THE AWAY END - Cray Valley PM

CRAY VALLEY PAPER MILLS

Nickname: The Millers
Manager: Steve McKimm
Stadium: The Artic Stadium
Capacity: 1,550

Cray Valley Paper Mills are the visitors to New Lodge this afternoon for another Isthmian Premier League clash. Steve McKimm’s side have endured a difficult run of form in recent weeks and will be hoping to secure a first league victory since the end of September here in Essex today.

The Millers currently sit 19th in the table with 12 points from 14 games. Like the Blues, they were in midweek action on Tuesday, but it proved a night to forget as they fell to a 4-1 home defeat against Aveley, extending their winless league run to six matches. Goals have also been hard to come by, with just five scored across that same period.

Away from The Artic Stadium, Cray Valley have taken seven points from five league fixtures, recording two wins, one draw, and two defeats. However, their FA Cup and FA Trophy campaigns both ended on the road, with exits at Tonbridge Angels and Sittingbourne respectively.

In attack, Ibby Akanbi leads the line with eight goals in all competitions this season, supported by Matthew Vigor (five), and Tom Beere and Daniel Ajakaiye (four each). This afternoon also sees the return of several familiar faces to New Lodge, with Rowan Liburd, Marvel Ekpiteta, Kurtis Cumberbatch, and treble-winning captain Danny Waldren all set to face their former club.

The Blues took four points from the two meetings last season, drawing 1-1 in Kent in September 2024 before a 2-1 victory at New Lodge in February, courtesy of goals from Bradley Williams and Femi Akinwande.


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