LONDON SENIOR CUP FINAL (SPONSORED BY COVENTRY SCAFFOLDING)
WEDNESDAY 9 MAY 2018 @ HENDON FC
Balham FC 4 v Cray Valley (PM) 1
Goals: B- Wocial (pen) 5, Gallagher 24, Olutade 57, 70
CV- Tumkaya 12
Attendance: 317

Balham: Haydn Read, Luke Fenlon (Michael McConnell 85), Jake Henry, James Gallagher (Josh Benson 89), Marco Erriu, Hamish Frew, Anis Nuur, Arsen Ujkaj, Ibrahim Olutade, Jordan Alonge, Tomasz Wocial (Khalid Savage 82). Unused subs: Michael Neish, Elliot Garcia

Cray Valley (Paper Mills): Andy Walker, Tommy Osborne, Matthew Parsons, Jack White (Enoch Adjei 62), Cem Tumkaya, Ashley Sains, Denzel Gayle (Sam Bailey 79), Josh James, Kevin Lisbie, Alex Nelson, Ryan Flack (Calum Willock 62). Unused subs: Simon Glover, Connor Dobson
Manager: Kevin Watson

Referee: Lee Brennan
Assistant Referees: Dele Sotimirin, Tom Danaher
Fourth Official: Paul Howard

A cracking evening of entertaining football at Silver Jubilee Park saw Balham win the Senior Cup at the first time of asking, just twelve months after lifting the Senior Trophy.

The first real action of the match happened in the fifth minute and resulted in a penalty for the Combined Counties League Premier Division side as Balham’s Jordan Alonge was tripped in the box by Cem Tumkaya and Tomasz Wocial planted his spot kick low to Andy Walker’s left for the opening goal of the game.
Cray Valley came into this match as the cup holders although, in reality, only two players remained from the side that defeated Metropolitan Police FC at Imber Court in 2017. However, the club indicated that they were in no mood to give their title up easily and equalised in the 12th minute through Tumkaya when Alex Nelson’s free kick from 35 yards out found the head of the tall centre half and Haydn Read was given no chance.
Chances came and went at both ends as this pulsating match ebbed and flowed but it was Balham who scored next in the 24th minute. Good work by Ibrahim Olutade and Alonge set up the chance for James Gallagher to score from the edge of the penalty area and put Balham in front at the half time interval.
The first goal of the second half was always going to be crucial and, slightly fortuitously, it came Balham’s way in the 57th minute. A through ball by Anis Nuur set Olutade free in the penalty area. As Tommy Osborne came out to challenge the forward the ball ricocheted off the Balham No. 9, over the stranded Walker and bounced into the open goal to give Balham a two goal cushion.
As the Southern Counties East League side searched for a way back into the game, frustration temporarily got the better of Osborne in the 70th minute as he conceded a free kick for a foul on Alonge and collected a caution for his troubles. Hamish Frew found Olutade with the set piece and the centre forward notched his second of the game, and Balham’s fourth, with a nonchalant flick over Walker that just evaded a covering defender on its way in.
Cray created some half chances after that but, in all honesty, Balham looked the more likely to score again and it took the frame of the goal on two separate occasions to spare any further blushes for the Kent-based side.

A friendly and jubilant pitch invasion greeted the final whistle as the Balham die-hards in a crowd of 317 mingled with their heroes. Eventually, the playing area was cleared and it was left to London FA Chairman, George Dorling, on behalf of the Competition Sponsor, Coventry Scaffolding Ltd., to present the prestigious silverware to Balham’s skipper Jake Henry.

