SMASH AND GRAB DENIES VICKERS THE POINTS

The Vickers came away empty handed from the Queen Elizabeth II Stadium after dominating for large periods of the game,

, losing 1-0 to an Enfield side that had just two meaningful shots on target all evening. However, finishing is what the game is all about but from our many chances we failed to capitalise, with home keeper Nathan McDonald being named man of the match, when the points were there for the taking. As early as the first minute we fashioned a chance when, from Nick Reeves’ diagonal ball, Jordan Lockie’s poor control let in James Duckworth but, with a shot the better option, he elected to pass and the ball was scrambled away. Then from Duckworth’s corner, McDonald fumbled the ball but nobody was on hand to take advantage, and when the ball was cleared downfield an Enfield forward got clear but was denied by keeper Nick Blue. Ahmed Deen and Duckworth combined down the left and when the ball was only half cleared, Ellis Green sent in a fierce drive that was hacked off the line. VCD were looking comfortable, passing the ball well from the back but were stunned when Town opened the scoring. A long diagonal ball split the Vickers defence, freeing Tyler Campbell who advanced and fired goal-wards, and although Blue got a hand to the ball he could not keep it out. VCD thought they had equalised when Michael Power netted but was flagged offside and the game then became a stalemate with Enfield defending well, and although the Vickers saw a lot of the ball they could not make a breakthrough.
The second half started with the visitors straight on the attack and a sublime piece of skill form Michael Power saw him bemuse three defenders before getting clear, but from his rasping drive McDonald leapt to touch the ball just over. From the resulting corner, Duckworth’s ball was not dealt with and when it fell to Grant Basey, he was unable to keep it on target from close in. Town were being pegged back and wasted time at every opportunity, frustrating the visitors, but the Vickers kept plugging away and following a break, a ball in was missed by a defender letting in Duckworth, but McDonald was quickly out to block the ball. This was followed by a free kick that Duckworth sent into the box, picking out Lea Dawson, but his effort was again cleared off the line. Substitute Peter Smith then did well, harrying the Town midfield into mistakes, and when the ball was played wide to Leigh Bremner he beat his man before sending in a low cross that the onrushing Smith met with a stinging drive, only for McDonald to again touch the ball over. Power then went close with a header before with just minutes remaining, VCD thought they had claimed a deserved equaliser. Power got through and sent a low drive past McDonald that came crashing back off a post to be met by Karl Dent who side-footed home, but he was mysteriously flagged offside despite running past two defenders. Bizarre. Again, despite the defeat, the positives are there and if we continue in this vein it will not be long before we start climbing the table.

VCD Athletic: Blue, Cox (McDonagh 78), Deen (P Smith 27), Basey, Reeves, Dawson, Carpenter, Dent, Power, Duckworth, Green (Bremner 60)

Substitutes not used: S Smith, Perkins

Attendance: 303