Our FA Trophy jinx struck again when once more we were unable to progress beyond the 2nd Round Qualifying although, in a tight match against highly fancied Herne Bay, we came close to taking the game to penalties. There was little to choose between the two sides on the day, but the visitors had the more potent attacking threat and although our defence was in good form they were helped by some sloppy finishing from the visitors. The Bay attacked from the opening whistle, winning a free kick on the edge of our area in the first minute, but Anthony Edgar sent his effort high and wide. At the other end Anthony Adesite and Chris Edwards combined with Paul Vines to set up Malachi Hudson whose shot was blocked away by a defender, and shortly after a great run by Malachi saw him get past Ryan Cooper only for his fierce drive to flash past the angle. The teams were evenly matched, both playing some excellent passing football on the lush surface and things looked dangerous when Zak Ansah picked up a loose ball and made ground, but Ashley Probets forced him wide and he shot into the side netting. Paul Vines created a chance when he got the better of Cooper, but his shot was held under the bar by the keeper, then Edgar had a chance at the other end, but screwed his shot past the far post. Play was end to end by both sides as they looked to gain the upper hand but they were evenly matched and it was hard to see where a goal was coming from. A neat move of ours worked the ball forward but Anthony Adesite fired into the keeper’s midriff when well placed before, as the half drifted to a close, Herne Bay upped the pressure and forced us deep but we were defending well and Nick Blue was rarely troubled until the closing minutes when the impressive Mo Kamara latched on to a poor pass and drove the ball goal-wards only to be denied by a stretching Nick Blue who touched the ball over the bar. An entertaining first half for both sets of supporters with the visitors perhaps just having the better of the play.
The second half began with more of the same as both sides probed but after ten minutes some slack defending saw Herne Bay take the lead when the ball was lost out wide, before it was slotted neatly through to Mobolaji Dawodu who tucked it into the corner beyond Nick Blue. Brad Stevenson then threatened for the Bay when he broke clear but he was unable to get past Kiki Oshilaja who was in fine form, and he had a second chance shortly after when receiving the ball in space, but chipped harmlessly to Nick Blue. We then had a spell where we were having the better of the play and created a couple of good chances as Kiki touched a free kick to Chris Edwards who ran into the heart of the visitors’ defence before laying the ball into the path of Anthony Adesite whose low shot was turned behind by the keeper. Then, minutes later we claimed the equaliser with a stunning effort. Anthony Adesite broke forward as the Bay defence backed off and with them expecting the ball to be played wide to Ayman he had other ideas, and sent a screamer of a drive into the top corner from some 25 yards with keeper Kamurasi helpless. This was the boost we needed but we had an immediate setback when Herne Bay worked the ball through our defence and Anthony Edgar fired low and hard into the corner. The Bay then had their tails up and we were caught a couple of times on the break when attacking moves broke down, but Jack Barry and Kiki were resolute in their defending and the visitors were unable to take advantage, and then it was our turn again. Mili Hysi took the ball forward before being fouled on the edge of the area, and taking the free kick himself he sent the ball round the wall only for it to come crashing back off a post. Then, after we cleared a corner, Chris Edwards broke forward in space getting down the right hand side but nobody was able to get a touch on his low cross into the six yard box and the chance was gone. In the final minute Chris sent in a deep corner that was headed up into the air, but as the ball fell Luke Griffiths was unable to keep his shot on target. A disappointing result for the team who worked hard for a victory, and now we have just the league to concentrate on, but having no other distractions might work in our favour.

VCD Athletic: Blue, Edwards, Probets (Fisher 71), Barry, Oshilaja, El-Mogharbel, Dawson, Vines,
Hysi (Griffiths 88), Hudson, Adesite

Subs not used: Vincent-Edwards, Henry, Fray

Attendance: 128