It was a frustrating Christmas afternoon at the Artic Stadium as Valley drew their first blank in ten matches, struggling to create the breakthrough to open the game up against a robust, resilient Corinthian side.
Ade Adeyemo went close inside the first minute – putting his header from Connor Dymond’s cross narrowly wide of Daniel Colmer’s right hand post – but it soon became clear that the hardworking Hoops were intent on denying the Millers more creative players the time and space to weave their magic.
Indeed, matters could have been much different but for Chris Lewington’s fine save down by his right post to deny Sam Bewick’s low drive after he beat Cem Tumkaya.
In a first half of few attacking moments to warm the chill air, Barney Williams drove across the visitors’ 18 yard box after taking possession from an enterprising run by Dan Bennett, while a long cross in from the left found Daniel Correia Lopes unmarked 10 yards out – the Hoops defender putting his header over Lewington’s crossbar.
With Valley still struggling to find an opening as the second half got under way, a defensive mix-up between Tumkaya and Mitchell Nelson saw the ball fall to Brandon Davey who lofted his drive, before substitute Adam Coombes’ ball across the Corinthian goal narrowly evaded Denzel Gayle at the other end.
The closest we had to a goal however came just 20 minutes from time from a Millers set piece.
Bennett’s fierce drive beat Colmer – striking his left post before eventually falling to Adeyemo who proceeded to strike the foot of the other post as he followed up.
As the clock ticked down, some of the challenges took on a more “feisty” nature as Valley frustration was counteracted by Corinthian determination to secure a hard earned point.
And so 2022 ends with Valley fifth in the league – nine points behind leaders Ramsgate – and the search for a first Boxing Day win in 20 years goes on.
MATCH RATING: - **

MILLERS MAN OF THE MATCH – CHRIS LEWINGTON

MILLERS : Lewington, Dymond ©, Chambers, Williams, Tumkaya, Gayle, Samuels, Nelson, Bennett, Ibrahiym (Coombes 50), Adeyemo
Substitutes Not Used : Black, Asaam, Majek, Anau
Cautions : Samuels, Dymond

HOOPS : Colmer, Correia Lopes (Lashley 86), Salim Futa, Leach, Billings, Sargent, Beerling, Davey, Kamara (Godfrey 72), Housego ©, Bewick
Substitutes Not used: Thompson-Fearon, Box, Pepple
Cautions : Bewick, Billings, Godfrey

Referee : Craig Charles
Assistants : James Black and Dele Sotimirin

Match Photos: Courtesy of Dave Budden Photography
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/photos/millers-v-corinthian-271222-photos-dave-budden-photography-1044807.html

Manager Tommy Osborne speaking to Richard J Green after today's goalless stalemate.
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/tommy-viewpoint-185773.html

Additional Reporting on the game:
Cray Valley Official Twitter Account
The Hoops keep the door locked as The Millers can't quite find the key despite twice hitting the frame of the goal twice in the second half.
We have to settle for a point and move on to the New Year still in a good position. #COYM

Additional reporting on the game:
Mark Doig KSN with photos Dave Budden
https://www.kentsportsnews.com/cray-valley-pm-0-0-corinthian-27-12-2022/

Additional Reporting on the game:
The Non-League Chronicles
Charlie Bradford reports on “the other Cray”…
Cray Valley Paper Mills 0-0 Corinthian
Pitching In Isthmian League South East Division
Tuesday 27th December 2022, 1 PM @ The Artic Stadium
Admission - £10
Programme - £2.50
Team sheet - free
Attendance - 256
Game number 1,400 all time
Game number 114 of the 2022 / 2023 season
It’s fair to say I’m a Cray boy through and through having lived there all my life and being a Cray Wanderers fan! After seeing the Wands win 3-0 yesterday, today it was off to do “the other Cray” - Cray Valley Paper Mills.
Cray Valley Paper Mills is a name that stands out from the crowd in the Non-League circles. As the name suggests, they were formed by workers in the industry in the Cray area in 1919, with paper mills being the fashionable industry of the area back in the day.
These days they play away from the Cray area in Eltham and have had a good recent history, getting to the FA Vase final in 2018 / 2019 before losing 3-1 after extra time to Chertsey Town after winning promotion to their current level by winning the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division in the same season.
Corinthian meanwhile play in Fawkham and also were recently promoted to their current level due to FA restructures of the Non-League pyramid off the back of COVID-19.
With Cray Valley sitting in sixth and just outside the playoffs and Corinthian second bottom and eight points adrift, the odds was on a Cray Valley win but it was all to play for for differing reasons in my 1,400th game all time (so bound to be 0-0 then right?!)
Joining me at the game was Uncle Smiffy, and after saying hello to Richard Green of Cray Valley the game got underway and Cray Valley could have taken the lead in the opening 40 seconds when Connor Dymond’s cross from the right was headed wide of the left post by Ade Adeyemo.
The only time either goalkeeper was seemingly tested in the first half came in the 15th minute when Corinthian’s Sam Bewick had an effort from the edge of the box towards the bottom left corner well saved by Cray Valley goalkeeper Chris Lewington as he pushed the ball wide of his post for a corner.
With both sides then reduced to pot shots that finished well over and / or wide, the closest either side came to breaking the deadline in the first half was when ex Wand Barney Williams flashed a shot wide of the left post.
HT: 0-0.
Corinthian started the second half with intent and Brandon Davey had their best effort when his 25 yard shot flashed over the bar.
The closest we got to a goal was when Cray Valley’s Dan Bennett struck a free kick from 20 yards against the right post before the follow up shot from Ade Adeyemo stuck the left post.
That rather summed up the game as neither side could take the few chances they created to mean a selfish full time scoreline…!
FT: 0-0.
MOTM: Harry Sargent (Corinthian) - kept a clean sheet and things tight at the back.