DREAM DEBUT FOR MIKHAIL KENNEDY

Vickers’ new signing Mikhail Kennedy made an immediate impact on his debut with a stunning goal after only 3 minutes of a keenly contested game, between two evenly matched sides. On a pudding of a pitch the long ball looked the better option, but this was set aside when the 18 year old received the ball out wide just inside the Hendon half. He moved forward and swept past a defender, cutting inside with pace, where he left two more in his wake before firing low past keeper Ben McNamara from the edge of the area. A goal of real quality, it gave VCD a boost and something to hold on to as Hendon responded. Andre Da Costa and Sam Murphy gave the home side width and with Leon Smith and Kezie Ibe looking dangerous, the Vickers defence had to be alert as the hosts tried to get back in the game. Smith saw his deflected shot well saved by Nick Blue, before at the other end Orlando Smith tested McNamara low down, and Aaron Jeffery went close with a side-foot effort that just cleared the bar. A break down the left by Hendon looked promising, but when the ball was blocked into the path of Smith he blazed over. Then Chris Seeby made ground down the right, picking out Da Costa with his cross, but he fired over the angle. Hendon were getting the ball forward early but often they lacked bodies in the area, and with the VCD back four looking strong they were unable to take advantage. A sweeping move from VCD saw the ball eventually reach Orlando Smith out on the flank where he cut in to bring a save from McNamara at his near post, then with the half almost at an end Hendon’s pressure was rewarded. The ball was lost in midfield and Da Costa broke down the right before playing the ball square to Leon Smith, who turned neatly to fire low past Blue into the far corner.
The Vickers attacked from the whistle as the second half started and Michael Power’s persistence caused problems for the home defence, and when Aaron Jeffery claimed the loose ball he was bundled over just outside the area. Nick Reeves stepped up to send his free kick low round the wall where it brought a good save from McNamara. Shortly after, a deep diagonal ball from Kennedy picked out Orlando Smith on the flank where he beat Tony Taggart before drawing a save from the keeper at the near post. As the half wore on Hendon began to apply more pressure and had a good spell as they looked for a goal, but with Dawson and Tajbakhsh strong in midfield they struggled to find a way through. A ball out of defence was touched back by Ibe into the path of Dave Diedhiou but he shot over then, after breaking down the right Da Costa sent in a deep ball to the far post to Peter Dean in space, but he struck his volley past the far post. The Vickers saw out the pressure and in the last ten minutes had chances to take all the points. Sean Roberts broke out of defence and went past Charlie Goode but his left foot shot just cleared the bar, then Lewis Perkins made ground down the flank before squaring to Karl Dent whose low drive fizzed inches past a post with McNamara stranded. Finally, a controversial incident denied VCD a chance to take the game when, with just 2 minutes remaining the ball was played up to Mikhail Kennedy who tricked his way between two defenders only to be sent sprawling but the referee amazingly played on to deny the visitors what looked a certain penalty.

VCD Athletic: Blue, McDonagh, Basey, Reeves, Tozer, Dawson, Tajbakhsh (Roberts 63), Jeffery (Perkins 84), Power, O Smith (Dent 78), Kennedy

Substitutes not used: Powell, Penfold

Attendance: 107