VICKERS MOVE UP TO SIXTH WITH 5TH WIN ON THE SPIN AND THEIR 7TH WIN IN THE LAST 8 LEAGUE GAMES
With the sort of run that saw the Vickers storm to the Kent League Title last year, the hooped side from Crayford are at it again in the Ryman North.
With an emphatic 3-0 away win over Ilford who are the only side to beat champions-elect Lowestoft on their own patch this result earned Paul Foley's side their seventh win from the last eight league games, a run stretching back to the unlucky defeat to the table topping Trawlerboys. Having played at Ilford's ground earlier in the season against tenant's Waltham Forest when the Vickers missed a hatful of chances and somehow managed to lose 2-1, the performance was much more clinical this time.
The pitch was not conducive to the type of football that VCD would prefer to play but despite some early threats from Ilford's attacking 4-3-3 formation the green hoops (Ilford play in blue hoops) were always in control. A couple of half chances fell to Ilford's front line but the danger was quickly snuffed out by the miserly VCD defence that has only conceded three goals in the last five games. At the other end right midfielder Kevin Winchcombe was enjoying the freedom of Ilford but his crosses failed to find their target.
A deep cross by David Hunt found powerful forward Meshach Nugent but his header was saved by the Ilford 'keeper Diagne. Nugent and fellow strike partner Leroy Huggins combined well with the former using his pace and power to surge through the Ilford back four on the right hand side earning a corner in the process. From the resultant corner Hegley picked out Huggins perfectly but the normally prolific marksman sent his powerful header just over the bar from close range but this was a warning of what was to follow for the Foxes. Only minutes later just past the half hour mark Hegley sent in another corner which Huggins got his head to in front of Diagne and the ball went over the line with Nugent grabbing the final touch. Despite the keeper attempting the collect the ball on the line the assistant referee gave the goal with Hegley, Huggins and Nugent all claiming the goal but it was Nugent who had the final touch.
With the pitch making it difficult for either side to create many chances to score in the second half it was the Vickers who adapted to the conditions best with Gary Ward and Winchcombe both going close with efforts on goal. Sure enough, with ten minutes to go, a fine move involving Hegley, Huggins and Nugent ended with classy midfielder Lee Maskell receiving the ball outside the box, jinking past his marker and firing a low shot into the corner of the goal past the despairing dive of Diagne. Ilford's resistance appeared to have been broken and with only minutes to play, substitute Aaron Firth got on the end of a perfect knock down by captain Huggins to rifle the ball home from the most acute of angles.
With this their third consecutive win away and their fifth consecutive win in the league VCD moved up to sixth place in the league, their highest ever placing in the non league pyramid since formation in 1916. VCD take on 13th placed side Northwood on Saturday 19th December at Oakwood, Old Road Crayford, Kent.
VCD line up J Tedder, Hunt, Barton, Ward (sub Maskell 75 mins 1 goal), Cook, Watson, Winchcombe, Penny, Huggins, Nugent (1 goal - sub Firth 1 goal), Hegley
Subs not used Ibemere, Bradshaw, Foley
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