PITCHING-IN ISTHMIAN LEAGUE SE DIV
CRAY VALLEY (PM) 2 LITTLEHAMPTON TOWN 2 - 24 OCT 2023 - ATT 104
Goals: CV - Lisbie 30, Astle (OG) 89
LT - Chadwick 49, 61

An entertaining and frustrating evening at the Artic Stadium in equal measures saw the spoils shared as it finished two a piece. The Millers will rue countless missed opportunities early on but then the Golds having capitalised on defensive errors to get in front will be frustrated not to have held on for the win. As always with this Cray Valley side they battled to the end and kept their unbeaten record in tact with a late equaliser, some doubt as to who got the final touch however I am now told it was in fact an own goal.

The opening 15 minutes or so was all Valley, shots blocked, more shots from the rebound blocked and Kyrell Lisbie hitting the foot of the far post, it seemed only a matter of time before a goal would come. As the half wore on the Golds had chances of their own on the break, forcing Valley keeper Sam Freeman into action with a couple of saves, the second with his outstretched foot.

The opening goal finally came on the half hour, Lisbie latching on to a mis placed pass to dispossess the defender on the edge of the box and fire home past the keeper.

Shortly after the interval the Golds equalised, Finlay Chadwick took a free kick from inside the centre circle spotted Freeman off his line and his lob forced him to slip as he back peddled and the scores were level. On 61 minutes a mis placed pass from Hassan Ibrahiym found Chadwick in a central position outside the box and he finished well chipping over Freeman and into the net.

James Binfield in the Golds goal made some excellent second half saves to thwart an Arthur Lee header, Freddie Parker shot and late on powerful hit shots from both Gayle and Ibrahiym as they looked for an equaliser. It finally came as the clocked ticked towards ninety minutes, cross into the box by Tom Chambers and the ball deflecting into the back of the net by Littlehampton Town number 3 Matt Astle for an unfortunate own goal. In added time Cem Tumkaya got his head to a cross but under pressure from the defenders he couldn't direct down and it was over the top with the game finishing all square.

Millers: Freeman, Williams, Chambers, Lee (c) (Oshilaja 68), Tumkaya, Black, Parker, Ademiluyi (Gayle 69), Vigor (Anau 79), Lisbie, Ibrahiym. Subs not used: Asiedu, Ekpiteta
Cautions: Lee

Golds: Binfield, Yoro-Thomas, Astle, Herbert (Packer 84), Butler, Ball, Starkey, Kirkwood (Layton 57, Gaskin (Dologhan 73), Chadwick, Jarvis. Subs not used: Hopkinson, El Hage
Cautions: Chadwick, Ball, Packer

Referee - Michael Scott
Assistants - Adam Miller and Michael Wright

Post Match Interview with Steve McKimm:
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/post-match-interview--steve-mckimm-gives-his-views-on-22-draw-against-littlehampton-town-fc-242023-195091.html

Photos: Inspire Socials
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/photos/millers-v-littlehampton-town-241024-photos-inspire-socials-1080224.html