Three first-half goals led Cray Valley PM to an FA Trophy third qualifying round win at Ramsgate on Saturday.

A goal from Matthew Vigor and Freddie Parker’s brace had the Millers three goals to the good inside the first 30 minutes, skipper Joe Taylor giving the Rams hope with one back before the half-time interval.

But that was the way the scoreline stayed as Cray Valley, who pipped Ben Smith’s side to the Isthmian South East title last term, were 3-1 victors in pretty comfortable fashion.

The first chance at a sunny Southwood had gone the way of Steve McKimm’s men when home keeper Tom Hadler parried midfielder Julien Anau’s ninth-minute long-range shot in front of a crowd of 685.

But four minutes later, the Isthmian Premier team were gifted the game’s opening goal.

A terrible attempted pass by Rams midfielder Medy Elito was intercepted by forward Parker. He found Vigor and the midfielder slotted home for his second goal of the campaign.

The Millers then felt they should have been awarded a free-kick for a last-man challenge by defender Aaron Barnes, only for referee Joe Burgess to dismiss those appeals.

But Cray Valley’s second did come midway through the first period.

Another poor pass by the lacklustre hosts gifted the ball to Parker and, despite the best efforts of Barnes on the goal-line, Parker netted, having rounded Hadler and shot from a tight angle.

And it got even worse for Ramsgate shortly before the half-hour mark. Right-back Myles Judd briefly gave the hosts some respite but that presented space for a through ball to go to Parker, who found the net again for his sixth goal this season.

But the home side finally created something and got a goal back with 37 minutes on the clock. Josh Ajayi delivered a right-wing cross and Taylor did well to fire beyond Millers keeper Max Ovenden under severe pressure for his 14th goal of the campaign.

At the other end, Hadler smartly saved to thwart Anau just before half-time.

Cray Valley were also forced into a first-half switch as Vigor was unable to continue following an earlier knock. He was replaced by Lyle Della-Verde.

The Millers went close to a fourth on 48 minutes, wideman Fumnaya Shomotun blasting over and the same player whipped across the face of goal in the 55th minute.

Next to go close for the away team after the hour mark were Danny Waldren and then the much-travelled Della-Verde during a professional second-half performance by them.

With eight minutes to go, goalkeeper Ovenden got down low well to save Rams defender Jay Leader’s header at the back post from a free-kick by substitute Roarie Deacon.

But home opportunities were few and far between, especially in the second half, as Cray Valley moved into Monday’s FA Trophy draw.

Ramsgate had made five changes from the team which were knocked out of the FA Cup 4-1 at Brackley Town last weekend as three-goal midfielder TJ Jadama missed out entirely after a bout of illness in the week.

Defenders Barnes and Tom Carlse came in, alongside forwards Ajayi, Elito and TT Walters, with Alfie Paxman, Deacon, Benedict Bioletti and player-coach Joe Ellul also missing out from the start.

For the Millers, their four changes from last weekend’s 1-0 Isthmian Premier loss at Hendon included returns for goalkeeper Ovenden, Parker and quick winger Michael Ademiluyi.

Recently-signed Cray Valley PM midfielder Tom Beere, once with McKimm at Tonbridge, started on the substitutes’ bench and came on during the second period.

Ramsgate had seen off Sheppey (3-2) and Raynes Park Vale (2-1) to reach this stage of the competition.

They will put their perfect league record on the line at home to fellow high-fliers Sheppey next weekend while the Millers travel to Canvey Island in the league on Tuesday night.

Ramsgate: Hadler, Barnes, Leader, Clifford, Carlse (Paxman 72mins), Gard, Taylor, Ajayi, Elito (Deacon 65mins), Judd, Walters (Bioletti 72mins). Subs not used: Newcombe, McGill.

Cray Valley PM: Ovenden, Williams, Black (Barrington 72mins), Oshilaja, Parker (Coombes 65mins), Ademiluyi, Vigor (Della-Verde 45mins), Waldren, Anau (Beere 58mins), Asiedu, Shomotun. Sub not used: Figueira.

Referee: Joe Burgess.

Attendance: 685.