In filthy weather, a young Cray Valley PM team progressed to the London Senior Cup second round at the expense of Tower Hamlets who played for fifty minutes with ten men.
Akwo Tarh had the first two goal efforts for the hosts with a free kick that went wide and then Wale Odedoyin played him in but Chris Lewington was out quickly to smother at his feet.
At the other end, Jack Sammoutis hit a free kick well over before Harry Day slotted just wide.
David Ompreon’s shot was saved low by Taiwo Alieu then Jude Salmon found Day. His first touch was sublime to take him past his marker but he couldn’t slip it beyond the Tower Hamlets keeper. Day came close again with a curler just wide before the visitors went ahead.
This time, Day was the provider with a cross that Rory Hill hit first time giving Alieu no chance. Less than a minute later, parity was restored when Aziz Dean crossed and Odedoyin finished from close range.
It didn’t take long for the Millers to regain the lead. Francis Babalola set up Hill and his shot was beaten out by Alieu. It came out to Day who chipped it back over the goalkeeper and inside the far post.
Three minutes later, they scored again. Hill was the creator and Sammoutis finished coolly.
Hill was thwarted by a spectacular save before Day was caught by a bad tackle by Conteh. After a bout of pushing and shoving, the referee showed Conteh a yellow card which, presumably, he disputed and a second yellow followed by a red card were raised. Day was carried off and replaced by Josh Kelsey.
In the sixth minute of stoppage time, with the rain getting heavier, the ten man hosts pulled one back through a great solo goal by Tarh.
By the time that the players came out for the second half, the heavy rain had become torrential but it didn’t stop the Millers from increasing their lead. Hill sent Babalola clear and he slid it into the bottom corner.
Tarh had a shot saved comfortably by Lewington but Tower Hamlets never really looked like getting back into the game. Sammoutis curled just wide before being replaced by Joseph N’Guessan who came close himself with a twenty-five yard chip just over.
Lewington had to be out sharply when Odedoyin burst through and he kicked it against his legs and out for a goal kick leaving the striker requiring minor treatment.
Jake Parrott fired over for Cray Valley then Jack Beerling headed wide from Hill’s cross. Alieu made an unconventional but spectacular save when turning Hill’s effort over as the Millers searched for a fifth.
Feliciano Ropa tested Lewington with a drive that zipped across the wet surface but it was Cray Valley who had the last word when Babalola and Parrott combined for Kelsey to finish emphatically.
Tower Hamlets: Alieu, Marfo (Duyile 36), Conteh, Burgurah, Wilfort, Kurgo (Abu 60), Tarh, Emmanuel (Okunlola 51), Odedoyin, Kamara, Assi.
Unused subs: Turay, Ropa.
Goalscorers: Odedoyin (22), Tarh (45+6)
Yellow cards: Marfo, Conteh x 2, Kurgo
Red cards: Conteh
Cray Valley PM: Lewington, Beerling, Ompreon, Salmon, Semakula, Tumkaya, Day (Kelsey 45), Sammoutis (N’Guessan 60), Babalola, Gayle (Parrott 73), Hill.
Unused subs: Baughan, Waitson.
Goalscorers: Hill (21), Day (31), Sammoutis (34), Babalola (49), Kelsey (87)
Yellow cards: None
Red cards: None