PITCHING-IN ISTHMIAN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
BRENTWOOD TOWN 3 CRAY VALLEY (PM) 1 - 7 FEB 2026 - ATT 387
Goals: BT - Ogunleye 44, Thomas 69, Johnson 82
CV - Aileru 22

The Millers took he lead, somewhat against the run of play, in the 22nd minute, a Kurtis Cumberbatch corner was met by the head of Dan Bowry and Kenny Aileru was on hand to score the knock down from close range with an acrobatic bicycle kick. They retained the lead for the next twenty minutes or so but with half time approaching the Blues equalised, their top goalscorer Dan Ogunleye heading home direct from the corner kick.

End to end play immediately after the re-start saw first Kareem Isiaka who had replaced an injured Tom Beere in the 13th minute go close, the Blues keeper Aiden Prall making the save and at the other end Millers keeper Taite Holtam was called into action saving Scott Kashket's powerful drive. Both sides had further chances but it was the blues who took the lead in the 69th minute, Aaron Sterling broke away down the right flank and his low ball across the box was met by Kymani Thomas to tap home at the far post.

The Millers pressed for an equaliser but the games was as good as over in the 82nd minute when Louie Johnson curled a free kick from the edge of the box over the wall dipping into the bottom corner to make it 3-1. Some shocking theatricals from Prall in the Blues goal earned loanee Makise Evans on debut an underserved booking and in added time Marcel Barrington saw his header go over the top. The final whistle blew and it extends the Millers run to eight games without a win and just the one point to show in that time.

Next up is another trip to Essex next Saturday to face fellow strugglers, currently in the bottom four, Canvey Island.

Blues: Prall, Reid, Cripps (c), Kashket (Sterling 67), Ogunleye (Vaivada 86), Kaiser, Freeman (Brooke 57), Cole (Edwards 57), Johnson, Thomas (Hughes 77), Hudson
Cautions: None

Millers: Holtham, Green (Gayle 70), Bowry, Ekpiteta, Asiedu, Aileru (Ajakaiye 67), Beere (c) (Isiaka 13), Agyemang, Cumberbatch (Waldren 83), Barrington, Liburd (Evans 70)
Cautions: Evans, Asiedu

Referee: Kyfer Mayhew
Assistants: Bradley Hallybone and Ezra O'Neill

Guest Match Report from Cray Valley (PM) supporter Preston Willott.
"The Preston Perspective"
Millers Given the Blues . . . . by The Blues !!
Brentwood Town 3 - 1 Cray Valley (PM)

The scoreline might suggest this was a routine win for a side in the play-off places against the 4th bottom visitors from SE9 ..... but in truth it was anything but as the game was pretty open until the very closing stages

Brentwood are enjoying their first season in the Isthmian Premier riding the crest of a wave after promotion last season, and although the facilities at the ground are at the lower end of what you may expect to find at this level in terms of covered terracing or stands, there is nontheless a friendly welcome about the place, good food and a quality matchday programme to be enjoyed.

Heavy drizzle had been set in for much of the day, making for a pretty yucky drive up the A2 and into Essex, but the 3G pitch meant the game could go ahead with little issue , and Cray Valley started brightly and were clearly bouyed by the comeback performance of the previous Saturday.

Rowan Liburd found himself one on one with the 'keeper after about 12 minutes but dragged his shot wide. Shortly afterwrds, skipper Tom Beere had to be substitued with a hamstring injury and Kareem Isiaka took his place with the captains armband passed onto Dan Bowry. As the rain eased at about the quarter hour mark, and some of us ventured closer to the pitch side, a corner was flicked on by Dan Bowry and Kenny Aileru hooked the ball in to give the Millers the lead on the 22nd minute.

The game ebbed and flowed, Brentwood clearly having pace to exploit down the wings and yet the Millers also had chances to extend the lead and then came the sucker punch just before the half-time break as the home side gleefuly equalisied with a free header.

Fans of the Millers drifted down to the exposed far end for the second 45, serenaded by the drone and lickety-spit of traffic motoring by on the soulless A12, clearly ignorant of an intriguing game of Isthmian Premier football drama unfolding here on the high ground overlooking London

I'd say there were 2 angles to the second half. On the disappointing side, it did feel as though we gifted the hosts 2 easy goals ; after a good attack broke down from ourselves, the hosts countered and as they broke down the right wing and a cross got floated in it seemed all to easy and I don't recall a single tackle being attempted .... and with 20 minutes to go we were left chasing the game. Further angst was to come as a free kick in a threatening position was converted seemingly all too easily and with 82 minutes on the clock, I think we sensed at that point that the game was perhaps now out of reach

However, it must also be said there was much attacking play evident from the Millers in that second 45, plenty of chances being created , and I certainly thought we were well in the game until their third went in. Denzel Gayle, Marcel Barrington, and Dan Akajaiye all had chances, and the new arrival coming off the bench in the form of Makise Evans looks a real handful with bundles of energy.

So although we left Essex empty handed, we were not downcast as there was plenty of energy, effort and attacking intent from the Millers and an encouraging performance against a side very firmly in the play-off hunt

Today's Grammy Award goes to the Brentwood 'keeper for a dramatic performance that went above and beyond ( well beyond ) the norm of play-acting on the football pitch

Must also say get well soon to poorly manager Steve Mckimm ; we push on now to crucial clash with Canvey Island ..... ISMWT !!!!!

Post Match Interview; Cray Valley (PM) Assistant Manager Barry Moore
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/cray-valley-pm-assistant-manager-barry-moore--postmatch-reaction-vs-brentwood-town-7226-217118.html

Match Photos: Romana at Inspire Socials