Jack Hopkins scored a brace as Punjab United beat Cray Valley (PM) in their Isthmian League South East Division battle.
All the goals came in the final ten minutes of the first half in a competitive match on a misty evening in Gravesend.
In the opening exchanges Denzel Gayle got inside the penalty area down the right hand side and drilled a low cross that was kept out by the feet of Punjab goalkeeper Mitchell Beeney before former Miller, Chris Edwards, blasted a free kick unto the defensive wall. Freddie Parker then fed onto a sloppy back-pass but Beeney showed greater conviction and won the tackle before clearing.
Hopkins met a Wayne Bushell corner with a volley that flew well over before Ethan Okechukwu drove in a low diagonal cross at which two Punjab forwards threw themselves with neither able to apply the final touch.
Then the goal flurry started. Cray goalkeeper Harrison Chamberlain miscued a clearance and although Hopkins slipped as he shot from forty-five yards it still floated in with Chamberlain stranded.
Bushell had a free kick beaten round the post before Punjab doubled their lead. Edwards delivered a corner and Bushell forced it over the line at the near post. One minute later, Cray pulled one back. Dan Vaughan’s long pass forward was brought down superbly by Gayle. There didn’t appear much danger for Punjab when he fell, however, he recovered quickly and fired home.
As the match moved into first half stoppage time, Chamberlain made a good save from Okechuckwu. The tricky Punjab wide man took the corner and picked out Hopkins who headed home.
Early in the second half, Parker played Rilwan Hassan through but veteran centre back Ronnie Vint. on his Punjab debut, made an excellent last ditch tackle. Okechuckwu then went on a long run down the left before laying it back to Hopkins. His shot lacked power and Chamberlain saved easily.
Gayle then had a couple of opportunities, first when cutting in and drawing a comfortable save out of Beeney. Then, he burst through and shot for the near post and the Punjab goalkeeper saved well. The Millers had another chance when Oliver Whitby delivered a free kick to the far side and Parker arrived late at the far post to volley low only to be denied by another good Beeney save.
A further chance came and went when Gayle found Chris Dickson whose great first touch was followed by a flick over the bar. Then, at the other end, Hopkins fired well over from twenty-five yards when looking to complete his hat-trick.
Still the Millers probed and they twice hit the frame of the goal in time added on. Marvel Ekpiteta’s shot clipped the angle of bar and post then Bailee Cain’s overhit diagonal pass hit the top of the bar and flew over.
Victory for Punjab took them to fourteenth in the league table, leaping over Cray Valley who dropped to fifteenth.
Punjab United: Beeney; Edwards, W. Bushell, Vint (Dawson 63), Lewin-Thomas; Osei (Ottaway 54), Singh; Okechuckwu, Hopkins, Oluwasemo (Scudder 73); R. Campbell. Subs not used: Mensah, Wood.
Goalscorers: Hopkins (35), (45+3) Bushell (41)
Yellow cards: Osei (45+1 dissent), Okechuckwu (60 failure to retreat), Edwards (61 foul), Singh (66 foul), Ottaway (81 foul)
Cray Valley (PM): Chamberlain; Allan (Cain 55), Vaughan, Ekpiteta, Sankoh (Okoye 69); Agyemang (Shokunbi 69), Whitby; Gayle, Hassan (Dickson 59), Kirby; Parker. Sub not used: Santanna.
Goal scorer: Gayle (42)
Yellow cards: Vaughan (17 foul), Allan (23 foul)
Referee: Simon Cutler
Assistant Referees: Kennedy Kikulwe and Max Doyle
Attendance: 141
Images courtesy of Romana Rule