PITCHING-IN ISTHMIAN LEAGUE SE DIV
CRAY VALLEY (PM) 1 HASTINGS UNITED 2 - 12th MARCH 2022 - ATT 286
Goals: CV - Tumkaya 31
HU - Tumkaya (og) 62, Dixon 76

Report by Richard J Green

Sam Hasler returned to The Artic Stadium to produce a second half display of accurate delivery sorely missed since his close season departure.
Hasler may have made only four appearances in a Valley shirt, but it was clear for all to see his influence as he contributed 3 goals and countless assists with the pinpoint accuracy of his left footed distribution.
And so it proved in this entertaining top of the table clash as his dead ball delivery turned the match on its head.
With Paul Semakula making his 100th first team appearance for the Millers, Hassan Ibrahiym replaced Denzel Gayle as Valley manager Kevin Watson opted to start the match with a back four.
Hastings dominated the early stages territorially without threatening before Valley got a foothold midway through the first half.
And it was the hosts who made the initial breakthrough – Connor Dymond’s cross from the right being headed beyond Louis Rogers by Cem Tumkaya at the far post.
An intriguing, feisty encounter continued to keep Valley’s highest attendance of the season enthralled as the hosts held on to their slender lead going into the break.
Danny Parish went close to equalising for the visitors on the hour after Ben Pope beat Chris Lewington to a through ball on the edge of the Valley area before Dymond denied Parish in front of goal.
Moments later, Hasler made his first telling contribution as his free kick from the right was headed past Lewington by defender Tumkaya while under pressure from the Hastings attack .
Marcel Barrington went close to restoring Valley’s lead as Rogers closed him down following an enterprising run from deep by Ibrahiym, before a Hasler corner fell to Pope whose effort was well saved low down by Lewington.
The points were secured by the visitors 14 minutes from time when Hasler’s corner from the right was headed home by skipper Jack Dixon at the far post.
Watson brought on Denzel Gayle and Francis Babalola in the closing minutes in a vain attempt to salvage a point but The U’s held on for a seventh consecutive win as Valley slipped to the fringes of the playoff race.

MILLERS’ STAR MAN: – MATT WARREN – Wiped out by Pope early on but fought back to deliver a committed midfield performance

MATCH RATING: - ****

MILLERS : Lewington, Dymond ©, Green, Semakula (D.Gayle 83), Tumkaya, Barrington, Adeyemo (Babalola 89), Warren, Edgar, Ibrahiym, I.Gayle
Substitutes Not Used : Blanks, Sterling-Parker
Caution : Edgar, Ibrahiym

THE U’S : Rogers, Black (Goldsmith 86), Worrall (Hasler 46), O’Mara, Stone, Chalmers, Parish, Dixon ©, Pope, Penn (Diallo 73), Scott
Substitutes Not used: Pogue, Martin
Cautions : O’Mara, Penn, Scott

Referee : Mark Pond
Assistants : Ayesemuate Agho and Jack Ridge

Pic – Cem Tumkaya heads Valley into the lead

Match Photos and Video by Michael Brown - @BSportsphotos
More photos available on our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3417594858374673&type=3

Match Highlights - https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/cray-valley-fc-highlights-cray-valley-pm-fc-vs-hasting-united-fc-12322-177169.html

Alternative match report including quotes from manager Kevin Watson courtesy of Stephen McCartney at Kentish Football: -
http://kentishfootball.co.uk/news/crayhast120322