Cray Valley PM 0 Tonbridge Angels 0

Match 26/25/2369 - Saturday, 27th September 2025 - FA Cup 3QR

Cray Valley PM (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Attendance: 470
Admission: Pass
Mileage: 90/1,903

Tonbridge Angels and Cray Valley PM will have to do it all again on Tuesday evening at the Yeomans Community Stadium as a dour FA Cup Third Qualifying Round tie ended goalless.

Alan Dunne’s first game in charge of the Angels brought defensive stability but a lack of a cutting edge in the final third from both sides also brought a comfortable afternoon for the goalkeepers.

The FA Cup, Dunne’s first game, an intriguing first meeting with ex-Angels manager Steve McKimm and the fairly close proximity of the visit brought a large following of Angels supporters to the Artic Stadium, where they probably made up in excess of half of the attendance.

A minute’s silence was respected before the game for the Chichester City player, Billy Vigar, who tragically died this week.

Alan’s first starting XI saw new loan signing Sam German introduced into the back three with Bailey Akehurst and Scott Wagstaff, returning from suspension, for Ben Mundele and Marcus Sablier who dropped to the bench with Alfie Allen injured.

Tonbridge kicked down the pronounced slope in the first half and brought the first save of the half from Shaun Peart-Rowley after nine minutes when Bobby Unwin’s shot was saved, low to his left.

Cray Valley responded with an effort from their captain Barney Williams that, at first, seemed to be sailing high over the bar, but dipped alarmingly.

Chances were very much at a premium, and the best opportunity of the first half, perhaps the best chance of the game, came on 21 minutes when a low cross from the left from Kenny Aileru found its way to the far post where ex-Angel Ibby Akanbi slid in, but his touch only turned the ball wide of the post.

In terms of possession, the Angels dominated but this failed to produce much in the way of goalmouth action with shots from Unwin and Jordan Higgs clearing the bar.

If anything, going up the slope in the second period seemed to suit the visitors better with Brody Peart asking a decent save of the goalkeeper and Unwin pulling a shot wide in the opening 10 minutes.

But the game returned to its dogged battle as Alan Dunne rang the changes in an effort to find the spark that would find the single goal, that it appeared would decide the game. Matty Warren and Brandon Pierrick were introduced for Wagstaff and Unwin just past the hour, Bumni Babajide replacing Eddie Simon on 71 minutes and Sablier on for Bradley Williams.

Pierrick tested Peart-Rowley with six minutes remaining and when Higgs’ free kick sailed over the stand, it rather summed up the afternoon’s attacking output from both sides.

Alan Dunne was, nevertheless pleased with his team’s efforts given the nature of the build-up: “They worked tirelessly right to the end. It has been a difficult week, coming in on Monday with only two sessions in which to work on a change of shape, but after the first 15 minutes in which we adapted, there was only one team in it. These games are never easy, cup football is different with a one-off game. We are disappointed not to win, but the replay for us is important.”

Cray Valley PM 0 Tunbridge Wells 0

Match 85/15/1290 - Wednesday, 6th April 2016 - SCEFL

Cray Valley PM (0) 0
Tunbridge Wells (0) 0
Attendance: 64

Entrance: £5 Senior
Programme: £1
Mileage: 82/6,161

Spring quickly turned back to winter as a biting wind not only took away much of the pleasure of spectating but also, along with an uneven surface, proved too much for either side to produce a great deal in terms of quality. Sadly, a very poor game ensued although Tunbridge Wells can rightly take great satisfaction in another clean sheet.

Tunbridge Wells opened the game kicking down the considerable slope at the Badgers and, with both sides cancelling each other out, it took until the 37th minute for a clear cut opportunity to arise. Jack Howlett got clear of the back line but lofted his shot over the advancing Rob French but also over the bar.

Cray Valley responded a minute later when Marcus Elliott guided a header wide and in time added, Rory Hill's free kick needed Steve Lawrence's intervention; at least the half was finishing on a relative high.

Ryan Crandley, who continues to impress with his direct running, was just off target after 75 minutes and after 81 minutes Hill brought a brilliant, low save from Lawrence plunging to his right to keep the scoreline goalless.

Into the last five and the game finally sprang into life. Elliott went close for Cray Valley and, in the first of three quickfire chances, Howlett shot over.

A corner was spilt by French but he recovered to touch Perry Spackman's effort over the bar and in the final throes of the evening, a defence splitting pass from Stephen Ikpeme gave Howlett one last opportunity which he pulled agonisingly wide. Every time I've seen Ikpeme I've been more than impressed and it bemuses me why he is not picked every game, but I'm not seeing every performance.

Speaking to supporters last night, with only two games to go, this is a season in which they will be glad to see ended. The club are about to embark on a new chapter under new stewardship following the resignation of chairman, Clive Maynard. Stability must be the watchword, next season cannot see a repeat of the revolving door of players. A clear policy is needed, if the budget only allows youth, that is the way it has to be and to stick with it.

Cray Valley (PM) 1 Tunbridge Wells 1

Match 14/13/1041 - Tuesday, 13th August 2013 - Southern Counties East

Cray Valley (PM) (0) 1 Springett 60
Tunbridge Wells (0) 1 Spackman 85
Att. 80

Entrance: £5 Senior
Programme: Included in entrance
Mileage: 66/1,026
New Ground: 256

Match Report

This was a game that will fall into the "No quarter asked and no quarter given" category as two teams, both with aspirations of winning the Southern Counties East Football League this season, fought a feisty encounter.

Cray Valley (PM) will be feeling the greater aggrieved of the two, having had two men sent off and hotly disputing Tunbridge Wells' equalising goal with only five minutes left on the clock, but the home side were victims of their own making.

Midway through the first half, Cray's livewire centre forward, Adam Marsh tangled with Perry Spackman and, despite the protestations that contact had barely been made, a raised hand generally means a card of some sort, and on this occasion a yellow sufficed. Treading a fine line, a few minutes later, Marsh impeded the taking of a free kick and the referee brandished the red card to the furious striker.

Cray had enjoyed the better of the first half, the two strikers, diminutive in height, but quick and a real handful are going to cause headaches for most of the defences at this level. Unfortunately, the only headache that is caused, is to your own manager when you are going to spend an hour or so on the sidelines.

Against the run of play, Jack Harris was brought down in the area and the referee duly awarded the spot kick. Tom Davey, appearing to be the reluctant taker, shot wide of the target to reprieve the home side.

On the hour, a cross lofted into the box was met with a glancing header from Steve Springett to give the 10 men of Cray a deserved lead.

Despite the appeals from the Cray management team on the sidelines to keep out of the referee's face, they continued to harangue the official and when Josh Stanford was upended, the offender was shown a second yellow card to reduce the home side to nine men.

Tunbridge Wells now had to gamble and Spackman was sent forward in a desperate attempt to retrieve something from the game and with five minutes remaining they got their reward in a controversial manner. A corner appeared to be dropped by goalkeeper, Bobby Sturgeon, under pressure from Spackman and the ball ended up in the net. Furious protestations ensued as the Cray Valley players felt that the makeshift centre forward had pulled at the arm of the keeper causing the fumble but the referee was unmoved.

The points were shared at the final whistle of this feisty match and one would suspect that when these teams meet again in October at Culverden another spicy, very watchable encounter will ensue.