The Vickers had the worst possible start to the game when goalkeeper Callum Thomas suffered an injury in the warm up, resulting in skipper Ashley Probets taking over in goal, but such was VCD’s dominance in the first half, he was not unduly troubled as the hosts took the game to Town, and it was only in the second period that the visitors set about their task, scoring the goals to seal the points. The Vickers should have gone ahead in the first minute when Mark Nwokeji’s pace took him clear of the Brentwood defence, but his shot lacked power and keeper Martyn Guest saved comfortably. Then Nigel Neita’s corner was cleared to Joe Bruce who returned the ball wide where Neita’s ball in was met by Donavan Simmonds, whose header went just over. The Vickers were looking dangerous as their pace caused the Town defence problems with Kojo Awotwi giving Andrew Freeman a testing time down the flank, but they were unable to create a clear cut opening. Ritchie Graham slipped a ball through to Nwokeji who had Guest at full stretch, while at the other end Craig Reid fired across goal when well placed. Graham then put Awotwi clear into the box where he appeared to be impeded by Guest, but the referee ignored the penalty appeals, and then 5 minutes before the break Brentwood had their first attempt on goal when Ryan O’Rawe got on the end of a free kick, but Probets was not troubled by his header.
The second half was a complete reversal with Town straight on the attack, and Mitch Hahn spotted Probets off his line and tried his luck from some 45 yards, only for the ball to come back off a post into the hands of the keeper, but it was only minutes later that they went ahead. A long throw was only half cleared as far as Sam Lechmere, who drove the ball home through a sea of legs into the net. A swirling wind was making play difficult but the visitors were making good use of it with testing balls into the box, and when VCD did get within shooting range they were wasteful with their efforts. Brentwood made the game safe with their second goal on the hour when Freeman sent a corner into the 6 yard box to Ryan O’Rawe, who planted a header past Probets. They could have added a third when Jamie Guy squared the ball across the face of the goal to Jordan Holdsworth, but he was denied by a timely tackle from the impressive Joe Bruce. A disappointing day for the Vickers but full credit to skipper Ashley Probets for taking on the unenviable job in goal, and who knows, with a regular keeper we might have taken a point, but there is no point dwelling on the subject as we look forward to next week’s FA Trophy tie.
VCD Athletic: Probets (Budd 63), Tchonang, Wickham, Nwokeji (Menga 68), Bruce, Joseph, Graham, Tejaiye,
Neita, Simmonds, Awotwi
Subs not used: Brickwood, Palmer
Attendance: 90