While hammering inferior opposition or edging tight top of the table tussles may grab the headlines, it’s points ground out on a slippery, bobbly pitch when the odds are stacked against you that will win honours come Spring.
And while one could so easily have been three, Millers’ boss Kevin Watson may well look upon this point with particular satisfaction after being shorn of no fewer than seven of his first team squad by illness and injury, as the bench featured three 16 year olds and a 17 year old.
Unsurprisingly, the hosts were first to settle as the visitors struggled to come to terms with the tricky surface – taking a sixth minute lead when Kamara’s cross from the right just inside the Valley half was converted by Muggeridge at the far post.
Valley struggled to pose a concerted threat, with Francis Babalola working tirelessly up front supported by Joe N’Guessan who was making his first league start for three years. Hassan Ibrahiym started wide on the right with Jack Sammoutis taking responsibility for any creativity in midfield.
But The Millers’ back line stood firm up to the break with Chris Lewington in commanding form between the sticks – saving well from Muggeridge’s long range effort after Sammoutis slipped while in possession .
Nathan Green and Babalola had efforts well saved by Hawks’ keeper Nathan Stroomberg-Clarke, while Muggeridge’s free kick from the left narrowly evaded the head of James Fraser at the far post as the game ebbed from end to end.
The second half though brought a much more positive, energised approach from Valley which was rewarded in the 52nd minute.
Green played the ball in to Matt Warren from the left – Warren’s effort rebounding into the path of Ibrahiym who finished with aplomb.
Hawks responded as Peter Gregory’s first time effort was well saved by Lewington, before Gregory failed to find the target when well positioned.
Watson brought on Harry Day to replace the tiring N’Guessan – the 16 year old putting in a hardworking shift in support of Babalola, going close to his first league goal as his curling shot was saved by Stroomberg-Clarke.
As chances came and went at both ends, Alex Malins picked up the first yellow card of the game – bringing down Babalola on the half way line. As soon as the Millers man hit the deck, Hawks physio Chris Dumbrell raced from the dugout – eager to administer attention in the absence of Valley’s stricken Courtney Dobson. Realising that his colleague would be required to leave the field if attended to, Connor Dymond was quick to send Dumbrell packing – aware that he was victim of a similar situation in the first half…..
With The Millers’ defence now looking solid and uncompromising, the visitors went close to taking all three points back down the M23 as Stoomberg-Clarke saved low down to stop Warren’s effort following Babalola’s powerful drive, before a bad bobble denied Sammoutis a clean strike in stoppage time.
MILLERS’ STAR MAN: – CHRIS LEWINGTON – At the root of an excellent TEAM performance. A faultless display topped off with some excellent stops
MATCH RATING: – ****
HAWKS : Stroomberg-Clarke, Kamara, Emberson, Fraser, Malins, El-Abd, Gregory, Freeman (Reeder 75), Splatt, Muggeridge (Kama 72), Lawson
Not Used : Dome-Bemwin, Blackmore, Mundy
Caution : Malins
MILLERS : Lewington, Dymond, Green, Blanks ©, Tumkaya, Sammoutis, Babalola, Brefo, Warren, Ibrahiym, N’Guessan (Day 64)
Not Used : David-King, Nika, Salmon
Referee – Chris Williams
Assistants – Scott Orchard and Imran Khan
Pic – Alex Brefo comes out on top in another aerial battle as Valley grab a vital point in East Sussex
Photo by Michael Brown – @BSportsphotos