PITCHING-IN ISTHMIAN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
CRAY VALLEY (PM) 1 BRENTWOOD TOWN 3 - 28 OCTOBER 2025 - ATT 245
Goals: CV - Aileru 34
BT - Ogunleye 55, 71 Nzengo 92

League leaders Blues came from one down at the interval to take all three points scoring three second half goals including a brace from Daniel Ogunleye. The Millers had taken the lead in the 34th minute a stunning effort from Kenny Aileru who cut in from the left and fired into the back of the net. However ultimately it was the Millers who were given the blues as the visitors ran out victors.

Millers: Peart-Rowley, Williams (c), Bowry, Ekpiteta, Kpakpe, Vigor (Holness 66), Black, Adebiyi (Cumberbatch 67), Aileru (Shomotun 79), Ajakaiye, Akbani (Barrington 66) Sub not used: Waldren
Cautions: Kpakpe, Vigor

Blues: Minter (c), Nzengo, Aarons-Royal (Feeman 15), Pollock, Ogunleye, Vaivada (Thomas 58), Edwards, Cole, Hughes, Hudson, Machado, Subs not used: Reid, Park, Hubbard
Cautions: Hughes Machado

Referee: Marcin Indyk
Assistants: Marian Stoichitoiu and William Rough

Post Match Interview: Steve McKimm
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/steve-mckimm-reacts-after-a-31-home-defeat-to-brentwood-town-281025-214934.html

Match Report courtesy of Mark Doig for Kent Sports News

Despite going in ahead at the break Cray Valley PM had no answer to Isthmian League Premier Division leaders Brentwood Town in the second period and fell to defeat. After the visitors had started brightly, Steve McKimm’s side took control and probably deserved their lead at the break. However, with the slope in their favour for the second half, Brentwood showed why they are flying high at the top of the table with a commanding performance.

Max Hudson almost gave the visitors an early lead when cutting in from the left and unleashing a shot that crashed against the bar on the way over. Alejandro Machado then tried a hooked shot but it went straight up into the air before being caught by Cray goalkeeper Shaun Peart-Rowley. Buenas Vaivada had a shot for the Blues deflected just wide before they were forced into making a substitution. Surprisingly, Romel Aarons Royal was able to start having suffered a head injury towards the end of their previous match, at home to Welling United, however, he only lasted twenty minutes before being replaced by Andy Freeman. That appeared to disrupt Brentwood, and the Millers started to enjoy more of the possession and territorial advantage. Dan Ajakaiye fired well over before he screwed another effort wide. Eleven minutes before half time, the hosts went ahead. Kenny Aileru eased in from the left wing before letting fly with a shot that gave Melvin Minter no chance as it whistled inside the far post. Hudson squandered a chance to equalise from a direct free kick and the Millers went in at the break in good spirits despite picking up a couple of needless yellow cards in the closing moments.

Immediately after the break, Hudson’s low shot was pushed round the post by Peart-Rowley before Brentwood again clattered the woodwork when Jonathan Nzengo cut in and hit the bar with a twenty yard effort. Keith Rowland, the visitors’ manager, was just about to make a substitution when his side drew level. Vaivada found Daniel Ogunleye and he broke a tackle before surging through and crashing his shot home. Aileru came close to putting the hosts back ahead when again working his way in from the left and shooting but Minter made an excellent save when pushing it out for a corner. Machado had another opportunity for the visitors but couldn’t find the power to bother Peart-Rowley, however, they didn’t have much longer to wait before going ahead. Hudson crossed low and Ogunleye finished at the far post. Substitute Kymani Thomas had a shot bundled round the post by Peart-Rowley then Marvel Ekpiteta made a stunning goal-line clearance at the end of a goalmouth scramble. Adeyinka Cole waltzed his way through the Millers’ defence but shot with the outside of his boot and it went well wide before another Machado effort took a deflection, hit Peart-Rowley, and flew over. Funmi Shomotun might have made Brentwood pay for the missed chances when breaking through only to fire well wide of the near post and the visitors made sure of the win when adding a third in the second minute of stoppage time. A quick counter-attack ended with Thomas finding Nzengo who finished at the far post.

Defeat for the Millers meant that they finished the evening outside the bottom four on goal difference ahead of Wingate and Finchley who have played two games fewer.

Link for Kent Sports News
https://www.kentsportsnews.com/cray-valley-pm-1-3-brentwood-town-28-10-2025/

Match Photos supplied by Lianne Brown.