Valley bowed out of the London Senior Cup against a young Welling United side, on another night of misery in front of goal.
The only goal of an entertaining encounter came the way of the visitors when Tom Osel slotted past Valley debutant Airidas Vilinauskas in the 13th minute after a melee in the six yard box.
The hosts had the first of many opportunities to level the score in the 20th minute when a glorious cross from Denzel Gayle on the right was met by the head of Tom Chambers at the far post – the youngster’s header being clawed to safety by Welling keeper Kai McKenzie with some questioning whether it had crossed the line.
An entertaining first half saw the hosts with the majority of possession but efforts from Dan Bennett and Chambers among others failed to trouble McKenzie in the Welling goal.
As has been the way in recent games, Valley came out strongly for the second half – Coombes having a header from a Kershaney Samuels corner well saved by McKenzie, while Ayo Majek fired over the bar from 20 yards.
Hard working Welling midfielder Cameron Andrews had two successive efforts well closed down by the Valley defence before the hosts broke at pace on the hour mark – Hassan Ibrahiym having a fierce drive from distance saved low down by McKenzie before Adam Coombes’ follow up effort was pushed for a corner.
Bennett’s header from Samuels’ corner was again denied by the resilient custodian.
At the other end, Vilinauskas was called into action – saving well at the feet of oncoming striker David Kamara as Welling threatened on the counter attack.
As the game entered the final five minutes, a probing run forward by Kiki Oshilaja brought fine interplay on the edge of the Welling 18 yard box between Gayle and Bennett before the ball broke to Chambers on the left - McKenzie pulling off another fine save as he denied Chambers’ fierce strike.
Within barely a minute however, Vilinauskas had a moment to remember - pulling out a flying save to thwart Andrews’ powerful 20 yard effort at the other end.
So Valley’s winless run extends to five games, but with more clinical finishing and perhaps the rub of the green where necessary, it could have been so different.

MATCH RATING: - ***

MAN OF THE MATCH – Tom Chambers

MILLERS : Vilinauskas, Chambers, Oshilaja, Tumkaya, Gayle ©, Majek, Coombes, Samuels, Douglas, Bennett, Ibrahiym
Substitutes Not Used : Lewington, Dymond, Edgar, Davis-Whitlock, Webb
Caution : Douglas, Oshilaja

WINGS : McKenzie, Howard, Musoke, Dickens, Maynard, Andrews, Elito, Osel (kamara 66), Francis, Muwonge, Olomowewe
Substitute Not Used : Patterson, Namory, Hyde
Caution : Maynard, Olomowewe, Elito

Referee : James Keane
Assistants : Stephen Gorman and Emre Arslan

Pic – A sign of things to come – Tom Chambers’ 20th minute header is kept out by McKenzie

Match Photos by Suman Birtas
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/teams/228820/match-centre/2-11203967/photos

Additional match report and photos courtesy of Mark Doig and Dave Budden for Kent Sports News.
https://www.kentsportsnews.com/cray-valley-pm-0-1-welling-united-18-10-2022/