The young Millers suffered heartache with Margate going through to the final after winning the penalty shoot out 4-3. The game finished 1-1 with Cray scoring a fully deserved 90th minute equaliser when Ryan Penton's superbly struck free kick from 25 yards out beat the keeper into the top right hand corner of the net. Click link to view: https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/videos/u23-dev-ryan-penton-free-kick--90th-minute-equaliser-178298.html

The game started badly for Cray when the Gate took an early lead in the 5th minute. Cray's keeper Alex Nika saw his clearance go direct to a blue shirt in the centre and from fully 40 yards a well hit lob proceeded to go over his head as he tried to backtrack from the edge of the box and into an empty net. 1-0

Cray were stunned but slowly found their way back into the game. A deflected shot wizzed past the post and away for a corner in the 15th minute and on 26 minutes Jamie Obianigwe fired in a decent shot from outside the box which went just over the bar. The Gate also threatened and Alex Nika did well to punch clear a dangerous looking in swinging corner. Nika was called into action again shortly after, coming out to thwart a one on one. Half time 1-0

Second half and Cray started brightly and were very much on top for a period creating and going close on a number of occasions. Ryan Penton put in a useful cross from the right but Blake Froud's header was off target. Shortly after an equaliser seemed likely but despite the close attention of three green shirts the ball stayed out.

The Gate broke and saw their shot go wide. However it was Cray who continued to search for the equaliser, a Jamie Obiangwe shot hit the side netting and Ryan Penton drove into the area laying the ball back for Rasheed Tasani but his shot was well saved by Tom Paris in the gate goal. With ten minutes remaining another Cray effort following a corner bounced off the post and minutes later Tom Paris produced another great save this time from a Harry Smith effort close in.

As Cray pushed forward it was inevitable that the Gate would have opportunities on the break and on one such occasion some desperate and excellent defending from Cray prevented them from making the game safe. With two minutes remaining Rasheed Tasani appeared to be fouled by the keeper but the appeal was turned down. Teddy Baughen who hadn't been on long as a substitute was shown a red card, presumably for protesting too much.

With seconds remaining Cray were awarded a free kick 25 yards out and fully deserved the resulting equaliser as described earlier. 1-1
Full Time whistle blown almost immediately after the re-start and it was straight to penalties to decide who would go through.

Penalty shoot out: Margate went first and proceeded to score their first three, Ryan Penton and Connor Dobson scored for Cray before Alex Nika, who had been successful in an earlier round shoot out at Tunbridge Wells, saw his shot saved by Tom Paris. Alex then returned between the sticks and proceeded to make a great save as the Gate missed their fourth penalty. With the shoot out now 3-3 it was sudden death. The gate scored and then It fell to Josiah Jones who unfortunately saw his shot saved by the keeper and Margate had won.

The young Millers will understandably be disappointed at losing a semi final but can be proud of their efforts on the night and came so close to glory.

Cray Valley line up: Nika, Froud (Jones 84), Hopper (Baughen 60), Dobson, Potter, Dean, Joyce, Obianigwe, Smith (capt), Tasani, Penton. Subs not used: Pilarczyk, Jarvis.

Funny aside: Spot the difference - what’s missing? Cray had a bit of fun and took to Twitter to mock the hosts lack of chivalry as the Cray bench including physio Courtney Dobson was left to sit out in the open due to the absence of an away dug out. Apparently it had been damaged in storm Eunice back in February. Fortunately it was a mild evening and the rain at the end was only slight. Margate’s secretary did in fact apologise the next day.