TEN MAN VALLEY STORM THE BAY

PITCHING-IN ISTHMIAN LEAGUE SE DIV
HERNE BAY 1 CRAY VALLEY (PM) 2 - 26th MCH 2022 - ATT 385
Goals: HB - Dawodu 78
CV - Barrington 6, I Gayle 36

Report by Richard J Green

Barrington header for the opening goal

Ten man Valley produced a committed display of passion and work rate interspersed with creative endeavour to come away from the Kent Coast with three huge points in their quest to reach the promotion playoffs.
Nathan Green returned from injury to replace Nat Blanks at left back while the attacking prowess of wing man Denzel Gayle at the expense of Paul Semakula gave Valley a greater threat going forward.
With just six minutes gone, Valley took a deserved early lead. Ade Adeyemo fed the ball to Connor Dymond wide on the right whose far post cross was headed firmly beyond Jordan Perrin by Marcel Barrington – the Guyana international striker’s 21st goal of the season.
Events were soon to take a significant turn however as Dymond’s 12th minute challenge on Jack Parter in front of the Bay bench brought a hysterical response from Manager Ben Smith and his team. Clearly swayed by the pressure coming his way, Referee Richard Joss spoke to the Valley skipper before brandishing a red card.
Matt Warren quickly switched to Dymond’s right full back role and found himself under a bombardment from Parter and Kieron Campbell as the hosts looked to capitalise while Valley reorganised.
From one such raid, Chris Lewington was brought into action – producing an excellent save to deny Rory Smith and Campbell on the edge of his six yard box.
A 19th minute injury to Barrington was an ideal opportunity for Valley Manager Kein Watson and his staff to call his troops together and communicate a revised defensive strategy.
The offshoot of this was to bring Alex Brefo off the bench to replace Denzel Gayle while Cem Tumkaya moved from central defence to relieve Warren at right back.
This was a role Tumkaya adapted to admirably as Campbell’s 29th minute curler from the edge of the box proved Valley’s only moment of real concern.
As if to remind the hosts of their own attacking threat, Valley went close in the 32nd minute as an excellent probing run by Hassan Ibrahiym resulted in Warren firing narrowly wide, before a free kick from Edgar fell to Barrington whose effort was pushed wide by Perrin.
The resultant corner however proved to be another crucial moment in the match as Edgar’s flag kick was converted from close range by Ian Gayle.
Minutes later, Green played the ball in from the left to Edgar whose lay back to Ibrahiym threatened to land in the car park as Valley looked to land a knockout blow.
Recent loan signing Mike West was beginning to prove a growing influence in the Bay midfield, firing narrowly over Lewington’s goal as the hosts looked for a foothold in the game going into the break.
Try as they might, Bay were unable to breach the resilience and spirit of the Valley rearguard as the second half got under way – Smith’s effort from 12 yards which was parried away by Lewington being their only effort of note as the Bay supporters around me grew ever more frustrated with their management team.
It was only in the last 15 minutes, and after the substitution of Mobolaji Dawodu for the hosts, that those in attendance from South London began to feel any real anxiety.
West appeared to find acres of space in midfield before firing low from 25 yards against Lewington’s left hand upright after 74 minutes before the same source brought Bay back into the game.
This time, West’s 78th minute effort from similar range found the target, as Lewington was only able to parry his shot into the path of Dawodu who converted from close range.
Edgar fired narrowly wide for Valley after good work by Francis Babalola before Bay threatened in the closing minutes.
Aaron Millbank headed a left wing cross from Smith against Lewington’s bar three minutes from time before Smith fired wildly over from close in when it seemed easier to score as the game entered stoppage time.

So two crucial away wins against fellow promotion contenders sees Valley going into next Saturday’s home encounter with Ramsgate in 3rd place – requiring a maximum of 11 points from their remaining 5 games to guarantee a playoff spot, but there are sure to be many twists and turns to come yet.

MILLERS’ STAR MAN: – ANTHONY EDGAR - Assumed the captain’s armband in the final quarter and produced a hard working display laced with his usual vision and creative skill in addition to an assist for the winning goal

MATCH RATING: - ****

BAY : Perrin, Williams (Dawodu 69), Parter, Harvey, Johnson, Anidugbe, Smith,
Antonio (Millbank 53), Ansah, West, Campbell (Allsop 75)
Substitutes Not Used : Carrington, Schafer
Caution : Antonio

MILLERS : Lewington, Dymond ©, Green, Tumkaya, D.Gayle (Brefo 24), Barrington, Adeyemo (Babalola 66), Warren, Edgar, Ibrahiym (Semakula 75), I.Gayle
Substitutes Not Used : Blanks, Sterling-Parker
Dismissal : Dymond
Caution : Green

Referee – Richard Joss
Assistants – Ryan Chantrill-Smith and Myles Hewson

Main Pic – Ian Gayle wheels away in delight after heading Valley’s second goal at Winch’s Field

Photo and Video highlights by Michael Brown - @BSportsphotos

Match highlights can be found at :- https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/cray-valley-highlights--herne-bay-fc-vs-cray-valley-pm-fc-26322-177696.html