The SCEFL Challenge Cup run finally ended at the Semi-Final stage losing after extra time over two legs to Erith & Belvedere. This remains the only time the Millers have reached this far in the challenge cup in their eight seasons of taking part at step 5 between 2011/12 and 2018/19.

Weds 7-Oct 2015 MACRON SECFL CHALLENGE CUP FIRST ROUND
Cray Valley 2 v Tunbridge Wells 2 After Extra Time - Cray Valley PM won 4-3 on penalties
Goals: CV- Rory Hill 49, Luke Harvey 67
TW- Izokun 41, Hunt 43
Attendance: 43

Cray Valley PM made it through to the Second Round of the Macron SCEFL Challenge Cup following a hard fought penalty shoot-out win over Tunbridge Wells at Badgers on Wednesday evening.
Millers keeper Stevie Sutton, earlier the villain of the piece, proved to be the hero of the night after saving Nick Graham’s spot kick to send the Millers through to a home tie with tenants Erith Town.
But the match started with both teams forcing a number of corner kicks early on but the first real sight of goal didn’t arrive until the 21st minute.
Alex Chambers, making just his third appearance of the season following an injury lay off since April, found himself with time in the Wells penalty area but, falling backwards, he snatched at the opportunity and stabbed his shot wide of the goal from 12 yards.
Rory Hill fired a free kick over the Wells goal before Chambers drove a shot straight at visiting keeper Steve Lawrence as chances were at a premium with two evenly matched sides cancelling each other out.
The complexion of the tie completely changed though just before the break as the Wells grabbed two opportunistic goals to put them in control.
The lively Ehis Izokun was giving Millers captain Tommy Osborne the run around and when Izokun picked up the ball on the left wing in the 41st minute, Osbourne stood off the winger who took the opportunity to advance towards the penalty area. As Izokun reached the corner of the box, Osborne was still failing to close him down and Izokun hit a shot with the outside of his right foot that curled away from Sutton to settle in the far corner of the Millers goal.
And just two minutes later, it got worse for the Millers as Sutton’s attempted clearance from a back pass bobbled over his foot and Ben Hunt won the race for the loose ball to toe poke home from close range.
The Millers needed a quick response and it arrived just 4 minutes into the second half.
Lawrence pushed away Chambers’ effort and as the Millers regrouped, Luke Harvey saw his shot blocked by Lawrence but Rory Hill was hand to guide home the rebound.
The Millers upped the tempo in search of an equaliser while the Wells were using their pacy front men to counter attack. Hill stung Lawrence’s fingers with a driven free kick before Izokun drove a shot into the side netting at the other end.
And the Millers were back on level terms after 67 minutes after Lawrence slipped and stumbled as he attempted to clear from his penalty area. The loose ball travelled no more than 5 yards sideways and Harvey was quickly on the ball to hold off the challenge of the last defender to run the ball home.
Kieron Tarbie had to make a last ditch tackle on substitute Taylor McDonagh before Harvey was inches away from connecting with Greg Benbow’s cross as the Millers pressed.
Luke Saggers, a substitute for the tiring Chambers, headed over from a Hill free kick before Izokun fired a shot across the face of the Millers goal as the Wells pressed forward in the final minutes.
Harvey then had a chance to wrap up the match in the final minute but from 8 yards, he shot straight at Lawrence and the match went into extra time.
Chances were few and far between in the extra 30 minutes with Hunt shooting straight at Sutton before a storming run by Hill into Wells penalty area saw his low cross turned goalwards by McDonagh but Lawrence safely gathered the ball at his near post.
Harvey thought he had won the tie for the Millers with just four minutes of extra time remaining as he slotted past Lawrence from close range but play was brought back by an offside flag and the match went to a dramatic penalty shoot-out.
Luke Harvey and Jamie Lawrence both tucked away their spot kicks before Adam Gross fired his kick wide of the target.
Ben Hunt and Rory Hill then scored before full back Kieron Tarbie saw his attempt pushed away by Stevie Sutton to keep the Millers in the shoot-out at 2 each.
Tommy Osborne scored with his kick before the Wells’ Ehis Izokun blasted over the bar to give the Millers the chance to secure the win but Steve Lawrence saved Greg Benbow’s effort before Ollie Cooke scored to send the tie to sudden death.
Jimmy Rogers held his nerve to plant his kick safely in the corner before Sutton dived low to his right to push away Nick Graham’s spot kick to send the Millers into the next round by 4 goals to 3.
Paul Gross’ team will now need to rest up before making the trip to Crowborough Athletic on Saturday, which, with no Premier League or Championship fixtures due to Euro 2016 Qualifiers, is this year’s Non-League Day and we look forward to a bumper crowd at the Community Stadium.
Come On You Millers!

