN"T BUY A WIN

As remarkable as the 12 match unbeaten run was, what followed was perhaps even more remarkable as the team went seven games without a win, six of those ending in defeat including five in the league. Clearly momentum was lost as the confidence seemed to drain with each defeat.

The defeats at Littlehampton and then at home to Chichester City had a similar look and feel to them, Millers dominated possession, didn’t take their chances, player sent off in each game (Julien Anau and Tom Chambers), conceded the only goal of the game late on. De Ja Vu followed with a third consecutive 1-0 defeat at home to Sittingbourne although the performance was not of the same level as the first two.

The rot was stopped with a well deserved point in a 2-2 draw at Three Bridges, Hassan Ibrahiym with the opener and defender Mitch Nelson, who had joined at the beginning of December, scoring his first goal for the club. Defensive misdemeanours were to the fore as the Millers twice let slip a lead before Beckenham scored a late winner to inflict a 3-2 defeat at the Artic Stadium. A disappointing performance at Faversham brought a fifth defeat in six. A trip to Isthmian Premier side Margate in the Kent Senior Cup also ended in defeat.

A GOOD RUN

Having slipped from third to ninth, it seemed as if the whole season was in danger of being completely derailed. The run of poor form ended with a much welcomed 2-1 home win against Lancing, not always at their best but an opener from Dan Bennett and a late Sonny Black winner put the train back on the tracks. A solid 3-0 win at East Grinstead was followed by a goalless draw at Sittingbourne where the Brickies keeper was man of the match.

Confidence appeared to be returning and the trip to Burgess Hill Town proved most enjoyable returning with all three points in a 3-0 win. The Millers had now climbed back to fifth, occupying the last play off slot. Ashford United, play off rivals, were the next visitors to the Artic Stadium. A stunning first half saw the Millers romp to a four goal lead with two a piece from Ade Adeyemo and Adam Coombes. Ade Adeyemo completed his second hat trick of the season in the second half and it finished 5-1.

A third consecutive win at Haywards Heath followed. A trip near the Brighton coast to meet Whitehawk proved disappointing and ended in defeat. The Millers bounced back quickly though with wins against Burgess Hill Town and at Sevenoaks Town. The latter an impressive performance defending when required and clinical finishing in a 3-0 score line.

THE FINISH . ….. Spoiler Alert!
The spoiler is we don’t know how it will all end. Three games to go, all tough in their own way. First up a trip to the Bauvill Stadium to play champions elect Chatham Town, who are unbeaten at home in the league. Tuesday night and it’s the re-arranged game at home to VCD Athletic, who need the points at the other end of the table. Finally 22nd April and it could be winner takes all as the Millers take on fellow play off contenders Sheppey United at the Artic Stadium. It looks like it’s going to the wire and we cannot wait!

To be continued….