EMIRATES FA CUP THIRD QUALIFYING ROUND - 30 SEP 2023 - ATT 543
CARSHALTON ATHLETIC 3 CRAY VALLEY (PM) 3
Goals: CA - Lamont 35, Hamilton-Downes 50, Williams 66
CV - Lee 2, Lisbie 67, Coombes 88 (pen)

The Robins and the Millers shared a six goal thriller which entertained a healthy crowd of 543 to keep their FA Cup dreams alive and will meet again on Tuesday evening in the replay at The Artic Stadium.

The Millers got off to the perfect start, a free kick out wide on the left was crossed in by Barney Williams onto the head of Arthur Lee, one of several returning players that played at Colston Avenue under Steve McKimm last season, to power home into the bottom far corner. The Millers were very much on top in the early exchanges and Kyrell Lisbie running onto Sonny Black's ball over the top forced Robins keeper Toby Bull into action to make the save. Shortly after Matt Vigor picked out Williams with the pass and his shot from 25 yards crashed against the top of the cross bar.

It wasn't until 24 minutes that the hosts had their first real attempt on goal, Aaron Lamont's shot wizzing low past sam Freeman's far post. Lee then nearly repeated his goal but this time his header was saved by Bull. The equaliser came on 35 minutes Lamont turned Lisbie out wide just inside his own half and then raced towards goal and as the defenders backed off he fired low past the outstretched hand of Freeman into the bottom far corner.

Freddie Parker and Michael Ademiluyi then both had half chances but the teams went into the interval all square. Five minutes after the re-start the Robins took the lead Paris Hamilton-Downe with a header at the back post direct from the corner. The Millers continued to rue missed chances first Lisbie was unable to get any power behind the shot and then Ademiluyi saw his shot comfortably saved by Bull.

On 66 minutes the Robins extended their lead, calamity at the back as the Millers gave the ball away and eventually Bradley Williams was able to roll the ball into an empty net. However within a minute the Millers pulled a goal back, Parker held the ball up in the penalty area allowing Lisbie to fire home past Bull at his near post. With the clock ticking down, Lisbie was adjudged to have been found by former Cray Valley youth player Aziz Sankoh and the referee pointed to the spot. Adam Coombes cooly despatched the penalty to make it 3-3.

So we are all set to go in again on Tuesday, this time at the Artic Stadium for what will be the second of three games in a week between the two sides. They are also back at Colston Avenue on Saturday in the FA Trophy.

ROBINS: Bull, Williams, Beeden, Hamilton-Downes, Sankoh, Lamont (Dennis 58), Frimpong, Bradford, Marshall, Giles (Babajide 72), Bassett, Subs Not Used: Witter, Hammond, Koroma, Beere
Cautions: Williams, Lamont, Sankoh

MILLERS: Freeman, Williams, Oshilaja, Lee, Asiedu, Ademiluyi, Black, Vigor, Ibrahiym (Tumkaya 78), Lisbie, Parker (Coombes 69), Subs Not Used: Chambers, Gayle, Anau, Ovenden, Ekpiteta
Cautions: Lisbie, Lee, Williams

Referee: Morgan Conn
Assistants: Fabio Roque and Reece Pinchback

Match Photos: Romana at Inspire Socials
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/photos/fa-cup-carshalton-athletic-v-millers-30923-photos-inspire-socials-1076947.html

Video: Steve McKimm post match interview
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/post-match-interview--steve-mckimm-gives-account-of-thrilling-33-fa-cup-tie-against-carshalton-athletic-194028.html

Video: Match Highlights courtesy of Carshalton Athletic Robins TV
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wWRqqkojLw

Opposition Match Report courtesy of Carshalton Athletic Website:
https://www.carshaltonathletic.co.uk/post/late-penalty-forces-cup-replay

Proper Football Awaydays Vlog:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T8rJQQqES0