Weds 11-Nov 2015 MACRON SECFL CHALLENGE CUP SECOND ROUND
Cray Valley 2 v Erith Town 0
Goals: CV- Rory Hill 27, 89
Attendance: 87
Cray Valley (Paper Mills): Stevie Sutton, Tommy Osborne, Adam Gross, Jimmy Rogers, Brad Potter, Joe Matthews, Rory Hill, Taylor McDonagh, Luke Harvey (Jordan Sandiford 90), Alex Chambers (Ben Healy 77), Greg Benbow (Jamie Miller 90).
Subs not used: John Wawrezewski, Paul Gross

Rory Hill 89th minute strike finally ended Erith Town's dogged resistance in this League Cup toe after Hill had put the Millers in front after 27 minutes.

Stephen McCartney reports from Middle Park Avenue
CRAY VALLEY manager Paul Gross says a run in the Macron Southern Counties East Football League Challenge Cup will alleviate the pressure from his underperforming side.
https://kentishfootball.co.uk/news/crayveritht111115

Weds 3-Feb 2016 MACRON SECFL CHALLENGE CUP QUARTER FINAL
Cray Valley 1 v Deal Town 0
Goals: CV- Adam Gross 50
Attendance: 40
Cray Valley: Rob French, Tommy Osborne, Adam Gross, Jamie Miller (Jamie Warren 58), Brad Potter, Corey Holder, Rory Hill, Taylor McDonagh, Marcus Elliott, Charles Ofusu-Hene, Dean Lodge (Paul Gross 84).
Subs not used: Joe Cennamo, Chandler Kasai, Byron Walker

A terrific Adam Gross free kick 5 minutes into the second half was enough to see the Millers through to a semi-final meeting with Erith & Belvedere.

Stephen McCartney reports from Middle Park Avenue
CRAY VALLEY (PAPER MILLS) player-manager Paul Gross praised his younger brother Adam for scoring the goal that keeps their season alive.
https://kentishfootball.co.uk/news/crayvdeal030216

Tues 1-Mar 2016 MACRON SCEFL CHALLENGE CUP SEMI FINAL 1ST LEG
Erith & Belvedere 1 v Cray Valley 2
Goals: E&B- Fyffe 55
CV- Byron Walker 79, Bradley Potter 90+4
Attendance 34
Cray Valley: French, Osborne (c), A. Gross, McDonagh, Potter, Holder, Hill, Miller, Elliott, Ofusu-Hene (Warren 74"), Walker (Lodge 79")
Subs not used: Kasai, P. Gross, Wawrezewski

Match Report:
https://www.facebook.com/CrayValleyPM/posts/1647566162044227

Video: Brad Potter heads home the 94th minute winner in the League Cup Semi-Final 1st leg!
https://www.facebook.com/CrayValleyPM/posts/1647934232007420

Other Match Report: Courtesy E&B Website:
https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/erithbelvederefootballclub/teams/92280/match-centre/0-3275052/report

Weds 16-Mar 2016 MACRON SCEFL CHALLENGE CUP SEMI FINAL 2nd LEG
Cray Valley 1 v Erith & Belvedere 4 After Extra Time E&B won 5-3 on Aggregate
Goals: CV- Byron Walker 10 (Joe Matthews sent off 2nd yellow ET10)
E&B- Hart 16, Robinson 69, Wright ET13, ET15 (Hart sent off 2nd yellow ET23)
Attendance: 68
Cray Valley: Colquhoun, Osborne (c), Warren, Matthews, Potter, Holder, McDonagh, Miller (Sandiford 75"), Gross, Elliott, Walker
Subs not used: Jasai, Dobson, Tumkaya, Morgan

Match Report: Courtesy E&B Website
https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/erithbelvederefootballclub/teams/92280/match-centre/0-3275053/report

Mon 2-May 2016
In the final Holland & Blair beat Erith & Belvedere 2-0 played at Welling FC

FA VASE CAMPAIGN 2015/16

Sat 3-Oct 2015 FA Vase Second Qualifying Round
Banstead Athletic 2 v Cray Valley 6
Goals: BA- Bradley 26, White 28
CV- Luke Harvey 10, 54, 77, 82, Hill 73, P Gross 90+1

Pictured Luke Harvey scorer of four goals.
Photos:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1588586097942234&type=3

