The Millers had no answer as the Chats secured all three points in a 2-1 victory which ensured they were crowned Isthmian South East champions and with it promotion to the Isthmian Premier Division.

Valley enjoyed plenty of possession in the first half without being able to fully open up Chatham's defence. Denzel Gayle and Tom Chambers caused problems on the left early on, but it was the final shots that failed to hit the mark and Bridle-Card in the Chatham goal was rarely troubled. Ade Adeyemo dragged a shot inches wide and Hussain Ibrahiym - on his 100th appearance for the club - had a deflected shot that also missed the target.

It was a soft penalty that separated the teams at the interval, Chatham’s top Goalscorer Jack Evans scoring from the spot after 36 minutes, slamming the ball down the middle high into the net. Ashley Nzala beat Valley keeper Chris Lewington to a long ball and went to ground with referee Mark Gidman pointing to the spot and cautioning the keeper, one of a number of bookings for relatively minor infringements on a largely frustrating afternoon for the visitors.

Shortly after Valley went close to an equaliser, this time it was defender Kiki Oshilaja who failed to hit the target, from a central position in the box, scuffing the shot wide.

Second half was stop start and Valley were unable to really get into the game to make any positive inroads. In the 80th minute Chatham doubled their lead, Mitchell Nelson gave the ball away in the middle of the park, Callum Peck found Matt Bodkin whose in swinging cross deceived everyone to find it's way into the back of the net at the far post.

Cray in one of their few decent attacks of the second half pulled a goal back with three minutes of normal time remaining. Substitute Julien Anau flicked the ball into the path of Daniel Bennett who passed inside to Gayle placed just inside the box, after initialling appearing to miss the opportunity to shoot, he swivelled and shot, finding the bottom corner after a slight deflection.

Chatham held on and there were joyous scenes at the end in front of another huge crowd of 2,329.

The defeat means that Valley having slipped to 7th must now win both of their remaining games to secure a play off spot, against VCD Athletic on Tuesday and Sheppey United Saturday, both at home. It does though remain in their own hands

MILLERS: Lewington, Chambers, Oshilaja, Tumkaya, Gayle (c), Black, Samuels, Nelson, Bennett, Ibrahiym (Anau 78), Adeyemo
Substitutions Not Used: Majekodunmi, Medhurst, Edionhon-Silvera
Cautions: Lewington, Samuels, Black, Nelson, Bennett

CHATS: Bridle-Card, Orji, Cooper, Robins, Butler, Evans, Kedwell (Oloyede 59), Drury, Bodkin, Nzala (Peck 64), Krabbendam,
Substitutions Not Used: Lock, Taylor, Beckwith
Cautions: Robins, Oloyede

Referee – Mark Gidman
Assistants – Stephen Ryan and Oliver Westgate

Footnote: Hassan Ibrahiym made his 100th appearance for the club.