PITCHING-IN ISTHMIAN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
ST ALBANS CITY 5 CRAY VALLEY (PM) 0 - 10 JAN 2026 - ATT 1,190
Goals: SAC - Sery 18, 83, James 31, Mather 41,.48

It was Deja-Vu as the Millers started 2026 the way 2025 ended with back to back 5-0 away defeats. Worrying times for Steve McKimm and his team. After a bright opening the Millers soon found themselves behind, Leo Sery shot from the edge of the box finding the bottom corner of the net to give the Saints the lead. The lead was doubled on the half hour Jack James finishing at the far post from a ball across the six yard box. Just before the interval it become 3-0 Ryley Scott was allowed to run through on goal and slip the ball inside for Jasper Mather to finish.

Any hopes of the Millers getting back in the game were quickly extinguished after the re-start, Mathers adding his second of the game in the 48th minute. The Millers were forced to defend frantically at times as the hosts dominance continued despite all five substitutes being utilised and the efforts of debutants Balu Makumbi and Jermaine Green. Sery completed the rout with his second in the 83rd minute. The Millers never really troubled the Saints keeper and two shots late on were off target, over the cross bar, to compound a miserable afternoon for the visitors.

The defeat leaves the Millers in 17th place and the visit of bottom side Potters Bar Town to the Artic Stadium next Saturday takes on even greater importance as the team tries to halt a run of four defeats and climb the table. Football can be a funny old game as the saying goes and I am sure everyone will be working hard to rectify the current blip in results.

Saints: Ortelli, James (Smart 72), Page (Petrie 54), Bostwick (Fyfield 77), Dyer, Scott (Perez-Duah 62), Banton (c), Mather (Wall 72), Sery, Grante, Mariappa
Cautions: Dyer, Fyfield

Millers: Chamberlain, Tumkaya, Makumbi (Gayle 46), Ekpiteta, Green, McKimm, Ajakaiye (Shomotun 63), Beere (c), Waldren (Cumberbatch 46), Moore (Adebiyi 71), Liburd (Barrington 63)
Caution: Green

Referee: Neil Fyfield
Assistants: Adel Abdel Rasoul and Furqan Miah

New Signings - Welcome Balu Makumbi and Jermaine Green
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/news/player-update--new-signings-2958994.html

Guest Match Report from Cray Valley Supporter Preston Willott
The Preston Perspective
St. Albans City 5 - 0 Cray Valley PM
"It's just like watching Brazil !!!!"
Those were the thoughts of one of the home fans as I queued disconsolately for a coffee at half-time with the score already at 3 - 0. We'd made it easy for them. A team nearer the top of the table would have put 6 past us by that point, such was the absence of any tackles coming in from the midfiled or defence and whatever our formation was supposed to be,, the hosts were pulling as apart with ease and we were chasing shadows
In the week when I learnt that St. Albans City FC are actually contemplating leaving this gorgeous ground not far from the railway station , I can honestly and sadly say that the best bits about the day were the cheeseburger before the match and the few beers with friends afterwards.
We were abject in possession whenever we did have the ball, woeful without the ball, and if anyone thinks I'm being harsh, let me tell you the St. Alban's City goalkeepers jersey was as clean on the 90 minute mark as it was at 15:00
We cannot carry on in this vein if we wish to remain an Isthmian Premier Division Club. I have nothing more to say except to say visit Clarence Park if you haven't already done so ; it's a lovely ground with good facilities and easy to get to by train

Match Photos: Inspire Socials
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/photos/st-albans-city-v-millers-10126-photos-inspire-socials-1163221.html