Hosts Cray Valley PM were stunned by Hashtag United on Saturday as the Isthmian League Premier Division suffered a 5-1 reverse.
Millers manager Steve McKimm was without two players from their 2-1 win over Carshalton on New Year’s Day. Kiki Oshilaja was starting a two-match ban and Sonny Black sustained an injury, They were replaced by Cem Tumkaya and Matty Vigor, the latter having been out for two weeks with an injury of his own.
Luke May-Parrott had a goal disallowed for the visitors early on, having handled, but they weren’t to be denied for long. In the 14th minute Misha Djemaili cleared a corner and Josh Osude sent Matthew Wooldridge away down the left wing. He crossed low into the penalty area and Djemaili arrived at the far post to tuck it away.
Funmi Shomotun turned his man but shot wide of the near post for the Millers before he found Vigor, whose shot was beaten out by Jack Giddens. It was then Max Ovenden’s turn to make a great save, thwarting Wooldridge, who had let fly from the edge of the penalty area.
Danny Waldren had a shot saved easily by Giddens before the Hashtag goalkeeper had his palms stung by a fierce near post drive by Shomotun.
Four minutes after the break, the visitors claimed the crucial second goal.
Osude went on a long run and got himself into the penalty area. Tumkaya did well to make the tackle but it broke kindly for May-Parrott and he made no mistake from eight yards.
He came close to adding another when breaking through but Ovenden made a superb save to tip it on to the post and wide. Mert Apat met the corner with an overhead kick that was headed off the line by Tumkaya.
Shortly after the hour mark, Hashtag added a third. Ovenden did well to block a Max Cornhill shot but he was powerless when it came back out to Osude, who tucked it away gleefully.
Tumkaya went up for a corner and drew a brilliant save out of Giddens. Although it was recycled and Tumkaya netted, the flag was up for offside. McKimm made a quadruple substitution but within five minutes of the changes, Hashtag went 4-0 up.
A slick passing move involving substitute Ayo Olukoga and May-Perrott ended with Djemaili feeding Osude for another straightforward finish.
Twelve minutes remained when the hosts, fourth in the table, pulled one back.
After a goalmouth scramble, it fell to Freddie Parker and he bundled it home for his 17th goal in all competitions this season.
Osude’s pace got him clear and he looked certain to score but was unable to slot it beyond Ovenden before he had another opportunity to complete his hat-trick at the end of another good run. Again Ovenden saved well but was unrewarded as it came out to Olukoga and he tucked it home.
That was the last meaningful action of a match that the Millers will be glad to put behind them and regroup.
Cray Valley head to struggling Bowers & Pitsea on Saturday.
PICTURES: ROMANA RULE