Two dogged teams cancelled each other out as Cray Valley (PM)’s rearranged game with Lewes in the Isthmian League Premier Division ended in stalemate.
In early December, the original match was abandoned thirteen minutes from the end due to a serious injury to a serious injury to the Rooks’ Marcel McIntosh. Feelings ran high and Cray’s Tom Beere was dismissed for the challenge however, video evidence showed that it was not a bad tackle and the red card was rescinded.
At the time, Lewes were two-nil up, and probably felt that they were on their way to victory. However, they were two up in their following game at home to Dulwich Hamlet with fourteen minutes remaining, and ended up drawing so there could be no arguing that the F.A. had no option other than to order the match to be replayed.
Early on, Lewes looked dangerous and Harrison Chamberlain had to be alert to tip over a shot by Alfie Allen. That resulted in the first of four corners for the visitors in the early exchanges before Chamberlain made a comfortable save from Hamilton Antonio.
Then, at the other end, Freddie Parker did well to knock down to Dan Bowry and his first time shot fizzed over. However, Lewes continued to ask the questions with Marcus Sablier pulling the strings. He picked out Jack Meeres with another corner and the Lewes defender should probably have done better with his header that missed the target.
Marcel Barrington shot well wide for the hosts before Chamberlain made two regulation saves from Tolu Ladapo and Izzy Jones respectively. Kenny Aileru then had a shot half blocked and saved by Lewes goalkeeper Toby Bull before the first half fizzled out.
After the interval, Tom Chambers launched a long, high free kick forward and Parker got in behind his marker but could not keep his header down. Bull then made the best save of the match, a brilliant reaction push away, to keep out Aileru’s snapshot from ten yards out.
Neither side was able to create another chance until the last fifteen minutes when Bowry’s header from Beere’s free kick was saved comfortably by Bull then Julien Anau’s flick from Chambers’ cross flew over.
As the game moved into stoppage time, Bowry had a shot saved after Barrington’s cross was half cleared then, at the other end, Calvin Ekpiteta’s cross hit Shae Hutchinson and rebounded into the arms of Chamberlain. Parker had one last half chance from another Chambers cross but his volley flew over.
Despite dropping two points, the Millers are still in fifth place in the Isthmian Premier Division, just one point behind league leaders Dartford.
Cray Valley PM: Chamberlain, Williams, Chambers, Black (Anau 70), Oshilaja, Bowry, Cumberbatch, Beere, Parker, Barrington, Aileru (Shomotun 74).
Subs not used: Coombes, Coker, Waldren.
Goalscorers: None
Yellow cards: None
Lewes: Bull, Jones, Warren, Antonio, Spinks, Meeres, Bassett (Jalloh 75), Sablier, Hutchinson, Antonio (Ekpiteta 66), Ladopo (King 66).
Subs not used: Kaiser, Finney.
Goal scorers: None
Yellow cards: Ladapo (19 foul), Warren (90+4 delay of play)
Referee: Jordan Crossley
Assistants: Yashar Yekta and Harry Demo
Attendance: 413
Pictures supplied by Romana Rule.