Cray Valley have got another match to add to their crammed fixture schedule – but manager Steve McKimm is not about to complain about an FA Cup replay at home to Charlton.
The Eltham-based club are 117 places and five leagues below the Addicks but their spirited second-half performance meant they fully deserved another crack at reaching the second round of the competition after a 1-1 draw at The Valley.
Cray, who play in the Isthmian League South East Division, have lost just one of their 20 matches this season and Kyrell Lisbie – the son of former Charlton striker Kevin – produced the cross which Lucas Ness slid into his own net to equalise just three minutes into the second half.
It cancelled out Scott Fraser’s ninth-minute opener for the League One hosts.
McKimm and his players celebrated in front of their 1,998 fans who had made the short journey.
“I’m extremely proud – my staff get a mention because they are an unbelievable support network and the players are the star of the show,” said McKimm. “They are the ones who go out there and do it.
“Charlton are not far from the play-offs. They have got good players and a good manager. We knew we couldn’t come and just be expansive.
“But what I did like is, going 1-0 down, my players didn’t freeze. They looked after the ball. We weren’t a smash-and-grab team today. We played some really good football.
“Testament to my players because they ended up bringing on five of their starting or 16 that play week in and week out in League One.
“I’m not going to kid anyone. We didn’t play Charlton’s first team but we played a team that is full of professionals, train every day and have the fitness and nutrition – and my boys were superb. It’s special.”
Charlton head coach Michael Appleton made 11 changes from their last outing – with one eye arguably on next weekend’s trip to leaders Portsmouth.
Charlie Kirk had a great chance to restore their lead shortly after the part-timers had levelled but Millers goalkeeper Sam Freeman saved with his legs.
Chem Campbell headed wide from close range in the first half from Fraser’s pinpoint corner while Slobodan Tedic clipped the top of the crossbar.
Appleton said: “I was disappointed with the performances of some of the players. I expected a little bit more.
“Probably up until the goal it was okay – still a little bit safe by a few players, not really looking to make the impact I expected to.
“There was a lot of anxiety after the goal and they struggled after that. It was a hard watch at times.
“If I’d made a different selection it would have been a different scenario, but sometimes you’ve got to manage and balance the group as best you possibly can.
“The starting 11 was more than capable of winning the game. I still believe that, no matter how poor some of the performances were.
“I take full responsibility for picking the team and clearly it was the wrong one. At least we’ve got a second crack at it.”
Al-Nassr 3-1 Al-Khaleej: Ronaldo nets twice and passes up penalty in cup semi-final
Cristiano Ronaldo returned to the scoresheet with two goals as Al-Nassr beat Al-Khaleej 3-1 to reach the final of the King Cup of Champions on Wednesday.
Ronaldo scored either side of half-time as Al-Nassr teed up a final clash with Saudi Pro League leaders Al-Hilal, who beat Al-Ittihad 2-1 in the other semi-final on Tuesday.
The former Real Madrid and Manchester United star took advantage of an error from opposing goalkeeper Ibrahim Sehic to open the scoring 17 minutes in, then tapped home at the second attempt to make it a double shortly before the hour mark.
That goal could have made it a hat-trick for the Portugal star, but he passed up the chance to take a first-half penalty after Ivo Rodrigues handled in the area, Sadio Mane instead stepping up to blast his kick into the top corner.
Fawaz Al Terais was on target late on for Al-Khaleej, but that proved a mere consolation in a one-sided affair which saw Al-Nassr rack up 21 shots and 3.78 expected goals (xG), with their opponents managing just nine shots totalling 1.37 xG.
Data Debrief: Ronaldo's mini drought over
Ronaldo was frustrated against Al-Khaleej in the Saudi Pro League on Saturday, but he was back on song against the same opponents on Wednesday to end his mini drought of two games.
While Ronaldo's 43 touches were the fewest of any outfielder to start for Al-Nassr, he managed seven shots, five shots from inside the area and four dribbles – all game-high figures.
Al Ittihad 1-2 Al Hilal: Holders into King's Cup final
Al Hilal overcame Sergej Milinkovic-Savic's red card as Saud Abdulhamid's late goal sealed a 2-1 victory over Al Ittihad in the King's Cup semi-finals.
Without Karim Benzema, Al Ittihad ultimately lacked the firepower to make their numerical advantage count in Tuesday's clash.
Former Lazio midfielder, who joined Al Hilal as part of their spending spree last year, received a straight red card in the 42nd minute.
Al Ittihad's Abderrazzaq Hamed-Allah cancelled out Micheal's opener, but Abdulhamid popped up with the winner in the 81st minute.
Al Hilal are 10-time King's Cup winners, having won their 10th title last season.
The Saudi Pro League leaders, who are still without the injured Neymar, will now face either Al Khaleej or Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr in the final at the end of May.
Data Debrief: Malcom in the middle
Al Hilal might be missing their star Brazilian Neymar, but his compatriot Malcom is delivering when it comes to playmaking.
The former Zenit attacker set up both of Al Hilal's goals, creating three chances in total and registering a pass accuracy of 92.6 per cent, better than any of his team-mates.
Former Spain boss Del Bosque to oversee RFEF
Former Spain boss Vicente del Bosque will oversee a new committee supervising the RFEF.
Spain, which is due to be one of six host countries for the 2030 World Cup, announced the creation of a special committee until the federation holds elections to replace Luis Rubiales.
That is despite Pedro Rocha having this week been appointed as Rubiales' replacement, though he himself is under investigation amid a corruption probe.
Rubiales was dismissed following his unsolicited kiss on Jenni Hermoso during the Women's World Cup trophy ceremony in 2023.
The federation's former president was then arrested in early April as part of a corruption investigation.
Del Bosque led Spain to three consecutive trophies, winning the European Championships in 2008 and 2012, while also leading the team to their first World Cup success in 2010.
Prior to his time with the national team, he also won two Champions Leagues and two LaLiga titles while in charge of Real Madrid, where he made over 400 appearances as a player.
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