VCD v Bowers & Pitsea

DISAPPOINTMENT FOR THE VICKERS

VCD ATHLETIC 0 BOWERS & PITSEA 2

The Vickers were optimistic of a good start to the season, but newly promoted Bowers gave them a testing time, using their height advantage to good effect throughout the match. On a perfect playing surface some good passing football was played by both sides during a lively opening spell between two evenly match opponents. VCD were nearly caught out in Bowers’ first attack when a deep ball was played diagonally to the far post, but Tom Hine couldn’t get any power on his header which drifted wide. The visitors often looked to break quickly but a well drilled VCD back line caught them offside a number of times to avert any threat, but when they made the box their superior height was a problem and Luke Wilson headed narrowly over from James Stevens’ corner. The Vickers, with a number of new signings were well in the game, and had a chance when Tyrus Gordon-Young released debutant Liam MacDevitt, but he pulled his effort across the face of the goal, then Tom Youngs glanced a ball into the path of Connor Hogan who sent in a dipping 30 yarder that keeper Bobby Mason just touched over. There was little to choose between the two sides as the half wore with Bowers playing a number of high balls forward and VCD trying to play a more passing game, but too often our final ball was played in high and easily dealt with by the visitors’ commanding defence. As the half looked to be drawing to a stalemate the Vickers were undone by a preventable goal when Bowers sent the ball into the corner and with VCD failing to make a tackle the ball was drilled to the far post, where James Thomas rose unmarked to plant a header beyond keeper Niklas Freund.
The second half was more of the same with both sides probing to make openings and VCD came close to levelling when Robbie Rees’ dipping corner fell loose in the box, but keeper Mason got down quickly to smother the ball. Bowers were always a threat from balls into the box but new keeper Niklas Freund was in inspired form and produced a number of fine interceptions to keep VCD in the game. Tom Hine broke down the right to free James Thomas but Freund was quickly off his line to block, and then, when the ball was lost in the VCD half, he raced from his goal area to deny Bowers with a fine tackle before setting up an attack. With 20 minutes remaining the ball was given away in the VCD half and when it was delivered into the box it came off the head of a home defender, looping over Freund to come back off the bar, where Paul Hine was quickly on to the loose ball to slot home. The Vickers had one last chance to open their account in the closing minutes when Freund released Dylan Casey down the left where he delivered first time into the 6 yard box, but from 3 yards out substitute Ola Akinwande could only send his effort over the bar. It has to be said that the Vickers were not at the top of their game and the visitors fully deserved their victory, but with a number of new signings it may take a little time for the team to gel before we get fully up and running.

VCD Athletic: Freund, Nathaniel, Casey, Joseph, Bruce (G Brown 73), Tchonang, Youngs (Akinwande 46), Hogan, MacDevitt (Brickwood 46), Gordon-Young, Rees

Subs not used: Imudia, Pearce

Attendance: 101

Report by Brian Norris