PITCHING-IN ISTHMIAN LEAGUE SOUTH EAST DIVISION
SOUTH PARK (REIGATE) 2 CRAY VALLEY (PM) 0 - TUES 22 SEP 2026 - ATT 127
Goals: SPR - Johnson 58, Vincent 77
CV - Sent off: Okoye 72

VALLEY BEATEN AS RED MIST DESCENDS

A moment of red mist overshadowed a defeat on the road for Cray Valley (PM). Marc-Anthony Okoye’s red card for an off-the-ball fracas was the icing on the cake of a bitterly disappointing second half.

Cray Valley went into the half-time break the stronger of the two sides. Eniola Hassan clipped the post, Shaq Gordon had an effort from distance and Bailee Cain’s left-footed drive forced the keeper into a save. That’s not to say South Park didn’t have opportunities of their own, but Harrison Chamberlain had little to do, with efforts significantly wayward.

It was after the interval where things unravelled for the Millers. A couple of opportunities were the warning signs that weren’t picked up on. Nathan Smith gave away possession to Finlay Johnson - son of ex-Premier League striker Andy - and he smashed into the roof of the net. Minutes later, Valley were down to 10. In an altercation before an attacking corner, Okoye reacted to the opposition shoving him and was given a straight red card.

The Millers rallied to an extent. New signing Jack Kirby came off the bench and looked lively. Dayo Santanna’s header hit the bar, Chris Dickson hit the post from the rebound and Kirby’s effort was cleared off the line. But South Park were always going to get opportunities with a patched up Valley defence and George Vincent's effort was adjudged to have crossed the line by the assistant to make it two and secure the points.

Sparks: Bracken, O'Sullivan (Kuruc 78), Tucker, Gale (Inwugwu 86), Stepney (Grant 65), Ando, Moody, McGee (c), Wilson (Sullivan 78), Johnson, Body (Vincent 68)
Cautions: O'Sullivan, Tucker, Johnson

Millers: Chamberlain, Sankoh, Ekpiteta (c), Okoye, Smith (Kirby 59), Santanna (Gayle 66), Agyemang, Hassan, Cain, Shokunbi (Whitby 66), Gordon (Dickson 57) Sub not used: Leahy
Dismissed: Okoye 72 mins
Cautions: None

Referee: Joshua Langley-Fineing
Assistants: Patrick O'Reilly and Richard Lamprell

Photos: Tom Stanworth