[bA[/b]PITCHING-IN ISTHMIAN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
CRAY VALLEY (PM) 1 BILLERICAY TOWN 4 - 7 MAR 2026 - ATT 389
Goals: CV - Beere 24 - Sent off: Cumberbatch 36 (2nd yellow)
BT - Watts 9, 16, Merrifield 47, Long 64

Deja-Vu as Red Card Costs Millers

Match Report by Steve Chapman

The Millers were once again unable to keep eleven players on the pitch as they suffered a first half sending off for the third consecutive home fixture. The Blues took full advantage to ensure their promotion prospects gathered further momentum. Two first half strikes from midfielder Callum Watts and goals from Frankie Merrifield and Elliot Young after the interval gave the Blues a comfortable victory and cemented their place in the play offs.

The visitors started the match with more energy and swarmed over their hosts in the early stages and only an excellent one handed save from Prince Adegoke from Watts, just when the ball looked destined for the top corner, prevented them taking an early lead. Their persistence paid off in the ninth minute when the same player Watts opened the scoring, Adegoke managed to get a hand to his shot but couldn't prevent it creeping into the bottom corner of the net.

Watts scored his second of the afternoon seven minutes later when he found himself unmarked in the Millers box and calmly shot across the outstretched keeper. Tom Beere halved the arrears in the 24th minute with a long range effort that flew past Jacob Adams but any chance of a comeback was effectively over in the 35th minute when Kurtis Cumberbatch was shown a second yellow card to add to one in the 13th minute for a cynical pull back on the edge of Valley's penalty box.

Straight after the interval Merrifield smashed home the crucial third goal before Long completed the scoring in the 64th minute. Not too much to shout about for Valley in the second half although they battled away and substitute Kenny Aileru went close late on.

Man of the Match - Callum Watts (Billericay)

Millers: Adegoke, Bowry (Green 68), Waldren (Tumkaya 75), Ekpiteta, Asiedu, Shomotun, Beere (c) (Aileru 60), Cumberbatch, Agyemang, Scannell (Adebiyi 37), Barrington (Gayle 60)
Cautions: Agyemang, Shomotun,
Sent off: Cumberbatch (2nd yellow 13, 36)

Blues: Adams, Porter, Davis, Scott (c) (Parsons 76), Collis, Merrifield (Bonne 66), Long, Watts (Barnum-Bobb 72), Owen (Miller-Rodney 72), Ruff (Cerulli 66). Lewis-Burgess
Cautions: Owen

Referee: Edward Smith
Assistants: Gary Baker and Dan Boulden

Post Match Interview: Kevin Lisbie
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/kevin-lisbie-postmatch-reaction--cray-valley-pm-vs-billericay-town-7326-217763.html

Match Photos: Romana at Inspire Socials
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/photos/millers-v-billericay-town-7326-photos-inspire-socials-1167896.html