Defences ruled the roost as Cray Valley (PM) and Corinthian could not be separated.

That ended the Millers’ run of five consecutive victories whilst moving the visitors one point closer to Sittingbourne who are immediately outside the automatic relegation spots.

Although Cray Valley started the livelier, they only had a header wide by Ade Adeyemo from Connor Dymond’s cross to show for it. Corinthian’s first chance came when Sam Bewick shot towards the bottom corner, but Chris Lewington got down well to turn it around the post.

Barney Williams drove across the face of goal, but nobody was able to get on the end of it before both he and Cem Tumkaya made crucial interventions to keep the visitors at bay.

Bewick shot over before Daniel Correia-Lopes looped a header from Festos Kamara’s cross onto the roof of the net with Lewington stranded.

It was then the turn of the hosts to exert pressure but the nearest that they came was when a free kick training ground move ended with Hassan Ibrahiym’s shot being deflected and looping into the air for Corinthian goalkeeper Daniel Colmer to claim.

After the break, a first time twenty-five-yard effort from Brandon Davey whistled over the Cray Valley goal before Millers’ substitute Adam Coombes drove diagonally into the penalty area but Denzel Gayle was unable to apply the finishing touch.

Midway through the second period, the hosts came desperately close to going ahead. Dan Bennett’s free kick came back out after hitting the near post and fell for Adeyemo who saw his prodded effort come out off the base of the other upright.

Williams headed wide from a corner then, at the other end, Harry Sargent headed over from Oscar Housego’s free kick. Williams had one last effort in the final moments when he cut in from the right and fired over with his left foot.

Both teams are next in action on Monday 2nd January when Corinthian host Sittingbourne and the Millers visit VCD Athletic.

Cray Valley (PM): Lewington, Dymond, Chambers, Williams, Nelson, Tumkaya, Gayle, Bennett, Adeyemo, Samuels, Ibrahiym (Coombes 50).

Unused subs: Black, Assam, Majek, Anau.

Goalscorers: None

Yellow cards: Samuels, Dymond

Corinthian: Colmer, Correia-Lopes, Futa, Leach, Billings, Sargent, Beerling, Davey, Kamara, Housego, Bewick.

Subs not used: Box, Pepple, Thompson-Fearon, Godfrey, Lashley.

Goal scorers: None

Yellow cards: Bewick, Billings, Godfrey

Referee: Craig Charles

Assistants: James Black and Dele Sotimirin

Attendance: 256

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.