Cray Valley (Paper Mills) 3-1 Burgess Hill Town - It's a good trait to have, if you cannot play well and win games, says play-off chasing Cray Valley boss Tommy Osborne

Cray Valley (Paper Mills) 3 – 1 Burgess Hill Town
Location	Badgers Sports Ground, Middle Park Avenue, Eltham, London SE9 5HT
Kickoff	01/04/2023 15:00

CRAY VALLEY (PAPER MILLS)  3-1  BURGESS HILL TOWN
Isthmian League South East Division
Saturday 1 April 2023
Stephen McCartney reports form Middle Park Avenue

CRAY VALLEY (Paper Mills) manager Tommy Osborne says Burgess Hill Town gave his side a scare and that he was very impressed with Lewis Taylor’s side despite them being in the bottom five in the Isthmian League South East Division table.

The Millers bounced back from their 2-0 defeat at Whitehawk last weekend to leapfrog over inactive Beckenham Town into fourth-place in the pecking order with 59 points from their 34 games, while Burgess Hill Town are still looking over their shoulder with their local rivals Haywards Heath Town beating Sheppey United 2-1 at home to go level on 35 points with four games remaining.

Cray Valley took the lead inside the opening five minutes, courtesy of an own goal from Burgess Hill Town’s captain, centre-half Josh Spinks before the away side controlled the game from minute 20 until the moment when Cray Valley grabbed a second goal on the stroke of half-time through talented left-winger Ade Adeyemo, who broke away before slotting in his fourteenth goal of the season.

Burgess Hill Town striker Dan Perry headed in his 28^th goal of the season with 20 minutes remaining, before Cray Valley headed in a flatting third goal through attacking midfielder Daniel Bennett, who notched his 17^th goal of the season.

Despite chalking off their 18^th league win of the season, there was plenty of negatives from Cray Valley’s first half performance, as they treated the football like a hot potato with centre-half Mitchell Nelson and Bennett the key stand-out culprits of often giving the ball away.

Taylor arrived in Eltham having lost his first two games in charge of Burgess Hill Town following the departure of Erith & Belvedere bound manager Matt Longhurst, having lost 2-1 at Faversham Town and 1-0 at home to Chatham Town.

“Pleased with the win obviously, I think in terms of our performance, certainly in the first half was below the standards we’ve set this year,” admitted Osborne.

“I thought we were sloppy in our play and I felt that Burgess Hill were the better team in the first half.

“We’ve gone 2-0 up but we’ve played so much better this season than that.  We’ve played below the standards we’ve set, certainly in the first half and I was disappointed with our performance.

“We’re going in at half-time 2-0 up but your team talk is quite negative.  I’m not going to be too harsh on the lads because there hasn’t been too many times this season where we’ve had to say that to them.  In fact there’s been quite a few times this season where we’ve dominated games or been the better side and not even came away with a point.

“As disappointed as I was with the performance, they did show a little bit of character, which I need to give them credit for because it’s a good trait to have if you cannot play well and win games and we’ve done that a little bit today.”

Cray Valley took the lead with four minutes and 41 seconds on the clock following the first of their four corners.

Bennett swung the ball in from the right and visiting goalkeeper Will Huffer dropped the ball before Kiki Oshilaja played the ball back to Bennett, who shifted the ball past his marker inside the box and put the ball back into the six-yard box where Spinks turned the ball into the bottom right-hand corner at the near post.

“Do you know what’s disappointing? We didn’t kick on from that. I felt from that point onwards the goal, as early in the game as it was, Burgess Hill sort of grew in confidence,” added Osborne.

“We score an early goal like that, going down the hill, I would like us to be on the front foot and play at a good tempo on and off the ball and we didn’t, so that was quite disappointing.”

Burgess Hill Town recovered from their early set-back and Cray Valley’s players started getting sloppy, often giving the ball away in key areas of the pitch and letting their opponents control proceedings after the halfway point.

