PITCHING-IN ISTHMIAN LEAGUE SE DIV
CRAY VALLEY (PM) 2 WHITSTABLE TOWN 1 - 5th FEB 2022 - ATT 112
Goals: CV - Barrington 41, Ibrahiym 55
WT - McIlroy 18

Report by Richard J Green

Hassan Ibrahiym produced a moment of magic to win 3 vital points for Valley on an afternoon dedicated to the memory of young goalkeeper Ben Jay.
As a sombre mood surrounded the Artic Stadium, manager Kevin Watson recalled Paul Semakula to midfield to counter the loss of injured centre back Alex Brefo, while Rory Hill started proceedings at the expense of Jack Sammoutis.
After causing an early scare among the Valley back line as Jake MacKenzie’s left wing cross evaded all in the middle, it was The Oystermen who took the lead following a Valley corner.
As the ball was cleared to the halfway line, a swift counter attack saw Zak Bryon’s pass from the left recycled across the Valley defence by Callum Watts to George McIlroy who slotted low past Chris Lewington.
That proved to be the sum of attacking endeavour from Whitstable as it once again became a case of Valley searching for the key to unlock a well organised visiting defence.
And it took until 5 minutes before the interval for Marcel Barrington to break The Oystermen’s resistance.
Ade Adeyemo jinked down the left flank before launching a high cross that appeared to catch the wind and go flying harmlessly to safety before landing on the head of Hill who returned the ball into the 6 yard box for Barrington to hook past Dan Eason for his 18th goal of the season.
Spirits lifted, parity restored, Valley went in search of a second.
And with Sammoutis warming up and ready to enter the action, Ibrahiym produced a moment to remember.
Taking a crossfield ball from Barrington wide on the left, Ibrahiym cut inside and hit a delicious, curling shot beyond Eason into the far top corner of the net to rapturous cheers from the home support.
Valley continued to create (and spurn) opportunities to put the game to bed while always being wary of getting caught on the break – their best effort coming in the dying minutes when Nathan Green’s cross from the left was met by the head of Francis Babalola, only for Eason to pull of an excellent save at the near post.
With a mixed bag of results for the other promotion contenders on the day, Valley were able to reflect positively on a week accruing a full haul of points from two home games, going into next week’s visit to Chichester City.

MILLERS’ STAR MAN: – MARCEL BARRINGTON – Hold up play brought the Millers’ midfield into play while also scoring the all important equaliser

MATCH RATING: - ***

MILLERS : Lewimgton, Dymond ©, Green, Semakula, Tumkaya, Gayle, Barrington, Adeyemo, Warren, Hill (Babalola 79), Ibrahiym (Sammoutis 60)
Substitutes Not Used : Blanks, Beerling
Caution : Adeyemo

OYSTERMEN : Eason, Thomas, MacKenzie, Walder, Miles, Mills, McIlroy (Cham 46), Bryon (Okoh 88), Goodger, Watts, Deslandes (Darboe 73)
Substitutes Not used: Chamberlain, Gaggin
Cautions : Watts

Referee : Daniel Doyle
Assistants : Peter Georgiou and Tolga Inanc

Pic – Marcel Barrington slots past Dan Eason to equalise for Valley just before half-time