PITCHING-IN ISTHMIAN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
CRAY VALLEY (PM) 4 RAMSGATE 1 - SAT 23 AUGUST 2025 - ATT 338
Goals: CV - Barrington 8, Ajakaiye 53, Beere 55, Akanbi 94
R - Paxman (pen) 90

Match Action with the new scoreboard looking resplendent in the background.

Match Report by Steve Chapman for the NLP

MILLERS RAM HOME THE POINTS

The Millers finally ignited their campaign with a confident and much-needed win against newly promoted Ramsgate, easing concerns after a slow start to the season. A slender half-time lead was transformed into a dominant performance thanks to two rapid-fire goals early in the second half from Daniel Ajakaiye and captain Tom Beere, leaving the visitors with little chance of a comeback.

Valley began the afternoon brightly, taking the lead in the 8th minute when Marcel Barrington latched onto Beere’s incisive through ball, beating Ramsgate goalkeeper Aiden Prall to the pass and calmly slotting into an empty net. Both sides exchanged chances in an entertaining first half, Cem Tumkaya with a great header from a corner the pick of the bunch but neither could add to the scoreline before the break.

The match was effectively decided within a three-minute spell after the interval. Ajakaiye doubled the lead in the 53rd minute, racing clear from Luke Holness flick and finishing clinically into the bottom corner. Moments later, Beere added a third, winning the ball in the centre of the park and unleashing a shot from 25 yards, further deflating the visitors’ hopes.

Ramsgate continued to press but were repeatedly denied by a series of excellent saves from home goalkeeper Shaun Rowley. Their persistence was rewarded in the final minute when Alfie Paxman converted a penalty following a handball by Barney Williams. However, the Millers restored their three-goal cushion in stoppage time, with substitute Ibby Akanbi, put through by Holness, rounding Prall and finishing from a tight angle to cap off a comprehensive performance.

Man of the Match: Shaun Peart-Rowley nominated by match sponsor Mayne

Millers: Rowley, Williams, Tumkaya (Moralee 48), Puemo, Lema, Aileru (Shomotun 61), Beere (c), Vigor, Cumberbatch (Holness 46), Ajakaiye (Gayle 67), Barrington (Akanbi 66)
Cautions: Cumberbatch, Williams, Tumkaya, Rowley

Rams: Prall, Barnes (May 66), Clifford, Bioletti (Jobe), Kingsford (Grant 85), Paxman, Webster, Binnom-Williams (Garrett 62), Lawson, Munday, Jadama (c)
Cautions: Clifford, Kingsford, May

Referee: Partick Jolliffe
Assistants: Aidan Jones and Toby Andrews

Photo: Tom Stanworth - Valley players celebrate