Cray Valley holding midfielder Sonny Black gave the ball away and opposing midfielder George Griffiths played the ball inside to an unmarked Perry, who took a touch before hitting a right-footed drive towards goal from 30-yards, which was comfortably saved in the midriff of goalkeeper Chris Lewington, stationed in the centre of his goal.

“We actually mentioned Chris Lewington after the game today.  My assistant Paul Lorraine sort of sung Chris’ praises because he’s made some really good saves today at vital times. He earned his money today,” added Osborne.

Left-winger Josiah Bridgeman cut the ball on to his right foot and curled a shot from just outside the left-corner of the Millers’ box around the far post, after the ball was worked back to him after the home side initially cleared a cross from left-back Martyn Box.

Dominant Burgess Hill Town were to be denied a deserved equaliser in the 37^th minute when the woodwork saved Lewington.

Nelson gave the ball away in his defensive third and turned his back thinking the ball had gone out of play. It hadn’t and holding midfielder Kieran Rowe played the ball down the line for right-winger Max Miller to cut the ball back from the by-line towards the far post for Bridgeman to sweep his right-footed shot past the diving goalkeeper and pinging against the left-hand post.

“Mitch gave the ball away, that summed our performance up a little bit, not just Mitchell but in terms of our passing and our decision making,” said Osborne.

“We were having too many touches of the football, we wasn’t moving it quickly and that summed up our first half display today.”

Cray Valley were a threat on the counter-attack and right-back Oshilaja picked up the ball on the half-way line and drove down hill towards the by-line before clipping the ball towards the head of winger Denzel Gayle, who failed to find the far corner.

Osborne said: “That was a good move.  Even though we didn’t play particularly well today, we actually still created five or six chances so that is one positive I will take from the game today.   We have got that pace and athleticism on the break and that was an example of that,”

Burgess Hill Town went close to scoring again just 24 seconds into stoppage time after Black was penalised by referee Craig Barnett for fouling Rowe as he charged towards the D.

Attacking midfielder Lewis Finney bent his right-footed free-kick around the four-man wall and Lewington was scrambling across the goal and was relieved when the ball flashed just past the foot of the right-hand post.

“It’s funny because from the dug-out we actually didn’t see how close that was. It was only in the dressing room at half-time when Chrissy Lewington said that was extremely close, so we was unaware how close that was,” added Osborne.

Cray Valley had grabbed their second goal – totally against the run of play – with a clinical counter-attack with 46:09 on the clock.

Lewington’s kick was hooked forward by Bennett, inside the Burgess Hill Town half and close to the base of the centre circle, releasing Adeyemo.

Spinks opened the gate and a ruthless Adeyemo slotted his right-footed shot across the outstretched left leg of goalkeeper Huffer to roll the ball into the bottom far corner from 20-yards.

“I think that was a big, I wouldn’t say turning point in the game, that’s a big moment in the game there, scoring against-the-run-of-play, really against-the-run-of-play,” said Osborne.

“Last week when we played Whitehawk, that happened to us.  I actually felt we was on top in that first half (last weekend) and Whitehawk scored right on the stroke of half-time and it is a big moment in a game. It gives the other team a big lift and the team that concedes, it can mentally affect you.”

The two-nil scoreline was harsh on Burgess Hill Town and Osborne revealed he had words with his men during the half-time interval along with his assistant manager Paul Lorraine.

“There’s not been too many times where I’ve had to go in there and sort of let my feelings known too much,” revealed Osborne.

“I did think there was an improvement in the second half. I still think it was below standards and it’s very difficult to put your finger on why.

“I probably can’t say in this interview what was said in the dressing room but me and Paul had to sort of let our feelings known because there needed to be an improvement in the second half.

“I still think that we can play a lot better than that.  What I will say, at this stage of the season when it’s so close you’re going to take points over performance but there’s definitely room for improvement.”

The Hillans’ switched formation at the break, going with a back three.  Miller was sacrificed for substitute Syed Irtiza Ali, who played on the right, Spinks played in the central, with Nathan Daly on the other side.

