CRAY VALLEY (PM) 5 EAST THURROCK UNITED 3 – 24th Sep 2022 - ATT 105
Goals: CV - Chambers 19, Ibrahiym 45,78, Bennett 46, Coombes 81
ETU - Moses 27, Hope 61 (pen), 83 (pen)

Match Report by Richard J Green

Goals either side of the half time whistle proved pivotal as Valley went on to secure a place in the third round qualifying for the first time.
After drawing a blank at Beckenham in midweek, goals flowed like a procession of the proverbial London buses as the Millers hit four in 36 minutes either side of the break.
Starting with the same side that performed so well in midweek, it took just 19 minutes for Tom Chambers to head Dan Bennett’s free kick beyond East Thurrock goalkeeper Montel Joseph and put Valley in front.
A fiercely contested encounter against a physically strong Essex side was levelled just before the half hour as a ball in from the right fell to the feet of Brian Moses. The imposing Rocks striker held off a challenge from Connor Dymond before letting off an 18 yard strike into the top corner of the net despite Chris Lewington getting a paw on it en route.
As Ade Adeyemo struck the crossbar after cutting in from the left, thoughts might have turned to Tuesday night’s shutout before Barney Williams’ low cross from the right was swept home by Ibrahiym as the referee raised the half time whistle to his lips.
Within a minute of the restart, Bennett extended the hosts lead – spinning and firing beyond Joseph from 18 yards.
We then witnessed what may well have been the key moment in the tie as Lewington pulled of a magnificent stop to deny Rocks’ skipper Oli Spooner from close in.
Ibrahiym was denied a second when his effort was cleared off the line by substitute Daryl Bryan-Samuels after rounding Montel on the hour, before the visitors pulled a goal back.
Dymond was adjudged to have brought down Spooner inside the penalty area before Harry Hope beat Lewington from the resultant penalty.
East Thurrock manager Marc Harrison then made two changes from the bench as his side looked to restore parity, before Darnell Kithambo had a header from a Shaye Le Rose free kick safely held by Lewington.
Valley continued to hold the upper hand however and extended their lead when Chambers burst into the penalty area from the left. After switching the ball onto his right foot, Chambers’ shirt was held by a defender before the ball fell to Ibrahiym who fired home his second and Valley’s fourth.
Adam Coombes slid home the fifth from 12 yards shortly after, before the Rocks were handed a second penalty eight minutes from time.
Kershaney Samuels hauled Hope down in the Valley 18 yard box before the East Thurrock man got up to fire his second spot kick beyond Lewington’s outstretched left hand.
Despite a few shenanigans involving the referee and Rocks’ physio, Valley held out comfortably to secure victory and remain on course for Wembley.

MATCH RATING: - ****

MAN OF THE MATCH – Hassan Ibrahiym

MILLERS : Lewington, Dymond ©, Williams, Oshilaja, Tumkaya (Chambers 11), Gayle, Black (Majek 82), Samuels, Bennett (Coombes 69), Ibrahiym, Adeyemo
Substitute Not Used : Davis-Whitlock
Caution : Ibrahiym, Samuels

ROCKS : Joseph, Boswell, McQueen, La Rose, Critchley (Bryan-Samuels 50), Skubich (Kithambo 67), Carter, Michael-Percil (Robinson Joyce 67), Spooner, Hope, Moses
Substitute Not Used : Barton, Hayes, Vincent
Caution : Moses

Referee : Vladyslav Bakulin
Assistants : Anastaysiya Voloshchuk and Ericsson Temu

Pic – Tom Chambers’ header flies past Montel Joseph to give Valley the lead in the 19th minute

Match Photo by Suman Birta