The Vickers opened the new campaign with a 2-1 win at Oakwood, edging out a lively Ramsgate outfit who could have snatched a point in the second half, but for some resolute defending from the VCD backline. On a slick surface the Vickers opened rather sloppily in the early minutes, not getting to grips with the height of their opponents who were winning the aerial battles, and had an early let off when a Ramsgate attack down the left saw the ball fired low across the 6 yard box, just inches from the outstretched leg of an onrushing forward. However, we profited from this when debutant Regan Wiley rushed to retrieve the ball by the side–line and fed Leon Lalor-Dell, who broke down the left with pace before squaring the ball to Charlie MacDonald, where he side-footed home to put us one up. We then began to play with confidence and had much of the play, creating a number of chances as the visitors were pegged back, with Lalor-Dell a constant danger down the left with his pace. A long clearance from our defence caught out defender Jake Mackenzie who misjudged the flight of the ball, with Dominic Odusanya quickly chasing it before keeper Luke Watkins raced off his line to smother. Then, another ball forward was cleared out wide to Leon who, with options, cut inside but curled his effort just over the angle. We were having a good spell, passing the ball well, and from Regan Wiley’s deep free kick, Aymun El-Moyhalbel volleyed the ball across the box but Junior Baker couldn’t get enough power with his header to trouble Watkins. With 23 minutes on the clock the pressure finally told when, from Aymun’s corner, Temi Eweka cushioned the ball before tucking it inside to Charlie MacDonald, who volleyed home for his second goal of the afternoon. We had further chances before the interval when a quick break caught out the Ram’s defence, and with the ball pinging around the 6 yard box in a mad scramble, keeper Watkins gratefully snatched the ball to safety. With the break imminent Ramsgate had a rare chance when we failed to clear cleanly and the lively Tijan Jadama got through, but his shot lacked power and Joe Mant saved comfortably.
Expecting a comfortable second half, we were immediately pegged back by a resurgent Ramsgate who upped the tempo and began a period of play that had us on the back foot for long periods. The visitors harassed and chased, winning a lot of second ball, and began to look dangerous as we lost our way. From passing the ball well and playing with width we began to run with the ball, often getting caught in possession with overplay. A Rams’ free-kick was only half cleared and Aaron Millbank went close with a shot with the outside of his right foot that grazed the angle. Then, Tom Chapman picked up a loose ball out wide before sending it into the middle, but Billy Munday headed just over. We began to resort to long balls from the back, completely missing out our midfield, and these were gratefully accepted by the tall Rams defence giving Charlie MacDonald little chance in his forward role. Millbank broke free again before crossing, but luckily for us Jadama headed wide from a good position. We persisted in giving the ball away cheaply as the half progressed and gave the visitors a lifeline when we conceded with just 15 minutes remaining. A ball in caught Junior Baker in two minds and he was able to only half clear, and Joe Mant did well to turn a volley onto the bar, before Tom Chapman reacted the quickest to poke the ball home from close range. With more hesitation in our defence, Milbank got through once more before sending in a low shot, but fortune was on our side as the ball grazed the side netting with Joe beaten. In the last minute, from one of our few passing moves, Aymun played the ball through a square defence releasing Charlie MacDonald clear on goal, but as he looked certain to complete a deserved hat-trick, Luke Watkins was quickly off his line to block the ball to safety before it was cleared up-field. A Jekyll and Hyde performance from us in reality as when passing the ball we are as good as anyone on our day, but when we change our style and play long we make things much more difficult for ourselves.

VCD Athletic: Mant, Gyamfi, Wiley (Joseph 77), Baker, Eweka, Steventon, El-Moyhalbel, Gordon, Odusanya (Barrington 53), MacDonald, Lalor-Dell (Guthrie 82)

Subs not used: Ashikodi, Adebayo

Attendance: 92