VCD ATHLETIC 2 CANVEY ISLAND 2

The Vickers were honoured to have the Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Bexley as their match-day sponsors, and they witnessed an amazing comeback as the hoops retrieved a 2-0 half-time deficit to force a deserved 2-2 draw, coming up just short of taking all the points. VCD had most of the possession in the first half but were undone by two breakaways to go behind, but Canvey’s plan to sit back and defend their lead proved costly in the end as the Vickers stormed back. From the start the hoops attacked with Mikhail Kennedy having keeper Tim Brown at full stretch in the opening minutes after a good run took him into the area and then, when Sean Roberts set up Michael Power, the keeper was lucky to save at the second attempt. The main early threat from the Gulls was from the lively Jack Simmons down the flank, but he was well marshalled by Grant Basey who gave him a tough time. VCD were looking comfortable on the ball but were caught out by a quick break which then produced a corner, and when Dave Collis sent the ball deep to the far post, Steven Smith arrived late to side-foot home. The Vickers responded well with Basey picking up a loose ball on the left and making ground, before picking out Aaron Jeffery but he was unable to keep his effort on target, then a Kennedy free kick reached Lea Dawson at the far post but Brown saved well. Canvey looked to play on the break, but with Sean Roberts and Lea Dawson, making his 50th appearance for the club in dominant form, chances were few. Kennedy had Brown at full stretch again with a free kick, but when the ball was given away at the other end, Taylor Tombides got clear but blazed over the top from inside the area. The visitors were slowing the game down at every opportunity taking an age over throws in and goal kicks which added to the stop start nature of the half, but VCD continued to press only to be undone by another break on the stroke of half time. The ball was lost in the Gulls’ area and quickly transferred out wide to Tombides, who made ground down the flank before squaring to John Curran who stroked the ball home.
The Vickers continued to attack from the restart with Kennedy getting through the Canvey defence only to see his shot blocked, and then Power held the ball up well before laying it into the path of Dawson but his fierce volley just cleared the angle. The time wasting was causing frustration as Canvey tried to protect their lead but things went against them when Mikhail Kennedy again burst forward going past Dave Collis, only to be brought down by the burly defender who was shown a red card for his indiscretion. The Gulls were forced deeper into their own half as VCD kept up the tempo, with Dawson playing the ball wide to Bremner who sent in first time cross that Kennedy headed just over, but shortly after, the pressure finally told. Dean Carpenter moved the ball down the left before sending a cross into the middle, where Leigh Bremner out-jumped Josh Banton to power a header past keeper Brown. The impetus was now firmly with VCD and they quickly claimed an equaliser when the ball was played down the left to Bremner who clipped it inside to Mikhail Kennedy, where he took one touch before firing home low into the corner. VCD continued to press without being able to convert a number of half chances, but were well worth their share of the points in a frustrating game.

VCD Athletic: Blue, Cox, Basey, Reeves, Tozer, Dawson, Roberts (Carpenter 66), Jeffery (Bremner 53), Power, Kennedy, Duckworth (O Smith 53)

Substitutes not used: McDonagh, Dent

Attendance: 125