MATCH REPORT - Cray Valley PM - 08/11/25

Billericay Town 1 (Collis 36) – Cray Valley Paper Mills 1 (Vigor 69 (pen))

Matthew Vigor’s second-half penalty earned Cray Valley Paper Mills a valuable point at New Lodge, after Billericay defender Ryan Scott was sent off for the second time in as many games. Teddy Collis’ composed first-half finish had given the Blues a deserved lead, but the visitors capitalised on their man advantage to leave Essex with a share of the spoils.

The Millers made the brighter start and almost went ahead after just three minutes when Ola Ogunwamide’s low cross was turned over the bar from close range by Rowan Liburd. At the other end, Freddie Hockey registered Billericay’s first shot on target, though his effort from distance failed to trouble Shaun Rowley in the visiting goal.

Ogunwamide continued to cause problems down the right and forced Sam Donkin into a smart save midway through the half, but once the hosts settled, they began to take control. Rio Oudnie-Morgan was denied from a tight angle by Rowley after 27 minutes before cutting inside and bending an effort just wide of the post soon after.

Billericay’s pressure finally told nine minutes before the break. Elliot Long’s precise through ball split the Cray Valley defence and found Collis, who lifted a composed finish over the advancing Rowley to give the hosts a deserved lead at the interval.

The Blues started the second half strongly, with Jack Evans seeing a free kick comfortably claimed by Rowley, before Collis again went close, curling narrowly wide from the edge of the box on 49 minutes.

Cray Valley began to grow into the contest and almost levelled the score just before the hour when Marvel Ekpiteta’s shot was brilliantly blocked by Jazzi Barnum-Bobb, and Dan Bowry’s follow-up was also deflected away in a crowded penalty area.

The turning point came in the 67th minute when Scott was adjudged to have handled a goalbound effort on the line, earning a straight red card and conceding a penalty. Vigor stepped up and calmly sent Donkin the wrong way from twelve yards to make it 1-1.

The visitors nearly completed the turnaround shortly after, with Kurtis Cumberbatch firing narrowly over from distance, while Billericay substitute Alfie Cerulli was denied late on by an outstanding fingertip save from Rowley. In stoppage time, Daniel Ajakaiye blazed over with the goal at his mercy, as both sides were forced to settle for a point.

Despite playing the final 20 minutes with ten men, Scopes’ side showed resilience to secure a draw in what was an evenly contested encounter under the lights at New Lodge.

Billericay Town: Donkin; Barnum-Bobb, Scott, Johnson, Porter; Owen, Evans (Steward 84); Collis (Nash 58), Long (Miller-Rodney 68), Oudnie-Morgan (Cerulli 66); Hockey (Lewis-Burgess 90)

Subs not used: N/A

Cray Valley Paper Mills: Rowley; Harvey, Bowry, Ekpiteta, Lema; Cumberbatch, Vigor; Ajakaiye, Moore (Beere 73), Ogunwamide (Shomotun 63); Liburd (Akanbi 80)

Subs not used: Black, Waldren

Referee: Henry Harvey

Attendance: 721

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