Denzel Gayle’s 71st minute strike secured a point for Valley in a physical battle at the Artic Stadium. Following the 66th minute substitution of Tom Chambers for Julien Anau, Gayle moved into a central role and provided a new degree of goal threat that could so easily have won the game for the hosts. The visitors set their stall out early as a tenth minute when a challenge on Dan Bennett by Dion Jarvis forced the Valley frontman to take on a side role until substituted by Sonny Black shortly after the half hour. Referee Daniel D’Urso deemed the challenge to warrant only a yellow card – the first of three accrued by the “Marigolds” in the first half.
Valley took the lead in the 16th minute when Hassan Ibrahiym’s 20 yard drive beat Town keeper James Binfield low down by his right hand post.
Lucas Pattenden equalised for the Sussex side – poking the ball beyond Chris Lewington in the six yard box with Barney Williams and fellow striker Joe Benn in close attendance before, in a half littered with fouls and decisions from referee D’Urso that were greeted with bewilderment by players and spectators alike, Josh Short beat Lewington with a low 12 yard drive to send the visitors into the break in the ascendency.
Ibrahiym cut in from the right before having his shot saved by Binfield before Town’s leading scorer Devon Fender – fresh from a four goal salvo in the Sussex County Cup on Tuesday – shot narrowly wide of Lewington’s right hand post early in the second half.
Recent signing Anau - looking impressive in his first Valley start – had a 25 yard drive saved low down by Binfield, before Gayle’s run on goal, following an interchange of passes with Ibrahiym ,was denied by the onrushing Binfield.
Chambers’ substitution then allowed the left sided wingback to take up his favoured position, with Williams’ move over to the right enabling Gayle a more central role. Valley immediately turned up the heat – Binfield denying Ade Adeyemo as the tall striker turned and got a shot in from the edge of the penalty area. Substitute Luke Donaldson had a shot parried by Lewington for a corner at the other end but within a minute the scores were levelled – Gayle racing from his own half out wide before coming inside and sliding past Binfield from 20 yards.
Gayle then went close to giving Valley the lead as, first Binfield denied his low effort following good work on the right by Ibrahiym and Williams, before he stooped low to head Williams’ cross goalwards.
As the clock ticked down, Benn had a good opportunity to win the game for Town – his effort deflecting wide off the legs of Lewington -, before play immediately transitioned to the other end as Gayle played in Chambers in the 18 yard box – the opportunity thwarted by the visitors’ defensive unit.
And as stoppage time began, Chambers found space close in before seeing his deflected effort strike the angle of post and bar – Adeyemo unable to force home the rebound.

MATCH RATING: - ***

MILLERS MAN OF THE MATCH – DENZEL GAYLE

MILLERS : Lewington, Dymond ©, Williams, Tumkaya, Gayle, Samuels, Douglas, Bennett (Black 36), Ibrahiym, Anau (Chambers 66), Adeyemo
Substitutes Not Used : Majek, Edgar
Cautions : Samuels, Ibrahiym, Black, Williams, Gayle

MARIGOLDS : Binfield, Jenkins, Jarvis, Faber (Rohilla 77), Clark, Hendy, Pattenden, Kirkwood © (Heath 81), Fender, Benn, Short (Donaldson 69)
Substitutes Not used: Ball, Packer
Cautions : Jarvis, Benn, Faber

Referee : Daniel D’Urso
Assistants : Michael Iddenden-Smith and Marian Stoichitoiu

Captain Connor Dymond leads the Millers side out accompanied by players from one of our U12 sides who play in the SelKent League under manager Kingsleigh Hammond.