With Ramsgate’s unexpected defeat to Merstham last weekend, Cray Valley PM are now just two points behind the Thanet side at the top of the Isthmian South East Division and we have been talking to the Millers boss Steve McKimm ahead of the weekend trip to East Grinstead.
Valley are still unbeaten in the League this season. “We’re focused on keeping going until the end of April, but what I do know is that we’re only a handful of points already from hitting the target that the Club achieved last season, which is an achievement in itself.” said McKimm this week.
Valley still have a game in hand over Ramsgate which is potentially their Tuesday night trip to Burgess Hill Town, but that is not even on the manager’s radar as they prepare to host East Grinstead Town at Badgers this weekend.
“They’re a very up and down team,” McKimm conceded who will be looking for a repeat of the scoreline in the reverse fixture back in October when through goals from Freddie Parker, Calvon Ekpiteta and a couple from Kyrell Lisbie, Valley left Sussex with three points and a 4-0 win.
“One thing last weekend proved with Merstham at Ramsgate,” McKimm warned, “is that this division is so tough, and everyone can beat anyone else on their day. We have to be wary…”
Valley’s unbeaten League runs currently stands at 24 and McKimm is clearly keen to maintain the zero in the losses column.
“We have worked hard this season to achieve what we have but if we cannot finish it off in the weeks ahead, we will not have achieved anything. As I’ve side before, we have to take one game at a time and then come the end of April, we will see where we are.”
“We have a tough game with Chichester (finished 0-0 at Badgers), and I have to say that the result was just about right. We both had chances but for the first time in a long time, I did not think we were completely at it and against a very, very good team, we had to settle for a point which as it worked out got us closer to Ramsgate.”
Team news and McKimm confirmed that his injury worries are clearing up and that apart from minutes needed in recovering legs, the Valley squad is nearly full fit and ready for the challenges ahead which after the weekend sees the Millers on the road with just a home game against Three Bridges on March 2nd squeezed between five away games.