Other Reports
Stephen McCartney reports from Silver Jubilee Park
CRAY VALLEY (Paper Mills) manager Kevin Watson says there were too many below par performances from his players after being thrashed by brilliant Balham.
https://kentishfootball.co.uk/news/balhcray090518

Road to the Final - London Senior Cup
Summary (see below after pen pics for full match details)
R1 Bye
R2 Cray Valley (PM) 1 v Greenwich Borough 1 (Cray Valley won 5-4 on pens
Quarter-Final Cray Valley (PM) 3 v Croydon 2
Semi-Final Tooting & Mitcham 0 v Cray Valley (PM) 2

Cup Final match day programme player pen pics:
Andy Walker:Goalkeeper - Experienced keeper who signed for the Millers this season. Previous clubs include Colchester, Bromley, Maidstone United. He has been in great form all season.
Connor Dobson: Right Back - Captained the youth team and U23's. Still only 20 he has forced his way into the teaming is now a regular in the 1st squad. Connor represented Kent at both Under 16's and 18's.
Tommy Osborne:Right Back - Player coach. Joined the Millers from Hythe Town 3 seasons ago having started his career as a professional at Gillingham. His experience on and off the field has been invaluable.
Matt Parsons: Left Back- An ex-professional with Crystal Palace and Plymouth, Matt is now the clubs captain and his marauding runs down the left wing are his trade mark.
Jack White: Centre Back / Midfield - Jack has broken into the 1st team squad. Having the ability to play at centre back or centre midfield has provided some flexibility which has also benefitted Jack's development.
Ashley Sains: Centre Back - Ash is the rock of the Millers defence. Rarely has an off day and is one of only two players left from last season's London Senior cup winning team.
Josh James:Midfield - Signed from local rivals Corinthian at the beginning of the season Josh has quickly become the fans favourite. A creative midfielder, with plenty of stamina who doesn't mind a tackle. In addition to football Josh loves running and missed a few games recently to run in the London Marathon.
Alex Nelson:Midfield - A Kent League winner with his previous club, Nels has the experience needed to win trophies.
Joe N'Guessan: Midfield - An ex professional with Stevenage Joe struggled with injuries over the past year or so. However, he has found form in recent months and it's great to see him enjoying his football again.
Simon Glover: Midfield - Experienced holding centre midfielder that has played his entire career playing at a high level. Gloves has provided the experience and calm head required since Jamie Day left the club in February.
Calum Willock: Centre Forward - Can boast Peterborough and Ebbsfleet United as two of his previous clubs. Calum has made a valuable contribution to the team in the past few months and has scored some valuable goals.
Denzel Gayle: Forward - An exciting forward that stared in last season's London Cup success. Denzel has struggled with fitness and injuries recently but looks like he'll be fresh and ready for the final.
Enoch Adjei: Forward - Enoch was once the star of Millwall's youth team playing along side the likes of Aiden O'Brien. Now fully fit and enjoying his football again he'll be a major player for the Millers.
Sam Bailey: Forward - An exciting winger that can play on both flanks and improves with every game. The youngest member of the squad.
Ryan Flack: Forward - As a youngster Ryan played for Welling United and also represented London at U18 level. Has scored some spectacular goals this season and is not afraid to shoot from distance.
Kevin Lisbie: Forward - Needs no introduction having spent the majority if his career with Charlton in the Premier League. It was his brace in the semi-final that was the difference between us and Tooting & Mitcham.

Road to the Final - London Senior Cup 2017/18

Tues 5-Dec 2017 LONDON SENIOR CUP (Sponsored by Coventry Scaffolding) SECOND ROUND
Greenwich Borough 1 v Cray Valley (PM) 1 (Cray Valley (PM) win 5-4 on penalties)
Goal: CV - Lisbie 10

Cray Valley: Andy Walker, Tommy Osborne, Ali Tumkaya, Ashley Sains, Matt Parsons, Jamie Day, Josh James, Denzel Gayle, Joseph N'Guessan, Kevin Lisbie (Jack White 87), Ben Francis (Ryan Flack 70),

