PITCHING-IN ISTHMIAN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
CRAY VALLEY (PM) 0 CARSHALTON ATHLETIC 2 - 9 AUGUST 2025 - ATT 289
Goals: CA - IFEANYI 46, BRADFORD 78 (PEN)

Match Report by Steve Chapman for the NLP

Carshalton Athletic earned a well-deserved first league win of the season with a commanding second-half performance, taking full advantage of Valley's defensive lapses. The Robins Defeated their South London opponents thanks to goals from man of the match Sharon Ifeanyi and a composed penalty from captain Tommy Bradford.

On a sweltering summer afternoon at the Artic Stadium, the Millers struggled to make a meaningful impact in front of goal throughout the match, a first half close range effort from Ibby Akanbi which was blocked by the keeper their best effort. Although the visitors edged the opening exchanges and came close when David Smith struck the post during a goalmouth scramble, they failed to build on that momentum.

The breakthrough came just one minute into the second half when Ifeanyi capitalised on a mis-placed pass, picking up the ball on the edge of the box unmarked, he unleashed a precise 20-yard strike that flew past Shaun Peart-Rowley in the Millers' goal, giving him no chance.

Despite a spirited push from the home side in search of an equaliser, their hopes were dashed in the 78th minute. A long ball into the box led to a contentious challenge between Barney Williams and Abdulateef Salami, with the referee adjudging Williams to have tugged his opponents shirt. Williams was shown a red card and Bradford stepped up to calmly convert the resulting penalty to seal the victory, the Millers hopes of a comeback were firmly dashed.

Millers: Peart-Rowley, Williams, Tumkaya, Puemo, Kpakpe (Ajakaiye 50), Gayle, Beere (c), Cumberbatch (Shomotun 72), Vigor, Aileru (Holness 72), Akbani (Barrington 72) Sub not used: Black
Dismissal: Williams 78
Cautions: Puemo, Vigor

Robins: Kerbey, Bradford (c), Dada, Ifeanyi (Dyer 90), Janneh (Augustus 85), Pepe, Read, Sankoh (Atewologun 70) , Saunders-Henry (Salami 75), Shonibre, Smith Sub not used: Foley
Cautions: Sankoh, Salami

Referee: Joshua Evans
Assistants: Jay Knight and Benjamin Kelly

Post Match Interview: Steve McKimm
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/steve-mckimm-reacts-to-20-home-defeat-vs-carshalton-athletic--postmatch-interview-9825
212474.html

Opposition Match Report: Courtesy of Carshalton Athletic website
https://www.carshaltonathletic.co.uk/robins-victorious-in-season-opener-vs-cray/

Match Photos: Romana at Inspire Socials
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/photos/millers-v-carshalton-athletic-9825-photos-inspire-socials-1146469.html