DENZEL GAYLE’S 89 MINUTE STRIKE wasn’t enough to prevent Kevin Watson’s Cray Valley (PM) slipping to their first pre-season defeat against Isthmian Premier high-flyers Folkestone Invicta.
In conditions far removed from those encountered in previous warm-up matches, Neil Cugley’s “Seasiders” dominated the first half, leading 2-0 at the break courtesy of goals from Scott Heard and Jordan Wright.
Despite the visitors getting the better of the early stages, the first chance of note fell to Millers’ midfielder Ryan Flack – his right footed low drive from 18 yards narrowly evading the upright.
Millers’ custodian Andy Walker was called into action on the half hour mark, making a series of fine saves to ensure parity.
The deadlock was broken however in the 40th minute, as Heard fired across Walker from the right hand edge of the box and inside the far post.
As the rain intensified, the visitors increased their lead just before the break – Wright’s 18 yard drive beating Walker.
With the normal plethora of pre-season substitutions taking place at the interval, the Millers had the better of the early second half exchanges – Matt Warren firing over the bar from a free kick, and the raiding Gayle seeing a couple of chances go wide.
As further substitutions disrupted the flow of the match – Watson taking the opportunity to give some of the Club’s talented youngsters a run out – it was left to Gayle to complete the scoring as Folkestone completed the win.

MILLERS : A.Walker, Tumkaya, Sains (Rueben-Allen 75), Morath-Gibbs, Smith (King-Elliot 45), Warren, Hill (F.Walker 45), Ibrayihm, Flack (Farmer 65), Tomlin (Gayle 43), Yusuff

Report: Richard J Green

Photo: Dave Cumberbatch