Goals from Marcel Barrington and Connor Dymond elevated Valley back to the summit after this top of the table tussle at The Artic Stadium.
With Denzel Gayle and Jack Sammoutis returning to the line-up following last week’s draw at Ramsgate, Hassan Ibrahiym was asked to start wide on the left in place of David Ompreon.
And it didn’t take long for Ibrahiym to make an impact in the role. His low 4th minute cross was prodded beyond Bay keeper Jordan Perrin by Barrington to give The Millers an early lead – the striker making a welcome return to the scoresheet after a barren November.
Bay then had a sustained period of possession – with Bode Anidugbe putting in a decent shift in midfield – but found wideman Adem Ramadam superbly shackled by an excellent performance from Cem Tumkaya on the right side of the hosts defence.
On the one occasion Ramadan was to pose a threat, he found Chris Lewington in fine form in the Valley goal. Cutting inside, Ramadan’s curling 32nd minute cross found Arron Millbank whose header was pushed onto the far post by Lewington, before the custodian reacted quickly to thwart Bradley Schafer’s follow up effort.
Two evenly matched sides continued to serve up an entertaining encounter with few clear cut chances until Valley extended their lead midway through the second half.
Ibrahiym was again involved as, cutting in from the left, he saw his shot saved low down by Perrin, before his resultant corner kick was converted at the far post by Dymond.
As Ade Adeyemo fell to the turf in agony following an attack of cramp, tempers boiled over briefly before Valley came close to putting the game to bed.
Barrington had a shot blocked before Nathan Green – on for the stricken Adeyemo – put the rebound narrowly wide.
Minutes later, Ibrahiym performed a piece of magic in the box before having his shot cleared off the line by Jack Parter.
Bay pulled a goal back shortly before the end as Anidugbe’s cross from the right was prodded home by Zak Ansah, but the hosts held out to secure three vital points quite comfortably.

MILLERS’ STAR MAN: – CEM TUMKAYA – Kept Bay winger Ramadan quiet to such an extent that the dangerous wide man was substituted long before the end.

MATCH RATING: - ****

MILLERS : Lewington, Dymond, Blamks ©, Tumkaya, Gayle, Sammoutis (Green 69), Barrington, Adeyemo (N’Guessan 75), Brefo, Warren, Ibrahiym
Substitutes Not used : Semakula, Ompreon, Day
Cautions : Dymond, Barrington

BAY : Perrin, McFarlane, Parter, Harvey, Johnson, Anidugbe, Ramadan (Naiwo), Antonio, Ansah, Schafer (Carrington 90), Millbank
Substitutes Not used: Smith, Campbell, Hanley
Cautions : Anidugbe

Referee : Will Briers
Assistants : Jamie Wells and Ronald Albert

Pic – Connor Dymond forces home what proved to be the winning goal from Hassan Ibrahiym’s corner
Match photos and video by Michael Brown - @BSportsphotos

Match Highlights - https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/cray-valley-highlights--cray-valley-pm-fc-vs-herne-bay-fc-41221-174218.html

Photos: Brownie Sports Photography
More photos an be found on our facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3336959809771512&type=3

Other Match Report: Stephen McCartney at Kentish Football
CRAY VALLEY (PAPER MILLS) 2-1 HERNE BAY
Isthmian League South East Division
Saturday 4 December 2021
Stephen McCartney reports from Middle Park Avenue
Cray Valley (Paper Mills) reached the summit of the Isthmian League South East Division after beating Herne Bay.
The Millers took a third minute lead when striker Marcel Barrington slotted in his eleventh goal of the season after some excellent wing-play from Hassan Ibrahiym.
Herne Bay couldn’t keep possession of the ball during the first-half but they were denied an equaliser when Cray Valley goalkeeper Chris Lewington made a double-save to prevent Adem Ramadan and Bradley Schafer.
The Millers doubled their lead in the 69th minute when Ibrahim’s left-wing corner found its way to the back post to holding midfielder Connor Dymond, who slid the ball into the bottom right-hand corner from three-yards.
Herne Bay striker Zak Ansah’s first-time finish into the bottom far corner, following a cut-back from Bode Anidugbe, gave Herne Bay a consolation inside the final five minutes.

Full report and reaction including quotes from managers Kevin Watson and Ben Smith
http://kentishfootball.co.uk/news/crayhern041221