Rowan Liburd second goal in two games, this one a header from a corner, secured all three points for the Millers as a battling performance overcame the Robins for a deserved victory.

The hosts enjoyed the greater possession early on before Matty Vigor forced Robins stand in keeper Luke Read, normally seen as a centre-back, to make a vital save in the 15th minute. The Millers came more into the game from that point and nearly took the lead just before the break, the ball hitting the bar from a header close in and subsequent shots blocked, all in the six yard box ensuring it remained goalless at half time.

The period after the interval saw chances at both ends, first Shaun Rowley made an excellent block with his legs from Robins long serving Tommy Bradford, then at the other end Tom Beere watched agonisingly as his lob from out wide beat the keeper but went just past the far post. Vigor had a flicked header fall safely into the keepers hands and Rowley made a good save from Noah Nzuzi.

The pivotal moment came in the 71st minute with the only goal of the game from Liburd. Thereafter the Millers saw out the game and substitute Ibby Akbani went close to adding a second at the end, his shot hitting the side netting after taking a deflection.

Steve McKimm and his team will be delighted with their second consecutive win on the road and seven points from the last three games as they look to climb the table.

Robins: Read, Masampu, Bakaye, Ernest, Atewologun (Ladapo 78), Ifeanyi, Nzuzi, Bradford (c), Saunders-Henry (Smith 71), Shonibare, Salami (Ladapo 71), Sub not used: Dyer, Ming
Caution: Atewologun

Millers: Peart-Rowley, Lema. Bowry, Ekpiteta, Asiedu, Shomotun, Beere (c) (Akanbi 77), Cumberbatch, Vigor (Adebiyi 63), Ogunwamide (Barrington 66), Liburd (Waldren 78), Sub not used: Asiedu
Caution: Barrington

Referee: Stuart Kyle
Assistants: Eros Frangiamore and Jack Hobbs

Post Match Interview: Steve McKimm
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/massive-three-points-on-the-road-hear-from-steve-mckimm-after-our-10-win-at-carshalton-athletic-291125-215771.html

Opposition Match Report and Photos courtesy of Carshalton Athletic website:
https://www.carshaltonathletic.co.uk/carshalton-lose-against-cray-valley/

Guest match report - Preston Willott - Cray Valley (PM) supporter
The Preston Perspective
Cray Cream the Spoils !!!
Match Report
Carshalton Athletic 0 - 1 Cray Valley PM
Att : 467
Sometimes you gotta win ugly, and much as this match will not linger long in the memory for the football played, the 3 points ground out were delightfully and deliciously digested by the travelling Millers support
Earlier heavy rain had fortunately abated as the turnstiles opened at Carshalton's ground , a stadium where Ladies are given free entry. The ground boasts a grand covered terrace alongside the whole length of the pitch on one side, whereas opposite sits a all-seated stand ; and there are small covered terraces and hard standing behind both goals
The first 45 was a scrappy affair with neither side able to impose themselves on the game and little in the way of sweet flowing football. However there were a few chances for both sides, arguably the best of which saw the Millers hit the crossbar not long before the interval. It's worth noting the hosts had an outfield player deputising in goal as the first choice 'keeper was apparently suspended and I wasn't the only one surprised that they hadn't promoted a 'keeper from a reserves or U21s side but I guess they had their reasons
My heart was in mouth at one point as one of our defenders made a seemingly clumsy tackle and I was jittery that the referee may have adjudged him to have been the last defender and brandished a red card ...... but fortunately no card was issued at all and meanwhile in front of us a rather reckless handball from a Carshalton player was perhaps lucky to have not have been more harshly punished ; sadly the free-kick sailed over everybody and i certainly felt we hadn't tested the stand-in keeper enough or got enough bodies in the box at times and 0-0 was a fair score at the break
The second half did see better football , and the Millers were better at getting down the flanks and trying to float balls into the middle and credit has to go the Carshalton defenders who were dogged and determinedly trying to stop us. I'll confess here and now there came a point when I thought "we may have to settle for a point here" and started to imagine the Non-League paper headlines about the heroics of the stand-in 'keeper ...... and then the travelling Millers watched in anticipation as Tom Beere saw the 'keeper off his line and lobbed him .... and we watched excitedly waiting to see the ball bobble into the net ..... only for it to trickle agonisingly and teasingly wide !!! Was that just going to sum up our day ??
However Tom Beere later floated in a corner on 71 minutes, and in the goalmouth scramble the ball this time did end up in the net in front of us to our absolute delight and Rowan Liburd was taking the plaudits
I thought we defended the lead quite well and now started to look quite threatening on the break and once we'd got that breakthrough were unlucky not to add to the scoreline. Our second half performance certainly merited the 3 points and the Green Army behind the goal were in fine voice
When the referee brought the match to a close, there was much delight for players, supporters, and management team alike. 7 points out of a possible 9 is a great upturn in fortunes and a reward for the grit and graft that has been going on behind the scenes to turn things around.
We know that we can't relax or rest on laurels , and I'm sure the management won't let that happen for one nano-second ....... but it's lovely to savour good moments in football when things have been tough and we can certainly look forward with more optimism
ISMWT

Match Photos: Romana at Inspire Socials:
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/photos/carshalton-athletic-v-millers-291125-photos-inspire-socials-1159973.html