Match Report:
https://www.facebook.com/CrayValleyPM/posts/2037788903021949

Weds 7-Feb 2018 LONDON SENIOR CUP (Sponsored by Coventry Scaffolding) QUARTER FINAL
Cray Valley (PM) 3 v Croydon 2
Goals: CV - Willock 18, Flack 26, N'Guessan 85
C - Wilson 43, Chin 45
Attendance 47
Cray Valley: Andy Walker, Connor Dobson (Tommy Osborne 65), Nick Harvey, Jamie Day, Cem Tumkaya, Ashley Sains, Ryan Flack (Sam Bailey 78), Alex Nelson, Calum Willock, Ben Francis (Jordan Sandiford 87), Joe N’Guessan.
Subs not used: Simon Glover, Junior James

Holders Cray Valley booked their place in the London Senior Cup Semi-Finals after ending Croydon’s interest.
Kevin Watson’s men will be on the road to either Metropolitan Police or Tooting & Mitcham United after claiming a 3-2 win over Harry Hudson’s impressive young side.
Cray Valley keeper Andy Walker pulled off a great early save, tipping Nathan Campbell’s free- header onto his crossbar after Daniel Hector’s cross from the right.
Ryan Flack centred for Jamie Day, whose long-range drive was spilt by shaky Croydon keeper Alex Hewitt.
Cray Valley opened the scoring after 18 minutes when Ben Francis cut the ball back for Day, who floated in a cross for striker Calum Willock to control before planting a shot sweetly into the bottom right-hand corner. Left-winger Flack then hit a sublime volley into the top right-hand corner from 25- yards to give the home side a 2-0 lead, after Alex Nelson clipped in a cross from the right.
Croydon turned the game around by scoring twice in 130 seconds towards the end of the half. Bradley Wilson placed a beautiful 20-yard free-kick into the top left-hand corner before keeper Hewitt launched a big kick over the top of the Millers defence for striker Lauris Chin to dink the ball past the advancing Walker to equalise.
Croydon were the better side during the second half. Winger Hector released Chin down the right and he cut the ball back but Andy Mott skied his shot over from the edge of the six-yard box. Day had a free-kick saved by Hewitt and Willock headed Day’s free-kick over for the home side, before they grabbed a winner with five minutes left. Substitute winger Sam Bailey hit a dipping 30-yard drive, which was parried by Hewitt, diving to his right and Joe N’Guessan slotted the ball into the bottom far corner from the rebound.

Video: Joe N'Guessan reacts the quickest to slot home the Millers' winner!https://www.facebook.com/275921759208681/videos/2081322262001946
Video: Ryan Flack makes it 2-0 with a precise volley!
https://www.facebook.com/275921759208681/videos/2081320758668763
Video: Calum Willock opens the scoring for the Millers in the London FA Senior Cup
https://www.facebook.com/275921759208681/videos/2081318305335675

Other Reports
Stephen McCartney reports from Middle Park Avenue
CRAY VALLEY (Paper Mills) manager Kevin Watson says he wants to bring silverware back to the club.https://kentishfootball.co.uk/news/craycroy070218

Tue 27-Mar 2018 LONDON SENIOR CUP (Sponsored by Coventry Scaffolding) SEMI-FINAL
Tooting & Mitcham 0 v Cray Valley (PM) 2
Goals: CV Lisbie 76, 85

Cray Valley: Andy Walker, Tommy Osborne, Ali Tumkaya, Ashley Sains, Simon Glover, Jack White, Matt Parsons (Sam Bailey 46), Josh James, Joseph N'Guessan, Ryan Flack, Kevin Lisbie (Alex Nelson 89),

The Millers, holders of the London Senior Cup beat Ryman League Division One side Tooting & Mitcham United for a second time at Imperial Fields and secured their place in consecutive finals thanks to two second half goals from Kevin Lisbie in the 76th and 85th minutes, The second, a fabulous 25 year lob over the home keeper, sealing the deal in some style.

Match Report:
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2114922581975247&id=275921759208681

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