Valley slumped to a second successive home defeat in front of a season’s highest attendance following a clinical display of finishing from their local rivals. With just two points gained from their last four league matches, the Millers now stand in third position and four points adrift of leaders Hastings United as the season enters the second half.
Manager Kevin Watson made just one change from the match at Corinthian on Monday – Denzel Gayle coming in for Francis Babalola – as illness prevented Cem Tumkaya from returning to the squad.
The visitors were the first to go close as Anthony Adesite cut in from the right before firing narrowly wide of the far post.
And it wasn’t long before they opened the scoring – Youssef Bamba taking the ball on the left before jinking his way past Alex Brefo to the bye-line. Bamba’s cut back was slotted past Millers keeper Chris Lewington by Adesite from six yards out.
Moments later, it was very nearly two as Jeff Duah-Kessie cut in from the right before firing against Lewington’s near post.
Valley started to enjoy the bulk of possession without troubling Sam Mott in the VCD goal – reminiscent in many ways of the previous home encounter against Lancing two weeks previous.
The chances continued to fall the way of the visitors after the break, as first Bamba cut in from the right before firing just wide, then Ayman El-Mogharbel had an effort cleared off the line as the Valley defence struggled to contain the lively Vickers attack.
It wasn’t until the 54th minute that Valley produced an attack of note. Gayle linked up well with Hassan Ibrahiym in the centre before the ball found its way to Nathan Green on the left. Green’s ball in was nudged narrowly wide by Rory Hill in the six yard box.
VCD doubled their lead halfway through the second half however after Chris Edwards was upended by Jack Sammoutis on the right of the penalty area. Bamba’s resultant spot kick ripped past Lewington’s right hand before threatening to take the net off its supporting stanchion.
Hill again went close for Valley – heading Ibrahiym’s cross narrowly wide – but that was just about the sum of the hosts attacking efforts as the Vickers managed to hold them comfortably at arms length.
El-Mogharbel completed the scoring five minutes from time – slotting the ball past Lewington from 12 yards – before Mott was finally called into action in the visitors goal as the game entered stoppage time – producing a fine save to deny Ibrahiym’s shot from distance.

MOM
YOUSEFF BAMBA (VCD ATHLETIC)

MILLERS’ STAR MAN: – Rory Hill – Supplied Millers’ only goal threat in a lacklustre attacking performance

MATCH RATING: - ***

MILLERS : Lewington, Dymond, Green, Blanks © (Babalola 77), Gayle, Sammoutis, Barrington (Adeyemo 62), Brefo, Warren, Hill (Sterling-Parker 85, Ibrahiym
Substitutes Not used : Ompreon
Cautions : Dymond, Green, Blanks

VICKERS : Mott, Edwards, Gorham, Oshilaja, Adesite (Barrington 82), Dawson, El-Mogharbel, Bamba, Dythe (McKenzie 68), Black, Duah-Kessie (Williams 74)
Substitutes Not used: Probets, Elliott

Referee : Farai Hallam
Assistants : Josh Osofa and Abdul Olol

Pic – Rory Hill just fails to connect during a rare Millers raid