Cray Valley produced a vastly better second half performance and were to be denied a third goal in the 14^th minute, thanks to an excellent save from Huffer.

Left-back Tom Chambers floated a deep free-kick towards the back post, the ball was knocked across the face of goal in the air towards the other post where his central defensive partner Cem Tumkaya rose to loop his header towards goal, only for the goalkeeper to get down low to his left and use a strong left hand to push the ball away.

“I mean we did get a very good view of that from the dug-out and the keeper has done so well because it looked like all of his weight was going the other way. I was actually celebrating, I’ve got to admit, so it was an extremely good save from the keeper there,” said Osborne.

The Millers then rattled the crossbar just on the hour-mark through 16-goal striker Adam Coombes.

Chambers and Adeyemo linked up well down the left before Chambers put in a cross towards the centre of the box and Coombes’ first time shot from eight-yards crashed against the underside of the crossbar.

“I actually felt that was a really good move from us. That was probably our best move of the game,” said Osborne.

“It came at Coombsie quite quick. It was quite a reactive finish but I’m sort of saying I’m disappointed with our performance but we created chances today, which is a positive.

“I’ll have to speak to Coombsie, it came at him quite quick, maybe he could’ve done a bit better with that?”

Lewington was called into action with 23:52 on the clock, before Perry headed in his 28^th goal of the season just 13 seconds later as Burgess Hill Town pulled a deserved goal back.

They produced a well-worked move with right-wing-back Ward and Griffiths linking up before Perry was played in and his swept shot from 16-yards was blocked by Lewington’s left-leg.

However, Ward put a long recycled diagonal cross back into the box and an unmarked Perry headed the ball into the bottom right-hand corner after getting in between the two centre-halves.

Osborne said: “Chris has made two or three really good saves and made a couple with his feet and what’s disappointing is Chris has got us our of jail, making the save initially and then straight away after the save we’ve conceded, which is disappointing because after Chris made that save really we should re-set and get organised and stop that chance coming in.”

When it was put to the Millers manager that Burgess Hill Town had given his side a scare, Osborne admitted: “Absolutely!  I actually felt they were one of the better teams that we’ve played here at our place. 

“I thought they moved the ball very confidently, I thought they had good movement and we found it very difficult at times to deal with their shape and movement.

“We had to speak about it at half-time. We had to try to readjust off the ball and I was very impressed with them today.”

The Millers scored a flattering third goal with 31 minutes and 3 seconds on the clock, following a spell of pressure and the away side putting their bodies on the line with penalty box blocks.

However, Adeyemo cut the ball onto his right foot from within the left channel and put in a great cross where Bennett headed down and into the bottom right-hand corner from 12-yards.

“What Dan does really well, he can get into the box unmarked, he’s been doing it all season,” said Osborne.

“He’s very cute and clever with his play. He’s got a very good football brain and he deserved his goal.

“He’s not played as much football as he’s liked so all credit to Dan today. He’s come in and had a real impact.”

Bennett was originally listed as a substitute but was a late replacement for the nine-goal Hassan Ibrahiym.

Osborne revealed: “Hassan was ill and he was getting worse and worse leading up to kick-off so we had to make a decision at about ten to three so Hass missed out today. 

“That’s why you’ve got a squad, we’ve got 15-16 players and you’ve got to trust all of them.”

Burgess Hill Town put in a performance that was worthy of a side pushing for promotion – not trying to avoid the relegation play-offs and Lewington had to be alert to make a couple of late saves.

The 33-year-old had to get down low to his left to prevent Griffiths from drilling a low shot towards the bottom near corner after another well-worked move from the away side, before he made a smart save at his near-post to prevent Perry flicking in a cross from left-wing-back Box.

“We’ve won 3-1 today but Chris has been our best player and that sort of tells you that Burgess Hill have come here and really had a go and I’ve been realty impressed with them today,” added Osborne.

