Adam Coombes scored an extra time winner for Cray Valley (PM) in their F.A. Cup Second Qualifying Round Replay against Northwood.

On Saturday, the Millers were held to a two all draw at Northwood and there was still nothing to choose between the two teams after a see-saw ninety minutes in which both teams held leads and six goals were shared. 

Matthew Vigor drew first blood for the Millers in the seventh minute when sent clear down the left before clipping it past Northwood goalkeeper Andrew McCorkell to put them one up. Kyrell Lisbie might have made it two soon after but McCorkell was out quickly to make a good save.

Sam Jenkins had the visitors’ first opportunity when he worked his way through cleverly only to be thwarted by Sam Freeman who got down well to save. They had another chance soon after when Godlove Oppong headed wide from Deago Dunbar-Bonnie’s cross.

Eleven minutes before the break, Northwood levelled. Having won an indirect free kick on the edge of the penalty area, Dunbar-Bonnie rolled it to Harry Gallagher and he smashed it home from twenty yards.

Early in the second half, Freddie Parker controlled well before laying it off to Lisbie. He eased his way into a shooting position and looked for the bottom corner but McCorkell read his intentions and made a fine low save.

Dan Williams replaced Oppong and had a chance immediately however Freeman saved well to keep his effort out.

Just after the hour mark, Northwood went ahead, Gallagher rose highest from a corner and headed home.

Parker got in down the right but couldn’t pull it back far enough and McCorkell held it well.  Denzel Gayle then crossed for Parker who headed over. Jensen Grant glanced a header wide from Vigor’s cross before being replaced by Coombes who had a header saved immediately. 

Parker had a shot parried out unconvincingly by McCorkell and was relieved that it fell to a team-mate who cleared then Parker headed straight into the arms of the Northwood goalkeeper.

Eventually, Cray’s pressure told when they levelled with ten minutes remaining through Sonny Black’s header from Barney Williams’ cross. Less than a minute later, the Millers turned the game on its head when Gayle nodded home when Black picked him out at the far post.

However, within three minutes, Northwood equalised from another dead ball opportunity when Luke Tingey got himself in front of his man to meet a corner with a firm header.

When extra time started, the Millers created further openings. Parker had a shot deflected wide then Black drew a diving save out of McCorkell. Lisbie then missed a great chance when Coombes and Parker combined to send him clear but, having rounded McCorkell, he blasted over.

Midway through the first period of extra time, the Millers went ahead for the third time. Black sent over a long diagonal cross that picked out Coombes. His first touch was sublime giving him the chance to shoot and give McCorkell no chance with a composed low finish inside the far post.

Northwood came close to again restoring parity shortly afterwards when Kofi Anokye-Boadi’s cross came back out off the frame of the goal as far as Ricardo Alexander-Greenaway and his follow up header also crashed back off the bar.

Early in the second period of extra time, Alexander-Greenaway half volleyed wide but that was the visitors’ last chance as the Millers ran down the clock fairly comfortably.

Victory put Cray Valley into the third qualifying round where they will travel to Carshalton Athletic.

Cray Valley (PM): Freeman, Williams, Asiedu, Lee, Oshilaja, Grant (Coombes 72), Gayle, Black, Parker, Vigor, Lisbie (Ekpiteta (115).

Unused subs: Chambers, Tumkaya, Anau, Ovenden, Ibrahiym.

Goalscorers: Vigor (7), Black (80), Gayle (81), Coombes (99)

Yellow cards: Oshilaja

Northwood: A. McCorkell, Stacey, Dunbar-Bonnie, Stewart, Tingey, Gallagher, Otote (Brophy 85), Alexander-Greenaway (Smith 119), Oppong (Williams 53), Jenkins (Crowder 110), Anokye-Boadi.

Subs not used: H. McCorkell, Jonas, Smith, Messer. 

Goal scorers: Gallagher (34), (61), Tungey (84)

Yellow cards: Dunbar-Bonnie, Otote, Jenkins, Dennis (coach)

Referee: Michael Scott

Assistants: Ester Perry and Yashar Yekta

Attendance: 132

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.