Two early goals steered Cray Valley PM to victory over Welling United in the first round of the London Senior Cup.

Both managers used the game as an opportunity to give fringe squad members and youngsters playing time. Cray manager Steve McKimm made eight changes to the team that started against Canvey Island three days earlier.

Welling manager, Rod Stringer, also used different personnel with six starting who hadn’t done so three days earlier, and he also tried a different formation. 

In just the fourth minute the hosts went ahead. Ibby Akanbi’s shot was beaten out by Welling goalkeeper Kai McKenzie-Lyle and Emmanuel Adebiyi was quickest to the rebound to fire home.

Eleven minutes later, the Millers scored again. Fumnayo Shomotun broke down the right wing and cut in before firing inside the far post from twenty yards.

Cory Adjetey-Brew had Welling’s first shot on target from twenty yards but Shaun Rowley got down well to push it around the post before Akanbi caused Welling more problems when rounding McKenzie-Lyle but the angle was too tight and he couldn’t turn it home.

Scott Simmons shot over for the Wings from twenty-five yards, then Rowley saved well from Luke Allen after Christian Scott’s free kick was knocked out. Welling again worried the hosts shortly before half time when Adjetey-Brew burst forward and had a shot beaten out by Rowley.

Shortly after the restart, the hosts were awarded a penalty when Shomotun was brought down by Liam Boxall. However, McKenzie-Lyle went the right way and smothered Akanbi’s spot kick. Then, an almost identical challenge at the other end by Jerry Puemo on Adjetey-Brew looked like a penalty should have been awarded but this time, the referee thought otherwise.

Adjetey-Brew continued to cause problems and his deep cross picked out substitute John Ufuah who headed downwards and it bounced up for Rowley to claim.

Just under twenty minutes remained when Welling pulled one back. Adjetey-Brew delivered a corner and Logan Dobbs met it with a towering header that gave Rowley no chance as it went in off the post.

Josh Redfearn had a shot saved by Rowley, however, the hosts weren’t really troubled again after that and might have made the game safe with a couple of opportunities of their own. First Akanbi landed a header from Shomotun’s cross on the roof of the net then Michael Aileru fired wide of the far post.  

As a reward for their victory, the Millers will host Queen’s Park Rangers under 21s in the second round on a date to be agreed.

Cray Valley PM: Rowley; Harvey, Puemo, Benedict, Lema (Kpakpe 46); Cumberbatch (Jeffrey 83), Holness; Shomotun, Adebiyi (Stuart-Forde 73), Aileru; Akanbi (Barrington 83).

Sub not used: Vigor.

Goalscorers: Adebiyi (4), Shomotun (15)

Yellow cards: None 

Welling United: McKenzie-Lyle; Simmons, Dobbs, Boxall; Williams-Bushell (Ufuah 57), Thomas, Scott (Paxman 46), Allen, Adjetey-Brew (McIntosh 86); Leahy (Akinwande 73), Redfearn.

Sub not used: Majoyegbe.

Goalscorer: Dobbs (72)

Yellow cards: None

Referee: Tommy Breen

Assistants: Jerahl Hall and Robert Maris

Attendance: 150

Pictures supplied by Kieran North