EMIRATES FA CUP - PRELIMINARY ROUND
CRAY VALLEY (PM) 2 AFC GREENWICH BOROUGH 4 - 22 AUG 2026 - ATT 293
Goals: CV - Dickson 35 (pen), 68
AGB - Jones 15, Payne 32, 80, Ryan 55

The Millers bow out of the FA Cup at their first hurdle this season which will be hugely disappointing to Kevin Lisbie and all at the club. Credit to Boro who fully deserved the win and took full advantage to progress into the next round. The Millers were forced into one change with young U18 goalkeeper Noah Smilingis playing his first senior game following the late withdrawal due to injury of regular first team keeper Prince Adegoke. Aside from that they were almost at full strength with just the injured Denzel Gayle unavailable for selection.

Boro took the lead in the fifteenth minute, Tom Jones free kick from outside the box deceiving Smilingis and added a second just after the half hour mark, Stefan Payne firing home into the far bottom corner of the goal as he broke clear of the defence. The Millers pulled a goal back three minutes later through Chris Dickson from the penalty spot.

Boro extended the lead ten minutes after the interval Brad Ryan with the finish at the third attempt as the ball bounced around in the area. Chris Dickson scored his second of the afternoon in the sixty-eighth minute to give the home side hope of maybe forcing a replay. That hope though was extinguished ten minutes from time when Stefan Payne added his second to complete the scoring.

Lisbie in his post match interview bemoaned a lack of energy in the performance and a failure to protect the young debutant keeper. A cup run is always welcomed but was not to be on this occasion. Next week gives another opportunity, this time in the FA Trophy when the Millers travel to take on fellow Isthmian South East side Erith Town.

Millers: Smilingis, Turner, Ekpiteta (c), Okoye, Smith (Leahy 59), Stewart (Otote 52), Agyemang, Whitby (Deighton 46), Sankoh (Muwonge 82), Shokunbi (Dua 46), Dickson
Subs not used: Ming, Jeffrey
Cautions: Okoye, Smilingis, Dickson

Boro: Balogun, Panyi, Evans, Sesay, Penney, Ryan (Komas), Obilana, Jones (Tanner), Horsley-Mckay, Payne, Shanibare (Revill) Subs not used: Pinto, Pitterson, Vendrells, Wylie
Caution: Balogun
- substitute and caution times not available

Referee: Daniel Davis
Assistants: Charles Nicolls and Gemma Day

Chris Dickson scoring from the penalty spot. Photo: Alan Coombes

Post Match Interview: Kevin Lisbie
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/kevin-lisbie-postmatch-interview--fa-cup-exit-vs-afc-greenwich-borough-22826-220549.html

Match Action: Photo Alan Coombes

Prior to the game the new sponsor / naming of the stadium was announced and will now be known as the Mayne Arena.

Photo Inspire Socials: Mal Turner in action with new signage in the background.
More details here: https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/news/welcome-to-the-mayne-arena-2993658.html