Full Time from Merland Rise
Cray Valley PM eventually eased into the draw for the First Round Proper of the FA Vase after 4 goals from striker Luke Harvey helped the Millers to a 6-2 win against Banstead Athletic on Saturday afternoon.
After a fast paced and even opening 10 minutes, the Millers took the lead as a corner kick was turned back out to Adam Gross by Rory Hill. Gross’ drilled in cross found Harvey and his header looped over Colin Harris in the Banstead goal.
The Millers then camped in the home half of the pitch and Hill saw a thunderous shot deflected wide before Harvey got himself beyond the A’s defence but as Harris came to meet him, Harvey placed his shot wide of the near post.
But the home side responded and after a scramble following a corner kick, Zac Nightingale fired narrowly wide before play returned to the other end and Gross saw his shot palmed away by the busy Harris.
The A’s stunned the Millers after 26 minutes and found a way back into the match as a deep cross to the far post found Sean Bradley who looped a header back over Stevie Sutton and just under the crossbar.
And it got worse for the Millers two minutes later as a through ball dissected the visitors defence and Sean White was left with the easiest of chances to put the A’s in front.
The Millers were quickly back on the front foot though and Alex Chambers, making his first start of the season following injury, was felled on the edge of the A’s penalty area by Ashley Thompson, to earn the defender a yellow card. Adam Gross hit the resultant free kick narrowly over the top of the goal.
Chances came and went for the Millers as Hill and Alwayne Jones were both close with shots before Harvey grazed the top of the goal with a header from another Gross delivery.
The opportunities continued to arrive for the Millers in the second half as Chambers shot wide before Harris made saves to deny Harvey and an acrobatic effort from the effervescent Chambers.
Harvey grabbed his second goal of the match on 54 minutes as he slid in at the far post to convert Hill’s driven cross to put the Millers back on level terms as the Millers started to dominate.
Chambers and Harvey both went close again before Greg Benbow saw his chip land on top of the netting as the Millers pressed forward.
Harvey thought he had completed a hat-trick after 61 minutes as he volleyed home at the far post but a linesman’s flag cut short his celebrations.
Bradley fired a shot wide as the home side made a rare foray into the Millers half before Jimmy Rogers fired over. Matt Robinson planted a shot over the Millers goal as the home side briefly threatened.
With 20 minutes remaining, Harvey looked to break into the A’s penalty area but Thompson’s rash challenge brought Harvey crashing down and the referee immediately showed a second yellow to the A’s defender and then sent him from the field of play.
To compound the A’s misery, Rory Hill smashed the resulting free kick past the defensive wall and a flat footed Harris to put the Millers back in front.
Joe Nwoko, returning to the club after a spell this season at Redhill, replaced the tiring Chambers and made an almost immediate impact. Receiving the ball inside the A’s penalty area, three defenders were drawn towards him like moths to a flame. Seeing no way through for himself, Nwoko calmly played the ball sideways into the path of Harvey to fire a shot across Harris and into the far corner of the goal to complete his hat-trick.
But Harvey wasn’t finished yet. After Jones flashed a shot just wide and Harris pushed away a Hill effort, Harvey grabbed his fourth of the match in the 82nd minute.
Again finding space in the A’s defence, Harvey shot past Harris at his near post before being replaced by player/manager Paul Gross.
And in added time, Gross put the gloss on the Millers victory with a sixth goal, calmly slotting the ball past Harris after collecting Hill’s inch perfect through ball.
So at the sixth attempt this season, the Millers get a victory on the road and score six in the process. But as Paul Gross said after the match, “It’s great that we have finally won away from home, but we need to get more consistency into our game.
“Although the FA Vase is a fantastic distraction from the League, we are not where we want to be in the League table and we have to start picking up points to get away from the danger zone.
“Today I thought we were ok at times and the players were trying to take the leather off the ball with every shot they made and I think that’s a sign that they are just trying too hard to make things happen.
“Credit to Banstead today. They are a young side but once they went down to 10 men and Rory put away the free kick, their heads went down a bit and we were able to take advantage but I’m happy to be in the draw for the next round.”

Sat 31-Oct 2015 FA VASE FRST ROUND PROPER
Knaphill 5 v Cray Valley 4 after extra time
Goals: K- Doble 45, Postance 66, Morris 73, Taylor 90+3, Taylor ET 26
CV- Paul Gross 5, 47, Byron Walker 30, Greg Benbow 71

Team line ups

Some familiar faces defend the free kick for the Millers including Gross, Potter, Osborne and Hill.
Photos:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1597576633709847&type=3

