A well disciplined and hard working performance from the visitors saw them return to Kent with a deserved victory at The Artic Stadium.
Such was the midfield domination enjoyed by the visitors that they nullified any attacking threat from a Valley side that had been creating chances aplenty recently without getting the deserved reward.
After a first half hour of few, if any, clear cut chances, the Brickies took the lead in the 37th minute when Daniel Taylor’s long range free kick cannoned off the Valley crossbar before falling kindly for Frank Puemo to poke home.
That Valley had to resort to playing more long balls forward than at any other stage this season spoke volumes for Sittingbourne’s midfield dominance, as Kershaney Samuels in particular had a rare game to forget.
The half time substitution of Tom Chambers for Antone Douglas brought about a reshuffle in Kevin Watson’s back line, and it enabled the dangerous left wing back to offer Valley’s best chance of getting back into the game as they enjoyed a spell of pressure early in the second half.
Adam Coombes hit a free kick narrowly wide from fully 30 yards for Valley immediately after replacing Sonny Black on the hour, but The Brickies it was who struck next as a cross in from the right fell for Donvieve Jones to stop low and head past Chris Lewington in the Valley goal.
The lead was further increased 20 minutes from time when a through ball split the right side of the home defence for Henry Dasofunjo to fire home off the far post.
Elliott Sartorius had an effort saved low down by Lewington before Hassan Ibrahiym produced an exocet missile with his left foot from fully 40 yards that shook the bar before finding the back of the net before Sittingbourne keeper Matthew Cafer saw it.
But that was all there was to cheer for the home faithful as a disappointing night came to an end for Valley, but one does have to occasionally give credit to the opposition.

MATCH RATING: - ***

MILLERS MAN OF THE MATCH – TOM CHAMBERS

MILLERS : Lewington, Dymond ©, Oshilaja, Williams, Gayle, Black (Coombes 63), Samuels, Douglas (Chambers 46), Bennett, Ibrahiym, Adeyemo
Substitutes Not Used : Tumkaya, Majek
Cautions : Oshilaja, Bennett, Dymond, Coombes

BRICKIES : Cafer, McKenzie, Gorham, Puemo, Dythe, Jones, Taylor (Sartorius 68), Dasofunjo, Sikirwayi, Osman, Deakin (Chidyausiku 79)
Substitutes Not used: Harvey, Whitton
Cautions : Puemo, Taylor, Osman, McKenzie

Referee : Craig Charles
Assistants : William Donnelly and Jordan Rant

Match Photos: Suman Birta

Video: Hassan Ibrahiym strike from distance for the Millers goal. https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/hassan-ibrahiym-goal-v-sittingbourne-111022-183233.html

Further match report: Courtesy of Mark Doig at Kent Sports News https://www.kentsportsnews.com/cray-valley-pm-1-3-sittingbourne-11-10-2022/