PITCHING-IN ISTHMIAN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
CRAY VALLEY (PM) 2 ST ALBANS CITY 0 - 28 MAR 2026 - ATT 384
Goals: CV - Shomotun 22, Evans 62
SAC: Sent Off Hart 52

Match Report by Steve Chapman

A battling performance from the Millers resulted in a welcome victory against a St Albans side that faced an uphill struggle following the sending off of centre back Sonny Hart early in the second half.

The visitors started the match more positively with centre forward Alex Wall almost putting them ahead twice. His best effort was a shot from the edge of the box was turned past the post by the outstretched arm of Prince Adegoke. The Saints were to rue those missed chances when Femi Shomotun put the home side ahead in the 22 minute. His expertly taken free was lifted over the wall into the top corner, giving Sam Donkin no chance.

Valley took their slender lead into the break and were given a player advantage in the 51 minute when Hart clipped Chris Dickson as his was clean through on goal. Referee Tom Berry had no alternative but to show the defender a straight red card. Shortly after Valley thought they had doubled the lead when Marvel Ekpiteta up for a corner found the back of the net after the ball was put back into the mix however the assistants flag was raised for offside. In the event it only took the hosts 11 minutes to benefit from the numerical advantage when a flick on from Dixon allowed Shomotun to cut in from the right wing and when his shot was blocked, the ball fell kindly to Makise Evans who calmly stroked the ball past Donkin. Evans had a couple of other opportunities to finish the game off but his shots were saved by Donkin.

Valley created the more chances as the game progressed but the Saints continued to threaten right up to the end, striking a post on 82 minutes and Adegoke made an excellent save near the end to keep the clean sheet in tact. This was a much improved performance than of late and the Millers throughly deserved the win. There is still much to do with five games to go as Valley remain firmly in the bottom four but Kevin Lisbie's team will take heart from this performance and result as they head to Ramsgate on Good Friday.

NLP Man of the Match - Femi Shomotun (Cray Valley)
Sponsor Man of the Match - Chris Dixon (Cray Valley)

Millers: Adegoke, Ming, Waldren, Ekpiteta, Newby, Shomotun, Adebiyi, Beere (c) (Okwoye 79), Ibrahiym (Cumberbatch 76), Evans, Dixon (Soukou 92) Subs not used. Asiedu, Green
Cautions: Ekpiteta, Ibrahim, Newby

Saints: Donkin, James (Gauthier 76), Page, Dyer, Fyfield (bender 76), Scott, Wall (Mather 59), Banton (c), Kone (Smart 59), Petrie (Jennings 80), Hart
Cautions: Donkin, Banton, Dyer
Sent off - Hart (straight red) 52

Referee: Thomas Berry
Assistants: Jerahl Hall and Stephen Hughes

Post Match Interview: Kevin Lisbie
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/kevin-lisbie-postmatch-interview--cray-valley-pm-20-st-albans-city-28326-218407.html

Additional Match Report: Courtsey of Cray Valley Supporter Preston Willott.

The Preston Perspective
"Valley Valiantly Validate Survival Bid"

Cray Valley PM 2 - 0 St. Alban's City

After a soul-destroying afternoon a week previously, the Millers bounced back with a convincing performance over the whole 90 minutes to suggest that their berth in the Isthmian Premier League is not going to be surrendered meekly

The visitors may be in mid table security, but anyone who knows football at this level knows only too well that all 22 players who take to the field at 15:00 on a Saturday afternoon are there to win a football match regardless

Bouyed by tbe return to starting line up of fans fabourite Danny Waldren, the Millers started brightly and had us all hoping that we could get something from the game with a combination of good passing football and resolute defending.

The quirk of a gust of wind suddenly wipping a parasol out ot its' housing and assaulting one of our group in the midriff with a firm strike on the 22nd minute meant we didn't see the opening goal ........ but we didn't complain ; 1-0 is 1-0 whatever the circumstances when you're in the relegation zone

Half-time burgers and beers had us all hoping we would attack in the secnd 45 and not just sit in and defend ..... and full credit to the Millers as the lads played their hearts out and the St. Alban's 'keeper had a great day and kept his side in it until the 62nd minute when there was nothing he could do to prevent Makise Evans making it 2-0, and as the game rolled oin there were further chances that the men in Green created with good flowing football and can perhaps consider themselves a trifle unlucky to not have extended the lead further.

Now I can't speak for anyone else..... but as the clock ticked past the 80 minute mark i did feel a sense of confidence that we were fairly solid for the 3 points, and my faith was duly justified as the ref blew with the scoreline still at 2-0 and a delicious 3 points in the bag

It was great to see smiles on all the players faces at the final whistle, they were fully deserved and with some of the teams above us dropping points in the scrap to avoid relegation , it dragged us back in touch and there was a much more positive vibe about the Artic this evening.

We're still in this.

C'mon boys !!!!

Match Photos: Romana at Inspire Socials
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/photos/millers-v-st-albans-city-28326-photos-inspire-socials-1169320.html