Cray Valley PM exited the FA Vase at Knaphill on Saturday after three times letting a two goal advantage slip out of their grasp in a pulsating Cup tie at Redding Way.
The home side, despite eventual match winner Danny Taylor heading over an early chance, started the game nervously and the Millers capitalised by taking the lead after 5 minutes.
A high ball out of the Millers defence forced home keeper Richard Shelley out of his area but as he and Paul Gross challenged for the ball, the keeper completely missed the ball to allow player/manager Gross to roll the ball home into the empty net.
Adam Gross blasted a free kick wide of the home goal after the lively Byron Walker was felled 25 yards out from goal as the Millers enjoyed the majority of possession on a bright afternoon at the Brookwood Country Park Football Ground.
But slowly the Knappers eased themselves into the game and after Shelley saved a Rory Hill shot, Stevie Sutton did well to block Charlie Postance’s close range effort.
Danny Taylor and Josh Watkins both missed the target as the home side pressed before Walker sprung the home side’s defence to speed clear and slide the ball past Shelley to put the Millers 2-0 up with 30 minutes played.
Soon after, Shelley blocked a stinging drive from Jimmy Rogers before Timmy Taylor curled a free kick wide of Sutton’s goal.
The had claims for a penalty turned away by the referee after 39 minutes as a home defender fell on the ball as he blocked Paul Gross’ effort but the referee didn’t see any intent and allowed play to continue.
In added time at the end of the first half, the home side grabbed a lifeline as Jamie Doble bundled home at the far post as a corner kick was whipped across the face of the Millers goal to totally change the half time team talks from the managers.
But the match swung back in the Millers favour just two minutes into the second half as Rory Hill’s trickery took him past a couple of defenders and as he reached the goal line by the edge of the six yard area, Hill squared the ball back for Paul Gross to apply the finishing touch.
Walker then set up Rogers for a shooting chance but his measured effort went inches wide of Shelley’s goal as the home side appeared to look beaten.
But the Knappers finally decided to go for it and after Postance, whose influence on the game was starting to grow, fired a low cross across the face of the Millers goal which Brad Potter did well to not divert into his own goal, instead the ball rolled harmlessly away for a throw in.
With the home side now starting to dominate, the Millers defence were all drawn to their left and when the cross came in, Postance found himself in acres of space in the penalty area to control the ball and beat Sutton from close range to make it 2-3 after 66 minutes.
The big turning point came with 71 minutes on the clock as Walker burst into the Knappers penalty area, rounded keeper Shelley who dived at Walker’s feet and brought down the Millers striker to deny an obvious goal scoring opportunity.
But as the ball rolled free, substitute Greg Benbow fired the ball into the goal before the referee had the chance to blow for the penalty and any recriminations for keeper Shelley. In the end, the referee allowed the goal and left the home keeper unpunished.
The Millers were happy enough to take the decision and protect their now 4-2 lead and see the game out.
However, just two minutes later, a scramble in the Millers penalty led to Matt Morris stabbing the ball home from a couple of yards out to set up a frantic finish to the ninety minutes.
The Knappers came at the Millers with all guns blazing and opted for a less than subtle long ball approach, looking for the towering presence of Postance to feed off from.
Everything was being thrown into the Millers penalty area, including the kitchen sink, as the Knappers bombarded Sutton’s goal. Paul Gross retreated into his own defence to help out as the Knappers searched for an equaliser.
With the home side pushing men forward, the Millers looked to have had a chance to finally seal the match once and for all in the 85th minute as he broke away into the home penalty area but as he was about to tuck the ball away, Morris made a fantastic recovery tackle and the chance was denied.
It was a brief respite for the Millers as the Knappers continued their assault on the Millers goal.
With the clock ticking away, it looked like the Millers had weathered the storm and would make it through to the Second Round but those hopes were dashed in the third minute of added time as a cross to the far post was headed back across the face of the Millers goal and Danny Taylor stooped to head home almost on the goal-line to the delight of the home support.
There was barely time to re-start the match and we headed into extra time.
Four minutes into the first half, Walker collected Paul Gross’ flick on and after Shelley blocked the striker’s initial shot, he could only stab the rebound wide of the goal as Morris appeared to lean into the back of Walker as he took the shot.
Shelley again denied Walker with a good save before the home side’s best chance saw Timmy Taylor fire a 25 yard shot across the face of the Millers goal and just wide of the far post as the half time whistle blew.
As the players on both sides started to tire, goalmouth action in the final fifteen minutes was rare as both teams seemed to settle for a replay but the tie was turned on its head with just 4 minutes remaining.
After Ben Healy raced on to Walker’s through ball and curled a shot wide of the Knappers goal, the home side sealed the match with a strike worthy of being called a winner.
Danny Taylor collected the ball some 30 yards out from goal, looked up and a struck the ball low and hard and it arrowed past the despairing dive of Sutton and into the bottom corner of the net to spark wild celebrations amongst the home contingent.
The Millers made a bold effort to restore parity on the final minute as Paul Gross met Rogers’ cross at the near post but he couldn’t quite find the angle to turn the ball in as Shelley was grateful to see the ball flash just outside of his upright.
There will be much to ponder for the Millers this week as they try to work out how they let this tie slip through their fingers as they prepare to return to League action next Saturday with a tough looking fixture at Lordswood.
Come On You Millers