A Cup Too Far - Millers Crash Out

A CUP TOO FAR - MILLERS CRASH OUT

KENT SENIOR CUP SECOND ROUND - 17 OCTOBER 2023 -
PUNJAB UNITED 3 CRAY VALLEY (PM) 0
GOALS: PU - Scudder 55, Vines 61, Edwards 90

A Cup too far saw the Millers crash out. A disjointed and under-par performance from the Millers on the first real chilly night of the season ended in a first defeat of the season against a spirited and up for it Punjab United in the Kent Senior Cup. it was also the first time in sixteen games the Millers have failed to score.

No tears will be shed about the result or the cup exit with the return of league action on Saturday and much bigger cup games on the horizon. Nevertheless manager Steve McKimm will not be pleased with the overall performance and the fact that a couple of injuries were picked up with both Julien Anau and Tom Chambers having to leave the field of play.

There were a few positives with four of our U18 Isthmian side starting and gaining valuable experience, so well done to those young lads. The first half failed to produce any real clear cut chances at either end and it was until added time that the Millers had their first shot on goal, Denzel Gayle finding Victor Damyanov on the edge of the box but his effort was well over the top.

Punjab went close at the start of the second half, Cemil Tumkaya getting back to clear off the line and then took the lead in the 55th minute, a low cross form the right evaded everyone and Hudson Scudder finished, firing back across goal at the far post. Six minutes later former Miller Paul Vines made it two, utilising all his experience to latch onto a long ball and finish past Max Ovenden in goal. The Millers rallied briefly near the end but to cap a bad night at the office Freddie Parker was sent off and in the dying moments another former Miller Chris Edwards fired home a free kick from just outside the box into the bottom corner to complete the scoring.

Millers: Ovenden, Turner, Tumkaya, Hutchings, Chambers, Gayle (c), Gilchrist, Anau (Vigor 46), Damyanov (Parker 80), Ekpetita, Coombes Subs Not Used: Ademiluyi, Ibrahiym
Cautions: Tumkaya, Parker
Sent Off: Parker

Punjab: Bushell O, Bushell W, Dythe, Barry, Ratcliff, Campbell (Edwards 21), Suiyan, London (Scudder43), Vines, Nyadzayo, Pinto (Bloomfield 71) Suns Not Used: Shane, Proberts
Cautions: Suiyan

Video: Post Match Interview with Steve McKimm
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/post-match-interview--steve-mckimm-reflects-on-a-30-loss-to-punjab-united-in-the-kent-senior-cup-171023-194796.html