Chatham Town beat Whitehawk 2-1, thanks to Jack Evans’ last-gasp penalty, to return to the summit with 67 points with four games remaining.

Ramsgate – whose game at Chichester City was called off today and has been swiftly re-arranged for Tuesday 4 April – have slipped down a place with 66 points, but with a game in hand on Kevin Hake’s side.

Whitehawk remain in third-place on 61 points with five games remaining, while Cray Valley are now in fourth-place, leapfrogging over Beckenham Town (whose game at home to Faversham Town was called off), who have 59 points and with a game in hand.

Ashford United (57 points), Sheppey United (55), Hythe Town (55) and Sevenoaks Town (51, with a game in hand) cannot be ruled out for grabbing a play-off place.

Meanwhile, towards the bottom, Burgess Hill Town are above the relegation play-off on 35 points with four games remaining, the play-off zone contains Haywards Heath Town (35) and Grant Basey’s VCD Athletic (34, with a game in hand).

Faversham Town (24 points, with five games left) and Corinthian (23 points with five games left) remain rooted within the relegation zone.

Cray Valley travel to Sevenoaks Town next Saturday, before hosting VCD Athletic on Easter Monday, before travelling to Chatham Town on Saturday 15 April, before completing their league campaign at home to Sheppey United seven days later.

“I honestly think it’s going to go to the last game of the season.  I think it could come down to goal-difference who gets in those play-offs or not, it’s ultra tight and I don’t see it changing,” said Osborne.

“I don’t think anyone is going to run away with it. I think even the teams that are outside the play-offs now will still be looking at it and think they can get in there.

“I really fancied Sevenoaks to be in and around the play-offs, I really did and it’s going to be a difficult game.

“You look at today, we’ve played Burgess Hill, who were fifth-bottom and they gave such a good account of themselves.  I think this League is more competitive this season than its ever been so going to Sevenoaks next Saturday is going to be an extremely difficult game for us.

“We have, on paper, probably the hardest run-in out of everybody else.  We play every game thinking we can win. It’s four extremely tough games but if we apply ourselves right and we put in a good performance, I think we can give ourselves a chance.”

Osborne was asked to predict the five clubs that will finish the 38-match campaign in the top four – and insists finishing in the play-offs last season will stand his side in good stead for the end-of-season play-offs.

“No chance! No chance! I don’t even know whose going to win the league!  You don’t even know who’s going to get in that top five!

“It’s the most competitive it’s been, it’s the tightest it’s been. I’ve got no chance of predicting that!”

Osborne added: “We will try to use that (losing at Ashford United in the Play-Off Semi-finals) to our advantage. We’ve got four or five lads in the dressing room that have been involved with promotions and been involved in play-offs.  We can draw from our experience from last year and that’s something that we will use as a tool to try to get in those play-off spots.”

Cray Valley (Paper Mills): Chris Lewington, Kiki Oshilaja, Tom Chambers (Ayo Majekodunmi 90), Alex Bentley (Kershaney Samuels 65), Mitchell Nelson, Cem Tumkaya, Ade Adeyemo, Sonny Black, Adam Coombes, Daniel Bennett (Julien Anau 77), Denzel Gayle.
Subs: Vinnie Medhurst, Hassan Ibrahiym

Goals: Josh Spinks 5 (own goal), Ade Adeyemo 45, Daniel Bennett 77

Burgess Hill Town: Will Huffer, Reggie Ward, Martyn Box, Kieran Rowe, Josh Spinks, Nathan Daly, Josiah Bridgeman (Hayden Skerry 73), George Griffiths, Dan Perry, Lewis Finney (David Martin 60), Max Miller (Syed Irtiza Ali 58).
Subs: Connor Tighe, Kai Brown

Goal: Dan Perry 70

Booked: Lewis Finney 10, Syed Irtiza Ali 58, Hayden Skerry 80, Kieran Rowe 90

Attendance: 234
Referee:  Mr Craig Barnett
Assistants: Mr Craig Wood & Mr James Goodman