NEW BOY NEWBY SETS UP VICTORY FOR VICKERS

NEW BOY NEWBY SETS UP VICTORY FOR VICKERS

VCD ATHLETIC 2 THURROCK 1

Recent signing Kris Newby scored a stunning equaliser on the stroke of half time to get the Vickers back in the game after they had gone behind to Thurrock, and on the hour Connor Hogan opened his account for the club with the winning goal to secure three deserved points for the home side. There was little between the two sides in the opening period with the game largely confined to midfield, but the Vickers enjoyed the greater share of possession with clear chances at a premium. Some good inter-passing on the lush VCD pitch saw the visitors work the ball well into the home defence, but when presented with a chance Charlie Stimson curled his effort over. VCD responded with Mitch Hahn spotting Joe Bruce breaking down the left from where he crossed first time low to Becka-Kah Dembele, but he fired over. Both sides were cancelling each other out, but slightly against the run of play Thurrock took the lead when they broke down the left where Ronnie Winn laid the ball into the path of Ross Wall, who sent a fine shot past Nik Freund in the home goal. It looked as though the visitors were going to go into the break with a goal advantage, but on the stroke of half time the Vickers levelled matters with a superb equaliser. Kris Newby picked up the ball on the left before drifting inside the visitors’ back four from where he struck a fierce drive from 25 yards into the top corner, giving keeper Darren Behcet no chance.
Thurrock attacked from the restart with Remi Sutton trying to set up Reece Morgan but his cross was just out of reach, then a mistimed clearance from the Thurrock defence was seized upon by Robbie Rees who went past a defender before setting up Dembele, but Behcet did well to prevent a goal. VCD finally went ahead on the hour mark when Thurrock failed to deal with Robbie Rees’ corner, which fell invitingly in the 6 yard box for Connor Hogan to drive the ball home for his first goal for the club. The Vickers began to grow in confidence and should have had a penalty when a ball into the box was held up by Jamie Guy, who was barged over from behind, but the referee saw nothing wrong in the challenge. Thurrock had a good chance when Reece Morgan broke forward before playing in Ronnie Winn to set up Stimson, but from 6 yards out he fired over the bar. The game was opening up by now and a break down the right by Rees saw him cut inside to test keeper Behcet, then Rees sent a corner on to the head of Joe Bruce where Behcet took his header under the bar. Tyrus Gordon-Young and Jeff Imudia then did well, breaking down the right to set up Rees whose snap shot was scooped behind for a corner by Behcet. The game was drifting to a close when Thurrock substitute Harry Cook, who had only been on the field for a couple of minutes, foolishly elbowed Ricardo Joseph in the face with a poor challenge and was immediately shown a red card. VCD were untroubled by the ten men, although they had one last effort in the final minute when Glenn Poole played a one two with a free kick before curling the ball towards the bottom corner, but Nik Freund was quickly down to smother the ball to make sure VCD took all the points.

VCD Athletic: Freund, Imudia, Joseph, Hogan, Bruce, Tchonang, Newby, Hahn (O’Neill 74), Guy (Casey 90), Dembele (Gordon-Young 85), Rees

Subs not used: Brickwood, Pearce

Attendance: 83
Report by Brian Norris