THE VICKERS DENIED BY AVELEY

VCD ATHLETIC 0 AVELEY 0

On the balance of play the Vickers probably just shaded this match, which turned out to be a stalemate in the end as neither side could make a breakthrough. With the visitors sitting in 2nd place in the table and the league’s top scorers, more was expected of them, but they defended deeply and didn’t really show too much adventure in attack, with much of the play being confined to midfield. VCD suffered a blow early on as top scorer Jamie Guy failed a fitness test and his hold up play was sorely missed on the afternoon, but the side created some good chances and on another afternoon might have clinched a victory. The first chance of the game fell to the Vickers when a corner was cleared to Robbie Rees, who played the ball forward neatly to Joe Bruce where he turned his man, but fired just over the top. VCD were passing the ball about well, but there always lurked a threat on the break from the visitors who had pace up front but the VCD defence was coping well. Kaka broke down the right for VCD, going past Dan McCullock and Frankie Sinclair before cutting inside, and his left foot cross shot nearly deceived keeper Lamar Johnson at his far post. Aveley’s Michael Finneron headed over from Abs Seymour’s corner, before a ball played out of defence caused problems for the Vickers as keeper Nik Freund could only head the ball clear, which fell kindly to an Aveley player who, with the goal gaping shot wide. Kaka then touched Rees’ corner into the path of Connor Hogan who sent in a fierce drive that was deflected over the bar, but shortly after another break caught out the Vickers when a ball over the top sent Michael Pindy clear into the area, but he hesitated and Freund was quickly out to turn the ball behind with his legs, and from the resulting corner former VCD favourite Sherwin Stanley sent in a downward header that Freund saved at the foot of a post. VCD had a last chance of the half when a ball forward was headed by Kaka into the path of Mitch Hahn who fired a low drive inches wide.
The second half was something of a dour affair with neither side wanting to concede, as it looked as if one goal might be enough to settle the game, but VCD pressed and created chances but found it difficult to penetrate a resolute rear-guard. Bruce and Rees combined well down the left and Bruce’s ball in looked dangerous, but nobody was able to get a firm touch from a good opportunity. Mitch Hahn fired a free kick over the top, before Bruce broke forward again, taking the ball down the right and playing it into the area where Kaka challenged Johnson with the ball breaking kindly for Hahn, but with time he again could not keep his effort on target. Kris Newby, who was working hard all over the pitch broke inside and sent in a drive that Johnson touched over from under the bar, and from the resulting corner the ball fell loose in the 6 yard box before being cleared off the line by an Aveley defender. The visitors had one last chance late in the game when Seymour’s corner picked out Finneron, but his header was saved by Freund to keep the game score-less.

VCD Athletic: Freund, Imudia, Joseph, Symons, Bruce, Tchonang, Newby, Hahn (Brickwood 87), Hogan, Dembele, Rees

Subs not used: Casey, Pearce, Stevenson, Brown

Attendance: 62
Report by Brian Norris