EMIRATES FA CUP THIRD QUALIFYING ROUND REPLAY - 3 OCT 2023 - ATT 195
CRAY VALLEY (PM) 2 CARSHALTON ATHLETIC 1
Goals: CV - Parker 59, Tumkaya 89
CA - Babajide 40

The Millers came from behind to progress to the next round in what was their seventh Emirates FA Cup tie of the season, their third home replay victory. The late winner coming in the 89th minute, had a touch of good fortune about it but overall most agreed it was fully deserved. Barney Williams corner kick wasn’t cleared immediately and the second attempt by the defender cannoned off Cem Tumkaya’s outstretched foot and into the back of the net. Cue joyous scenes.

Faces turn to see the ball in the bottom corner of the net for the winning goal

The Robins had gone in front in the 40th minute, Oluwabunmi Babajide scoring from inside the box. The Millers equalised on the hour mark, lovely intricate play on the left saw the ball won by Hassan Ibrahiym before passing to Clement Asiedu whose looping cross to the far post was headed home by Freddie Parker. Cue the dramatic finish.

They now play Isthmian Premier side Enfield Town in the fourth qualifying round on Saturday 14th October at the Artic Stadium kick off 3pm. A place in the Emirates FA Cup First Round Proper up for grabs!

Millers: Freeman, Williams, Oshilaja, Lee (Tumkaya 46), Asiedu, Ademiluyi, Black, Vigor, Ibrahiym (Anau 90), Lisbie, Parker (Coombes 82), Subs Not Used: Chambers, Gayle, Ovenden, Ekpiteta
Cautions: Oshilaja, Williams, Coombes

Robins: Bull, Dennis, Beeden, Read, Sankoh, Williams, Frimpong, Bradford, Marshall, Bassett, Babajide (Giles 73) Subs Not used: Lamont, Hammond, Koroma, Beere, Hamilton-Downes
Cautions: Frimpong, Bradford

Main Photo: Romana Rule of Inspire Socials -

Freddie Parker heading the equaliser in the 59th minute.

Match Photos: Romana Rule of Inspire Socials.

More here: https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/photos/fa-cup-millers-v-carshalton-athletic-31023-photos-inspire-socials--1077419.html

Video: Match Highlights
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/highlights--cray-valley-pm-thrilling-21-victory-in-the-emirates-fa-cup-against-carshalton-athletic-31023-194406.html

Video: Steve McKimm post match interview
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/post-match-interview--steve-mckimm-delighted-after-the-millers-deliver-a-fa-cup-upset-against-carshalton-athletic-31023-194208.html

Additional photo album courtesy of Chris Myatt Photography
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/photos/fa-cup-millers-v-carshalton-athletic-31023-chris-myatt-photography-1077378.html

Other Match Report courtesy of Mark Doig for KSN along with photos supplied by Romana Rule Inspire Socials.
https://www.kentsportsnews.com/cray-valley-pm-2-1-carshalton-athletic-03-10-2023/

Link to Twitter post - Proper Football showing the winning goal and celebration
https://x.com/ProperFootball8/status/1709532543190454417?s=20

Other Guest Match Report courtesy of local Cray Wanderers Fan Charlie Bradford writing for the Non League Chronicles - see link below
https://t.co/FZvhow6ZEi
Charlie Bradford reports on “the other Cray”…! Game number 68 of the 2023 / 2024 season

After another long day at work, what better way to unwind than watch a F.A. Cup tie?! And what a cup tie and replay it promised to be! Flying the flag for the Cray area after Cray Wanderers got knocked out of the competition by Ramsgate, Cray Valley Paper Mills (of the Isthmian League South East and step 4) took on Isthmian League Premier Division and step 3 outfit Carshalton Athletic following a thrilling 3-3 draw on Saturday. The game had the added bonus of lots of ex Cray Wanderers players on show as well as Peter Parry, Ben Kilsby and Richard Green in attendance.

On a parky night the game was tight and tense for the first half an hour until a low ball into the box by Cray Valley’s Matthew Vigor from the right saw Kyrell Lisbie (son of Kevin) smack the left post with an effort from a couple of yards out, with the follow up shot from Hassan Ibrahiym flashing past the right post from 25 yards. After Carshalton’s Simeon Dennis had an effort to the bottom right corner comfortably saved by Cray Valley goalkeeper Sam Freeman, the visitors took the lead in the 40th minute when Oluwabunmi Babajide muscled his way past a couple of Cray Valley defenders in the box as well as outstretched legs to poke home into the bottom left. HT: 0-1.

Cray Valley upped their game in the second half and equalised in the 59th minute when a cross was hung up from the left and headed home by Freddie Parker. This put the Millers in the ascendancy and they had chances to take the lead when firstly Barney Williams had a dig finger-tipped over the bar by Carshalton goalkeeper Toby Bull before Kyrell Lisbie flashed a shot over the bar from a similar range. Cray Valley eventually got a winner in the 89th minute when a corner from the left was flapped at by Toby Bull and in the ensuing melee the ball smashed against Cem Tumkaya with the ball ending up in the bottom left corner. Cray Valley saw out time to secure a fourth qualifying round showdown at home to Enfield Town and a chance to put the Cray name up in lights again in the first round proper just like in 2020 / 2021 when they lost to Havant & Waterlooville. FT: 2-1.

MOTM: Cem Tumkaya (Cray Valley Paper Mills) - solidified Cray Valley’s defence when he came on at half time and came up with the winner.