BELOW PAR VICKERS SECOND BEST

As a spectacle this was a game probably best forgotten by both sides but it was the visitors that made the most of their chances, and with the aid of some dubious decisions from the referee saw them take the points on offer. There was little to choose between the teams in the first half in an open game with both teams probing for openings, but each lacking a threat in the final third. The Magpies skipper Lloyd Cotton made a good run forward but blazed over the bar from a good position, then a Vickers break saw the ball only half cleared to James Duckworth on the edge of the area, but after stepping inside his man his effort drifted wide of a post with keeper Antony Di Bernardo stranded. It was difficult to see where a breakthrough would come from but a controversial decision handed the visitors the initiative when Elliott Cox slid in to turn the ball behind only for the referee to award a penalty to everyone’s amazement. Jamie Brotherton stepped up for the spot kick, sending keeper Nick Blue the wrong way to put the visitors ahead. Sean Roberts then tested Di Bernardo with a stinging drive, and then a VCD free kick into the box fell loose before Lea Dawson drove the ball goalwards where it was handled in the box, but the appeals were waved away. Then came another controversial decision that went against the Vickers when a ball forward caught out the Peacehaven rearguard and keeper Di Bernado rushed forward clearly handling the ball outside the area, but again the referee turned down the appeals from VCD. The Vickers were then reduced to ten men when Grant Basey voiced his opinion too strongly and was shown a red card. VCD were still in the game and when Elliott Cox and debutant Lanre Azzez worked the ball down the flank, the ball in was volleyed just over the top by James Duckworth. As the half was drawing to a close, the Magpies doubled their lead from a throw in where the ball was worked across the area to Jamie Brotherton in space, and he firmly sidefooted the ball home past Nick Blue. There was further disappointment for VCD in the last minute when Lanre Azzez broke into the box where he was sent sprawling, but again the referee was unimpressed with the appeals from the home side.
The second half was an anti-climax with the visitors’ content to hold onto their lead and a depleted Vickers unable tomake an impression on the Peacehaven defence. Tom Burton wasted a good chance to increase the lead when he picked up the ball from a poor clearance but fired over when well placed, then James Duckworth’s free kick to the far post was inches in front of the head of Lea Dawson who looked certain to score. Burton later had the ball in the net with a header from Brotherton’s cross but he had strayed marginally offside. There was little of note from either side for the remainder of the half leaving Peacehaven grateful for the points from a disappointing performance.

VCD Athletic: Blue, Cox, Basey, Reeves, Tozer (Payne 70), Dawson, Roberts, Dent (Carpenter 40), Power (Bakare 58), Azzez, Duckworth

Substitutes not used: Bremner, McDonagh,

Attendance: 82