CRAY VALLEY PM cruised to an impressive FA Trophy win away to Ramsgate thanks to two goals from Freddie Parker. The visitors controlled long periods of the game and, in truth, they fully deserved their two-goal margin of victory.

Ramsgate showed glimpses of their quality on the ball, but the Millers were streetwise and showed ruthlessness when they needed to.
Early on, Tom Hadler saved a Julian Anau shot after the game started in a cagey fashion – with the hosts having possession early on. However, the Millers being well drilled both on and off the ball.

The game did burst into life, however, in a 15-minute period midway through the first half. Firstly, a poor Medy Elito pass was intercepted by Freddie Parker. He drove forward before rolling a ball into the path of Matthew Vigor, who turned and struck his shot into the bottom-right corner to give the Millers the lead. Ten minutes later, they deservedly doubled their lead, a backpass from Tom Carlse was intercepted by Parker. He managed to keep his cool to beat Hadler, albeit at the second attempt. Three minutes later and the visitors had a third goal. Parker latched onto a ball from Fumnaya Shomotun and coolly dinked the ball over Hadler.

Michael Ademiluyi then had a shot saved by Hadler before Ramsgate desperately went in searching for a way back into the game. They finally found it when Joe Taylor latched onto the end of Josh Ajayi’s pull-back to poke the ball home at the second attempt. The Millers lost influential midfielder Vigor just before the interval, with substitute Lyle Della-Verde coming on to replace him.

The second half was, in truth, controlled largely by the visitors – with Parker, Della-Verde and Shomoton all going close. The Rams’ only real effort of note saw Josh Ajayi cut inside past a defender before firing his shot well over the bar after 77 minutes. The Millers went close through Della-Verde and Shomotun, while a scramble from a corner resulted in referee Joe Burgess spotting an infringement and awarding a free-kick to the defence. Despite plenty of possession, Ramsgate couldn’t break the visitors down. They saw the game out well, and ran out deserved winners in the end.

STAR MAN: Fumnaya Shomotun

Rams: Hadler, Barnes, Leader, Clifford, Carlse (Paxman 73), Gard, Taylor, Ajayi, Elito (Deacon 66), Judd, Walters (Bioletti 73). Subs not used: Newcombe, McGill.
Cautions: Gard, Walters

Millers: Ovenden, Williams, Oshilaja (c), Waldren, Asiedu, Ademiluyi, Black (Barrington 73), Anau (Beere 58), Vigor (Della-Verde 45+3), Shomotun, Parker (Coombes 65) Sub not used: Figueira
Cautions: Oshilaja, Williams, Della-Verde

Referee: Joe Burgess
Assistants: Jack Mottram and Alan Budden

Post Match Interview; Steve McKimm
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/post-match-interview--steve-mckimm-pleased-with-the-31-victory-away-to-ramsgate-fc-in-the-isuzu-fa-trophy-51024-204798.html

Other match report courtesy of Thomas Reeves of Kent Online
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/thanet/sport/report-ramsgate-v-cray-valley-313976/

Match Photos: Romana at Inspire Socials
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/photos/fa-trophy--ramsgate-v-millers-51024-photos-inspire-socials-1117493.html