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Match Details

LORDSWOOD v CRAY VALLEY (PM)
19th AUG 2022 KICK OFF 3PM
EMIRATES FA CUP – PRELIMINARY ROUND

VENUE: Martyn Grove, Northdane Way, Walderslade, Chatham, Kent, ME5 8YE
Entry: adults £8, concessions £4, under 16’s £1
Parking: There is ample parking on site

Match Preview

Trips to play Lordswood, nickname The Lords, at their Martyn Grove ground were a regular feature in our SECFL days, in fact we met for eight successive seasons between 2011/12 our first season at step 5 and 2018/19 when we gained promotion to the Isthmian League. That last trip to Lordswood at the start of our promotion season proved to be a significant turning point for the Millers. They came into the game with one point from their opening two games and were two goals down at half time. A Kevin Lisbie seven minute hat trick not long after the re-start turned things around and they went onto win the game 5-3. See below for more details.

Steve McKimm will have been pleased with the opening day victory at Sittingbourne but will know that his team cannot afford to take their foot off the pedal as The Lords will be keen to take advantage and extend their FA Cup run further. They beat Egham Town 2-1 in the extra preliminary round two weeks ago, all the goals coming in the opening 25 minutes after Egham had taken an eighth minute lead. In the SCEFL Premier Division the Lords played their first league fixture on Saturday away at Rusthall and gained a point in a 1-1 draw. This was followed on Tuesday evening by securing a second point coming from behind with two late goals to earn a 3-3 draw away at Whitstable Town.

Last season saw The Lords at the lower end of the table for much of the season but after winning all of their last four games they finished in 16th place on 44 points.

Steve McKimm will look to involve most of the squad, up to seven substitutes can be named in the FA Cup, although only three can be used. Replays are back on the FA Cup agenda this season and should the scores be level after Saturday's tie, the two teams will meet again on Tuesday evening, this time at the Artic Stadium.

FA CUP Fact File
A win for the home side would equal the club's best Cup run by making the Qualifying First Round for only the third time and first time in 18 seasons. They first entered the famous cup in the 1999/00 season.

Cray Valley PM made the First Round Proper just 3 years ago beating VCD Athletic, Burgess Hill Town, Aveley, Harrow Borough and Maidenhead before losing by the only goal of the game to Havant & Waterlooville in what transpired to be the second Covid season. They have 5 Preliminary Round exits in 10 campaigns after first entering the competition in season 2013/14.

With both teams keen to progress and bring in some much sought after prize money it promises to be an intriguing tie as only the magic of the FA Cup can provide. Hope to see you there.

#COYM

Match Officials:
Referee: Gulam Damji
Assistants: Haniel Whitmore and James Reid

Previous Meetings

Last Meeting at Martyn Grove
Sat 18-Aug 2018 SCEFL
Lordswood 3 v Cray Valley 5
Goals: L - Wells 24, Gundry 32, Smith 76
CV - Lisbie 50, 54, 57, 68, Flack 70
Attendance 74
Cray Valley: Walker, James (Osborne 85), Smith, Hickey (Edgar 30), Tumkaya, Sains, Babalola, White, Patrick Ageymang (Flack 69), Lisbie, N'Guessan. Unused subs: Willock, Harry Cullum

Kevin Lisbie scoring, one of four goals in 16 minutes including a seven minute hat trick.

Going into the game with only one point from their opening two league games, Cray found themselves two goals behind at half time at Martyn Grove as Jordan Wells and Ricky Gundry put the Lords in a commanding position. But striker Kevin Lisbie who arrived late for the warm up, having missed his pick up waiting on the wrong side of the roundabout, soon turned things around as he scored three times in 7 second half minutes (50,54,57) to completely turn this match around. Lisbie added his and the Millers fourth goal after 68 minutes before substitute Ryan Flack made the game safe, seconds after coming on from the bench. Caine Smith scored a third for the home side after 76 minutes but the Millers held out for, in the end, a comfortable win.

Match Report:
https://www.facebook.com/CrayValleyPM/posts/2246512202149617
Photos:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2247306858736818&type=3

Full details of our previous meetings can be found at
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/a/season-202324--opponents-previous-meetings-62212.html?page=29