The Millers gallantly held on to their unbeaten league record after playing over an hour with 10 men in an entertaining game at a blustery Artic Stadium. The game came alive after 21 minutes when midfielder Barney Williams spotted Brickies keeper Bobby Mason off his line and smashed a shot first time from forty yards after the ball was headed back by a Brickies defender. The keeper despite getting a hand to it was unable to prevent it from going in.

Minutes later the complexion of the game changed when Millers captain Arthur Lee saw red following a clash with Chris Harris in which after the initial challenge Lee appeared to pull him to the ground. This was almost immediately followed by more drama as Calvin Ekpiteta curled the ball into the top corner from 25 yards only for the referee Paul Stratton to blow the whistle for a free kick to the Millers as the ball was struck and on route to the back of the net which would have given Valley a two goal lead. Ekpiteta took the resulting free kick forcing keeper Bobby Mason to make the save diving low to his left.

The visitors equalised before the break when Michell May calming slotted past home keeper Max Ovenden. Despite the numeral disadvantage Cray took the lead again in the 51st minute when Williams drilled in his second from the edge of the box after Denzel Gayle's shot had been blocked. The joy was short lived when Stefan Illic emulated Williams by levelling the score again firing home from a similar distance. The Millers defended resolutely with Ovenden on hand when called upon to see the game out for a draw.

MATCH RATING ****

MAN OF THE MATCH – BARNEY WILLIAMS (CRAY VALLEY)

Millers: Ovenden, Oshilaja, Tumkaya, Lee (c), Chambers, Gayle (Lisbie 74), Williams, Waldren, Ademiluyi, Ekpiteta (Asiedu 43), Barrington (Parker 74) Subs not used: Vigor, Della-Verde
Sent Off: Lee 26 mins

Brickies: Mason, Turner (Arthur 75), Graham, Woodward, Tyrie, Jones, El-Moghaebel (Hope 81), Theobalds, Harris (Bloomfield 83), May, Illic Subs not used: Bentley, Osei-Owusu
Cautions: Harris

Referee - Paul Stratton
Assistants - Jacob Miller and Andrew Stanford

Match Highlights:
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/highlights--millers-hold-sittingbourne-to-22-after-being-reduced-to-10-men-301223-197214.html

Post Match Interview with Manager Steve McKimm
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/post-match-interview--steve-mckimm-proud-as-10-man-millers-hold-sittingbourne-to-22-draw-301223-197212.html

Match Photos: Romana at Inspire Socials
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/photos/millers-v-sittingbourne-301223-photos-inspire-socials-1087310.html