Valley suffered penalty shoot-out heartbreak in the FA Trophy for the third successive season after this entertaining encounter at Colston Avenue.
Despite twice coming from behind, Kevin Watson’s men more than matched their Isthmian Leage Premier Division hosts before failing to convert two of their five spot kicks – The Robins having an unblemished record from their four.
But that shouldn’t detract from another excellent performance in a fast moving game of high quality.
Dan Bennett had the first real opportunity for Valley, dispossessing Bradley Williams before being thwarted by experienced Carshalton goalkeeper Danny Bracken who stood tall and firm.
As the encounter approached the half hour mark, The Robins had their best spell of the match as Calvin Expetita’s cross from the right was headed just over Lewington’s goal by former Tonbridge Angels striker Femi Akinwande.
Ekpetita was then denied as his shot from 12 yards beat Lewington only to be cleared off the line by the sliding Connor Dymond.
Bennett then went close at the other end as his close range effort was well saved by Bracken, after exchanging passes with Denzel Gayle on the edge of the Carshalton penalty area.
After Lewington denied Bradley Williams’ 25 yard effort, Carshalton took the lead as Akinwande took possession 20 yards out before turning and firing past the Valley keeper.
The lead was to be short lived however as Adam Coombes beat Bracken from inside the penalty area despite having his shirt tugged by a defender, after being set up by a combination of Bennett and Sonny Black.
Valley ended the first half in the ascendancy as Barney Williams had a powerful shot denied by Bracken, before Coombes hit the outside of the post from 20 yards after being set up by Kershaney Samuels.
The action continued shortly after the interval as a loose pass in the Robins defence saw the ball at the feet of Hassan Ibrahiym 20 yards from goal – after appearing to dwell on the opportunity for too long, Ibrahiym’s low cross just evaded the onrushing Bennett.
Bracken again came to the rescue of the hosts just after the hour mark, parrying Bennett’s effort after a cracking cross-field pass from Coombes found Barney Williams on the left.
Carshalton it was however who were next to strike as Walter Figueira twisted and turned on the edge of the 18 yard box before having his effort blocked by Dymond – Matthew Vigor ramming home the rebound.
But just as the Robins were looking to shut up shop – Aaron Smith-Joseph replacing striker Akinwande – Valley equalised with ten minutes remaining.
Ibrahiym’s far post corner from the right found the head of Dymond six yards out. Despite his initial effort being blocked, the Millers’ skipper fired low past Bracken to set up the shoot-out.
After the first four penalties were scored – despite Lewington getting a strong hand to Beere’s effort – Samuels was denied by Bracken before Ade Adeyemi “done a Chris Waddle”, firing high and wide to finish proceedings.

MATCH RATING: - ****

VALLEY MAN OF THE MATCH – Barney Williams

ROBINS : Bracken, Lema, Mvemba (Lee 45), Ekpiteta. Cook, Beere, Williams, Hamblin, Figueira, Bradford (Vigor 65), Akinwande (Smith-Joseph 80)
Substitute Not Used : Sow, Allen
Cautions : Cook, Beere, Smith-Joseph

MILLERS : Lewington, Dymond ©, Oshilaja, Williams, Gayle, Black (Majek 71), Samuels, Coombes, Douglas, Bennett (Adeyemo 71), Ibrahiym
Substitute Not Used : Tumkaya
Cautions : Oshilaja, Black

Referee : Joe Woolmer
Assistants : Andrew Tregoning and Oliver Bierman

Video: Connor Dymond's equaliser: https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/carshalton-athletic-v-millers--dymonds-equaliser-182988.html

Pic – Connor Dymond fires Valley’s second through a packed Robins defence to send the game to a penalty shoot-out

Match Photo by Suman Birta
See link for gallery: https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/photos/fa-trophy--carshalton-ath-v-millers-81022-photos-suman-birta-1035512.html

Additional photos supplied by Chris Bushe Photography for Carshalton Athletic
https://chrisbushephotography.com/2022/10/11/carshalton-v-cray-valley-paper-mills-photos-from-fatrophy/