A single defensive misunderstanding cost SCEFL side Lordswood an FA Cup upset as Cray Valley PM struggled to get to grips with Matt Barman’s young side. 

Ahead courtesy of a sublime strike low into the corner by James Jeffrey, the home side were to concede an equaliser that would have taken a lot of explaining and understanding in the dressing room as a seemingly aimless free kick into the Lordswood box caused chaos as Kyrell Lisbie scrambled the ball home past keeper Tom Crump who definitely won’t want to see it again. 

That said the young keeper quickly composed himself and went onto receive the sponsors man of the match award although many in the crowd believed that one of the outstanding central defensive partnership of Ryan Neal and Joel Odeniran possibly deserved the award. 

But what was evident was the relief on Valley boss Steve McKimm’s face after the game as he knew just how relieved his side are to be in Monday’s draw for the next round. 

The home side started brightly with young Ukranian Artem Kuchlov firing just over early on. In the eleventh minute, the home fans were in dream land as Jeffrey’s raced onto a defence splitting ball and superbly drilled the ball beyond the advancing Sam Freeman into the bottom corner of the net. 

Valley were shocked and whilst they had the electric pace of Denzel Gayle down the right, the Lordswood back line looked reasonably safe despite some dangerous looking balls, until that was just past the half hour when inexplicably the home side just didn’t deal with a hopeful free kick into the box and Lisbie bundled the ball home. 

Freddie Parker was denied a chance by a marvellous Odeniran’s saving tackle as Valley found their feet; Bqrney Williams’ deep hanging cross found Lyle Della-Verde and his header was directed beyond Crump only for Odeniran to again save his side with a terrific goal-line clearance. Then on the stroke of half time, Crump made a really good double save to keep the sides level after Lisbie looked set to take advantage of another defensive slip. 

As you would perhaps expect, Valley had the better chances after the break as both sides went in search of the goal to take them through that just added to the huge enjoyment of what was a terrific Cup-tie. 

Crump made a stunning save to keep out Parkers effort; Arthur Lee’s downward header was clawed away by the keeper and Parker again was denied by the keeper low to his right. 

Not that Valley had it all their own way, Freeman was relieved to be able to palm over what looked like a hopeful ball into the box that caught on the difficult swirling wind, whilst the keeper made a super block with his legs to deny Jeffrey after a brilliant through ball by Ethan Stewart. 

As the game entered its final ten minutes, Parker was denied by a very late flag; Gayle was next to be thwarted by Crump’s good block and then Lisbie forced Crump into the save of the game as Valley laid siege to the home goal but the goal to seal it just wouldn’t come. 

The look of the locals face when the excellent referee, Mr Damji, finally blew the final whistle was almost as if they had caused an upset, and maybe they had with Jeffrey the oldest in a home shirt at just 23 and inspirational skipper Archie Risdon just 18, this was one for the “new-look” Lordswood and for all those who have worked so very hard during the summer off the pitch. 

And then there is still the magic of the Greatest Cup Competition in the World for Tuesday’s replay, and I wonder, I wonder… 

LORDSWOOD – Crump, Kareem (Jarvis), Broad, Neal, Odeniran, Reed, Green, Jeffrey (Ajao), Kuchkov (Peters), Stewart 

Subs – Sallis, Mvongo, Ogundipe, Sama 

CRAY VALLEY PM – Freeman, Williams (Asiedu), Chambers, Lee, Perkins, Gayle, Black, Parker, Lisbie (Ademiluyi), Vigor, Della Verde (Ibrahiym) 

Subs – Oshilaja, Anau, Grant 

REFEREE – Mr Damji