The Fleet booked their place in the next round of the GoCardless Kent Senior Cup with a commanding 4–1 victory away at Cray Valley. Josh Wright made a host of changes, with his starting eleven completely different from the one that started Saturday’s home game, ahead of another cup game this coming weekend.
A strong start to the first-half saw an early corner for the visitors when Lennon Peake’s effort from distance was deflected wide.
Dom Samuel’s return to the side saw him instantly involved in the action as he struck one from the edge of the area, collected by goalkeeper Dan Smith.
The lively start continued as quick play from the Fleet gave Charlie Seaman a chance to release a ball into the path of Josh Coley who dragged a shot wide.
Seaman continued to be a threat down the right to the Millers and a free-kick from 25 yards out clipped the woodwork.
A repeat performance from a Seaman set-piece on 35 minutes broke the deadlock after Finlay Barnes’ run across the box was stopped illegally. Seaman delivered the perfect strike to leave Smith stranded and put the Fleet in front.
That lead would soon be doubled as the goalscorer became the provider – a low ball from the right by Seaman was met by George Moncur who arrived in the area to stab the ball home for the Fleet’s second of the evening.
Minutes before half-time, Dom Samuel joined in on the act as he reacted quickly to Moncur’s rebounded effort to stroke the ball past Smith to make it 3-0 to the Fleet right before the interval.
That was the last action of the first 45 and it was a lively affair once again on the restart. Franklin Domi returned from six months on the sidelines as he replaced Samuel and almost marked the occasion with a goal of his own when he stretched for Seaman’s cross to the far post. His effort was inches wide. At the other end, Gio Bellagambi collected a strong shot from the hosts to keep his clean sheet intact.
A consolation goal for Cray Valley arrived with 15 minutes remaining as Matty Vigor did well to pick out the top right corner with a strike from distance.
The Fleet’s three-goal advantage was soon restored as substitute Aaron Cosgrave closed in on goal to slot the ball past Smith to round off a professional night for the visiting side.
There’s more cup action for the Fleet this Saturday against Solihull Moors in the Emirates FA Cup with a place in Round One awaiting the winners.
EUFC: Bellagambi, Seaman, Manktelow, Fielding, Nelson, Kennedy, Barnes (Cosgrave 74), Peake, Moncur, Coley, Samuel (Domi 46). Subs: Edser, Olagunju, Cousins
CVPM: Smith, Williams (Harvey 55), Cumberbatch (Vigor 67), Barrington, Holness (Black 67), Jeffrey (Stuart-Forde 47), Kpakpe, Benedict, Shomotun, Puemo, Ajakaiye (Akanbi 48)
Attendance: 129
Photos: ©EUFC/Ed Miller
