A pulsating goalfest enthralled a crowd of 167 at a rain soaked Belmost as The Millers moved into second place in the league table.
Seven goals, two red cards and a host of missed opportunities saw high flying Valley prevail courtesy of a late winner from substitute Francis Babalola
The struggling Oystermen were quick off the mark, racing into a two minute lead – Harry Stannard’s low, skidding drive evading the right hand of Millers’ custodian Chris Lewington –, before Tom Mills added a second, heading in from a free kick crossed in from the left by Danny Walder.
After Rory Hill reduced the arrears – glancing a cross from Jack Sammoutis beyond the excellent Whitstable ‘keeper Dan Eason – Stannard was to add his second, and The Oystermen’s third, in the 20th minute.
Taking possession on the left, Stannard’s low cross somehow evaded Lewington and debutant defender David Ompreon before ending up over the goal line.
As the rain and wind became increasingly incessant, The Millers began to take some semblance of control – Sammoutis’ cross again finding Hill, with the unmarked midfielder heading narrowly over the bar.
Denzel Gayle then reduced the arrears for the visitors just after the half hour mark.
As Hassan Ibrahiym played the ball forward, a Whitstable defender slipped on the wet surface, letting in Gayle who finished sweetly – lobbing over Eason.
3-2 to the hosts, and it still wasn’t half time yet………
As the interval approached, Ibrahiym and Sammoutis each had low, skidding drives turned away for corners by Eason.
The second half saw no letting up in the goalmouth action – Ibrahiym’s shot again being saved low down by Eason after just fourteen seconds.
A potentially game defining arrived in the 50th minute however – veteran Oystermen debutant Harry Goodger being dismissed for a dangerous “lunge” at Ompreon near the half way line.
The hard working Hill was replaced by Gavin Tomlin just after the hour following a knock, bringing an end to a tireless performance
It was shortly after this that Nathan Green opened his Millers account -unleashing a rocket from fully 25 yards that flew high past Eason before bulging the net and bringing the scores level.
This breathless game continued apace on a pitch now holding so much water that running with the ball was in itself a challenge.
After a booking for a late tackle shortly before, Ompreon then saw Red for a second caution – this time for holding an opponent – meaning the final twenty minutes would be played out with ten men on each side.
Valley had strong claims for a penalty turned down as Ibrahiym went down just inside the Whitstable area, as the temperature between the two sides simmered just below boiling point.
Cometh the final blow however, as ten minutes from time, Babalola was on hand to clinch the points for Valley after Eason palmed Ibrahiym’s shot into his path.
A cracking afternoon’s football played in conditions such that referee Paul Stratton later said he wouldn’t have started the match had the pitch been as it was at the end.
Final mention to Oystermen goalkeeper Eason, who put in an outstanding performance despite playing with a cracked rib.
MILLERS’ STAR MAN: – RORY HILL – A hard working, industrious performance, capped off by the Millers’ opening goal
MATCH RATING: – *****
THE OYSTERMEN : Eason, Mackenzie, Brown, Walder, Miles, Mills©, Flack, Gillies (Girt), Goodger, Carlton, Stannard (Barnes 64)
Not Used : Barnes, Thomas, Girt
Caution : Mackenzie
Dismissed : Goodger
MILLERS : Lewington, Dymond ©, Green, Tumkaya, Gayle (Babalola 75), Sammoiutis, Barrington, Warren, Ompreon, Hill (Tomlin 65), Ibrahiym
Not Used : Blanks, Salmon
Cautions : Green, Dymond
Dismissed : Ompreon (2 cautions)
Referee : Paul Stratton
Assistants : Kieran Cox and Gavin Bailey
Attendance: 167
Pic – Millers’ Star Man Rory Hill heads home the first
Match photos by Michael Brown – @BSportsphotos