It’s a short trip down the old Dartford line to Crayford on the cards for Gavin Rose’s men this afternoon and third meeting of the season with Keith McMahon’s men in green. The Vickers may be deep in the proverbial mire of the relegation dogfight but as has been proved in the past the Crayford side have proved themselves redoubtable fighters when the odds have been against them. Last term they escaped relegation with a stunning end of season surge out of the drop zone and results since last the two teams crossed swords once more have shown VCD capable of repeating that late resurrection.

When the clubs clashed in a Ryman League Premier Division encounter at Champion Hill in the first days of October, it was Hamlet rampant in front of their then-best crowd of the season, 1961. Jacob Erskine scored twice in the first half hour, Mitchell Nelson added a third before the break before Dulwich Hamlet opened up a five goal advantage as Rhys Murrell-Williamson and Josh Fernandes found the net in the last quarter hour. Yet VCD’s performance was more indicative of club with confidence problems rather than a lack of ability. A late rally threatened to make the core more than respectable as Aaron Wickham and Nathan Koranteng added to the flavour of a tasty encounter. Unfortunately, the FA Trophy match some seven weeks later proved less mouth-watering, Dulwich doing enough to secure their passage with Dean McDonald giving Gavin Rose’s men a 37th minute lead before Mitchell Nelson bagged a late one after some nervous moments along the way.

Indeed, the FA Trophy exit on a blustery, rainswept Saturday back in November proved the catalyst for a purple patch; the then rock-bottom Vickers producing a five match unbeaten run that though it only lifted them a place in the Ryman League Premier Division at least allowed them to gain much needed ground on their fellow strugglers. Goals from Richie Graham and Donovan Simmonds helped the club to their first league of the season at home to potentially doomed Farnborough, the Vickers recording back-to-back wins as they returned from Harrow Borough’s Earlsmead victorious. But for a last gasp Joseph Bruce own goal it might have been an all-too-rare clean sheet as a bonus but with Richard Avery and Kojo Awotwi finding the net the three points more than compensated.

From then on the opposition faced by VCD got progressively tougher, but then so did the Vickers. A slew of promotion hopefuls lined up in opposition. What, will the line stretch out to th' crack of doom? Leiston paid a call on the Oakwood and left with a point after a goalless stalemate, a close game but with neither side able to make that crucial breakthrough. Not so the Vickers’ next outing. There must have been some trepidation in a trip to Aveley to face Grays but VCD weathered the storm on the pitch and in the skies above. A Battle Royale indeed for 90 minutes and more as a single goal proved enough to win for the Vickers Lheureux Menga slotting home a second half spot kick after erstwhile Dulwich Hamlet wingman Nigel Nieta had been caught by Jay Leader’s ungentlemanly tackle from behind in the box.

The dream of the seasoned escapologists took a nock in the early stages of VCD’s home encounter as another from the massed ranks of title challengers, Wingate and Finchley, took a sixth minute lead at the Oakwood through Rob Laney. However, with debutante ‘keeper Max Hunter keeping the Blues at bay, it set the scene for a second revival for the hosts. Simmonds stabbed home an equaliser just before the hour mark, then with ten minutes left was unceremoniously chopped down on his way to goal by Mark Goodman. The miscreant got his, marching orders and Menga completed the punishment as he rammed home a second winning penalty in a week.

All good things must come to an end though and Tonbridge Angels proved just one too many a mountain to climb as a Nathan Elder double augmented by Luke Blewden’s goal condemned the Vickers to defeat on Boxing Day. Christmas and New Year provided little cheer as Tom Wraight grabbed a pair for free scoring East Thurrock United in 3-1 win in Crayford. Simmonds kept up his good run of goals but with the ubiquitous Sam Higgins also on the scoresheet, that counted for naught.

The momentum seemingly lost VCD slipped to successive defeats at home to Leatherhead and on the road at Bognor Regis Town; Ryan Mahal settling it for the Tanners after just six minutes whilst prolific scorer Jason Prior’s double sank the Vickers on the South Coast. But all was not lost. A Tuesday night trek north to Needham Market proved prolific as late goals from Simmonds and Menga (2) made for happy coach home. Ambitious Enfield Town proved tougher opposition but, with VCD having surrendered a 2-0 lead with just 13 minutes left, Nieta popped with solo goal two minutes from time to settle a five goal thriller. The win must have sent McMahon’s men to Leiston in good spirit but this time their shooting boots lacked firepower, the Suffolk side cruising to a three nil victory with plenty to spare, the goals all arriving before the break. The defeat left the Vickers still in the more, six points shy of Needham Market in the last place of safety.

This afternoon’s game kicks off at 3.00pm at VCD Athletic Football Club’s Oakwood Stadium, Old Road, Crayford, Kent, DA1 4DN

MATCHDAY ADMISSION PRICES

Adult: £10.00
Under 18's £6.00
Under 12's £1.00
Under 5's Free
Concessions* £6.00
*Concessions apply to Male OAP 65 years and over, Female OAP 60 years and over.

Matchday program £2.00