WET, WINDY, AND COLD – THE MILLERS FIGHT BACK TO EDGE PULSATING GOALFEST
PITCHING-IN ISTHMIAN LEAGUE SE DIV
WHITSTABLE TOWN 3 CRAY VALLEY (PM) 4 - 2 OCT 2021 - ATT 167
Goals: WT - Stannard 2, 19, Mills 12
CV - Hill 17. Gayle 33, Green 67, Babalola 80

Report by Richard J Green

A PULSATING GOALFEST ENTHRALLED A CROWD OF 167 AT A RAINSOAKED BELMONT as The Millers moved into second place in the league table.
Seven goals, two red cards and a host of missed opportunities saw high flying Valley prevail courtesy of a late winner from substitute Francis Babalola.
The struggling Oystermen were quick off the mark, racing into a two minute lead – Harry Stannard’s low, skidding drive evading the right hand of Millers’ custodian Chris Lewington –, before Tom Mills added a second, heading in from a free kick crossed in from the left by Danny Walder.
After Rory Hill reduced the arrears - glancing a cross from Jack Sammoutis beyond the excellent Whitstable ‘keeper Dan Eason – Stannard was to add his second, and The Oystermen’s third, in the 20th minute.
Taking possession on the left, Stannard’s low cross somehow evaded Lewington and debutant defender David Ompreon before ending up over the goal line.
As the rain and wind became increasingly incessant, The Millers began to take some semblance of control – Sammoutis’ cross again finding Hill, with the unmarked midfielder heading narrowly over the bar.
Denzel Gayle then reduced the arrears for the visitors just after the half hour mark.
As Hassan Ibrahiym played the ball forward, a Whitstable defender slipped on the wet surface, letting in Gayle who finished sweetly - lobbing over Eason.
3-2 to the hosts, and it still wasn’t half time yet………
As the interval approached, Ibrahiym and Sammoutis each had low, skidding drives turned away for corners by Eason.
The second half saw no letting up in the goalmouth action - Ibrahiym’s shot again being saved low down by Eason after just fourteen seconds.
A potentially game defining arrived in the 50th minute however - veteran Oystermen debutant Harry Goodger being dismissed for a dangerous “lunge” at Ompreon near the half way line.
The hard working Hill was replaced by Gavin Tomlin just after the hour following a knock, bringing an end to a tireless performance
It was shortly after this that Nathan Green opened his Millers account -unleashing a rocket from fully 25 yards that flew high past Eason before bulging the net and bringing the scores level.
This breathless game continued apace on a pitch now holding so much water that running with the ball was in itself a challenge.
After a booking for a late tackle shortly before, Ompreon then saw Red for a second caution – this time for holding an opponent – meaning the final twenty minutes would be played out with ten men on each side.
Valley had strong claims for a penalty turned down as Ibrahiym went down just inside the Whitstable area, as the temperature between the two sides simmered just below boiling point.
Cometh the final blow however, as ten minutes from time, Babalola was on hand to clinch the points for Valley after Eason palmed Ibrahiym’s shot into his path.
A cracking afternoon’s football played in conditions such that referee Paul Stratton later said he wouldn’t have started the match had the pitch been as it was at the end.
Final mention to Oystermen goalkeeper Eason, who put in an outstanding performance despite playing with a cracked rib.

MILLERS’ STAR MAN: – RORY HILL - A hard working, industrious performance, capped off by the Millers’ opening goal

MATCH RATING: - *****

THE OYSTERMEN : Eason, Mackenzie, Brown, Walder, Miles, Mills©, Flack, Gillies (Girt), Goodger, Carlton, Stannard (Barnes 64)
Not Used : Barnes, Thomas, Girt

Caution : Mackenzie
Dismissed : Goodger

MILLERS : Lewington, Dymond ©, Green, Tumkaya, Gayle (Babalola 75), Sammoiutis, Barrington, Warren, Ompreon, Hill (Tomlin 65), Ibrahiym
Not Used : Blanks, Salmon

Cautions : Green, Dymond
Dismissed : Ompreon (2 cautions)

Referee : Paul Stratton
Assistants : Kieran Cox and Gavin Bailey

Pic – Millers’ Star Man Rory Hill header pulls a vital goal back.

Match photos by Michael Brown - @BSportsphotos
For more match photos click on link to our facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=CrayValleyPM&set=a.3282199821914178

Good balanced Whitstable Town website match report including match data
https://www.whitstabletownfc.club/teams/224251/match-centre/1-9409613/report
Whitstable Town Cray Valley
4 Shots on target 16
0 Shots off target 5
1 Shots blocked 1
3 Corners 8
9 Fouls conceded 8
1 Offside 2
0 Penalties 0
Whitstable Town website match photos
https://www.whitstabletownfc.club/teams/224251/match-centre/1-9409613/photos

Non League Paper Submission
ISTHMIAN SE DIV - WHITSTABLE TOWN 3 CRAY VALLEY (PM) 4
A pulsating goalfest warmly entertained a crowd of 167 at Belmont as high flying Cray Valley eventually saw off lowly Whistable Town.
The Oystermen raced into a two minute lead – Harry Stannard’s low, skidding drive evading the right hand of Millers’ custodian Chris Lewington.
Tom Mills extended the hosts lead before Rory Hill pulled one back for Valley.
Stannard’s cross from the left evaded Lewington and David Ompreon to squirm into the net tp make it 3-1 – and all in the first 20 minutes.
Denzel Gayle’s clever lob reduced the arrears before the interval, before a defining moment on 50 minutes – Harry Goodger seeing red for a dangerous lunge on Valley’s Ompreon.
Nathan Green equalised for the visitors before Ompreon himself was dismissed for a second yellow card minutes later.
Francis Babalola pounced on a loose ball 10 minutes from time to secure the points for Cray Valley.
Man of the Match: Dan Eason (Whitstable Town)