Two closely matched adversaries shared the points in an evenly fought contest in Longfield.
Since their first encounter ten years ago, barely a slither has separated these two clubs – indeed, Valley won the 2019 SCEFL Championship over The Hoops by the barest of margins. And so it proved at Gay Dawn Farm on Christmas Monday.
Valley boss Kevin Watson had the rare luxury of a relatively full squad to choose from – the exception being the suspended Cem Tumkaya -, opting to fill the defensive void with Connor Dymond, while Matt Warren returned in midfield.
And it was the visitors who so nearly struck first with just seven minutes on the clock.
Francis Babalola burst down the Millers’ right before turning the ball inside to Hassan Ibrahiym. Ibrahiym turned inside and laid the ball on to Rory Hill whose shot from the edge of the 18 yard box beat the flying dive of Aiden Prall before striking the left upright and falling to safety.
Despite having the majority of possession and territorial advantage, that was to be the closest Valley came to a goal in the first half, although Marcel Barrington saw his 20 yard jinking run finish with the ball lodged between the legs of the sprawling Prall in the 18th minute.
Corinthian started the second half much stronger but found themselves trailing in the 58th minute.
Jack Sammoutis carried the ball forward before laying it off to Hill who took a touch before shooting low beyond Prall’s outstretched right hand.
Within five minutes however, the scores were level.
A forceful run by Jack Mahoney evaded the challenge of Ibrahiym before he laid the ball off to Oscar Housego. Turning inside Alex Brefo and Dymond, Housego played the ball into Hoops striker Louie Clarke who beat Millers’ keeper Chris Lewington from close range.
Josh Stirman then went close for Corinthian, before Lewington denied Housego as the hosts pushed forward.
Five minutes from time, a fine run from Frankie Morgan ended when he was brought down on the left by Brefo. Housego’s resultant free kick was headed against Lewington’s crossbar by substitute Harvey Smith to leave the points shared.
MILLERS’ STAR MAN: – RORY HILL – So close with an early strike before firing The Millers ahead on the hour
MATCH RATING: – ****
HOOPS : Prall, Lashley, Morgan, Holland, Billings ©, Sawyer, James, Mahoney (Johnson 82), Clarke (Smith 69), Housego, Stirman
Not Used : Bath, Edmundson
Caution : Stirman, James, Billings
MILLERS : Lewington, Dymond, Green, Blanks ©, Sammoutis, Barrington, Babalola (Gayle 63), Brefo, Warren, Hill (Sterling-Parker 86), Ibrahiym (Adeyemo 69)
Not Used : Semakula, Ompreon
Caution : Ibrahiym
Referee – Peter Conn
Assistants – Teddy Osbourn and Michael Iddenden-Smith
Pic – Rory Hill fires The Millers into the lead at Gay Dawn Farm
Photo by Michael Brown – @BSportsphotos
Match highlights can be found at :- Cray Valley PM FC – YouTube
Attendance: 139