A convincing second half performance earned The Millers a deserved place in Monday's draw for the Third Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup for the first time, having first entered the FA Cup in 2013/14.

Richard J Green reporting

MILLERS BASK IN THE MAGIC OF THE CUP
THE EMIRATES FA CUP SECOND QUALIFYING ROUND
HARROW BOROUGH 1 CRAY VALLEY (PM) 5 - 3 OCT 2020 - ATT 153
Keita (pen) 43 Yusuff (pen) 32
Dymond 57
Gayle 60
Adeyemo 80
Warren 85
EYES NERVOUSLY SCANNING WEATHER REPORTS for 48 hours prior to kick-off.
Team coach making it’s way through Central London, while Committee men and supporters negotiate their way across the capital on public transport.
The Club photographer making the all important decision whether to circumnavigate town or drive through the centre to the match.
These are all part of what makes the allure of the world’s premier knockout competition so appealing.
When it all comes to fruition with a stunning demolition of higher ranked opposition on their own territory, weekends surely can’t get any better.
And so was the feeling of all involved with Cray Valley (PM) after Kevin Watson’s men secured their place in the 3rd Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup for the first time in the Club’s history at Earlsmead.
Going into the game as underdogs by dint of the hosts higher standing in the football pyramid, The Millers took the game by the scruff of the neck with a second half performance that made all in attendance take note of a team surely destined for better times.
The visitors started the quicker of the two teams – Keiron McCann’s 25 yard drive in the 10th minute being nervously pushed over the bar by Boro custodian Matthew Hall.
With Hall appearing to be carrying an injury to his upper left leg, this prompted Valley to pepper his goal from distance whenever the opportunity arose.
Boro for their part looked dangerous on the counter attack, but found Ashley Sains and Cem Tumkaya in outstanding form at the centre of The Millers defence – the latter performing a couple of excellent last ditch challenges and blocks to keep Andy Walker’s goal intact.
The first half ended with the teams level at 1-1, courtesy of Ade Yusuff’s 32nd minute penalty after he was bundled over in the area by Boro defender Ben Tricker, and Frank Keita’s 43rd minute spot kick following a foul by Denzel Gayle on Jordan Ireland.
The second 45 minutes was all about Cray Valley and their excellent attacking prowess as they set about putting the Pitching In Premier Division South side to the sword.
Just seconds had elapsed before Gayle attacked down the right before playing the ball into Hassan Ibrayhim in the Boro penalty area. Ireland was this time the guilty party – bringing Ibrayhim crashing to the turf to present the visitors with a second penalty.
Looking to repeat his deed of the first half, Yusuff saw his spot kick sail high and not very handsomely over Hall’s goal into the gardens beyond.
Concerned looks appeared on the faces of the travelling contingent as the realisation dawned that such a missed opportunity could prove to be costly.
With the hosts opting to take a more physical approach with some feisty tackles in midfield, The Millers play in and around the home goal saw some excellent last ditch defending by Boro, as they peppered Hall’s goal looking for a breakthrough.
The defence was breached in the 57th minute as Ibrahiym’s excellent free kick from the right was headed home by Connor Dymond to restore The Millers’ lead.
Surely they weren’t gonna let it slip now.
This question was answered emphatically minutes later as the ball broke to Gayle on the edge of the 18 yard box. The wingman fired right footed across Hall, inside the far post to give Valley some much deserved breathing space.
Buoyed by this, the Isthmian Leaguers piled forward looking to put the game to bed – Tumkaya heading narrowly over from a corner.
Looking to get back into the game, Boro enjoyed a brief spell of pressure – George Moore continuing to be their main threat as he had been throughout the preceding 70 minutes.
Youngster Ade Adeyemo entered the fray for the visitors in the 77th minute, replacing the misfiring Yusuff, and minutes later added a fourth goal for Cray Valley.
Excellent interplay on the edge of the Boro area saw the ball break to Adeyemo just inside the box. The tall striker cut inside on his right foot before firing
beyond Hall into the back of the net, sending the South London contingent into raptures of delight.
The coup de gras was applied shortly before time when another spell of Valley pressure saw midfielder Matt Warren audaciously backheel into the net to secure a place in the next round.
Those who question the “magic of the Cup” would do well to better the scenes of elation as the visitors celebrated as one, on one of the more memorable days in the Club’s history.
So now the excitement lives on over the weekend as we await the draw for the 3rd Qualifying Round, and the chance to create more history.
MILLERS’ STAR MAN – Cem Tumkaya
MATCH RATING - ****
BORO : Hall, Moore (O’Connor 76), C.Cole, Tricker, Jarra, L.Cole (Matthew 63), Maloney, Ireland, Ferdinand, Bryan, Keita
Subs Not Used : Charles-Smith, Purdue, Barnieh, Griffith
MILLERS : A.Walker, Dymond, Sains, Tumkaya, Gayle (King-Elliot 67), Babalola, McCann, Morath-Gibbs (Hickey 46), Warren, Ibrahiym, Yusuff (Adeyemo 77)
Subs Not Used : Smith, Flack, Farmer, Kempston