THE VICKERS GO DOWN AT WROXHAM

THE VICKERS GO DOWN AT WROXHAM

WROXHAM 4 VCD ATHLETIC 0

On current form this looked like a possible routine victory for the Vickers who had played so well last Saturday, but they were surprised by a determined performance from Wroxham whose play on the day made a mystery of their lowly league position, and although helped by some awful decisions by the officials they fully deserved their win. VCD had a setback in the warm up, when Jack Stevenson badly twisted his knee in a freak accident on a pitch that was just about playable and had to be stretchered off, and we hope that this setback will not keep him out too long as he missed nearly all of last season with a similar injury. The visitors began on the front foot and more clinical finishing in the opening moments could have given them a cushion to build on, but after a fine move involving new signing Mekhi McLeod and Mitch Hahn the ball in was flicked on by Tyrus Gordon-Young into the path of Kris Newby, who could only direct his header straight at keeper Elliott Pride. A similar chance came minutes later when Derek Duncan’s neat back-heel found McLeod who outstripped Tom Rampling before crossing into the area, but again the header went straight into the arms of Pride, this time from Gordon-Young. Wroxham responded with Ross Gilfedder chasing a ball down the right before sending it right across the area where it was collected by Davillian Kattabana, who cut inside and drilled the ball forward where Nik Freund did well to touch the ball on to the bar and away to safety. A similar ball down the right moments later brought a reward for Wroxham when Cruise Nyadzayo was played in by Gilfedder from where he cut inside and fired past Freund into the far corner. VCD then had a good spell but were unable to fashion any meaningful chances and it was Wroxham who went closest when Gilfedder got in behind Marc Gorbell, but Cassimiro Detocampol sent a free header wide from his ball in. The Vickers’ last chance of the half came when the industrious Mitch Hahn played in Kris Newby, who cut inside his marker before shooting at goal, but Pride saved comfortably.
The Vickers began the second period on the attack and had a good opening spell, winning a free kick on the edge of the Wroxham area, but Kris Newby was unable to keep his effort on target, then the lively Mekhi McLeod went on a run, drifting past players but his fierce drive screamed over the angle with Pride a spectator. Then came an atrocious piece of decision making from the officials when keeper Freund cleared the ball upfield where it reached Matt Halliday, who played it forward into the path of Cruise Nyadzayo standing some 15 yards offside, but the assistant, not for the first time, was yards behind play and kept his flag down allowing Nyadzayo to run on and lift the ball over Freund into the net. Despite the vociferous appeals from the VCD players and bench and the obvious mirth of the home supporters the referee allowed the goal, and the situation was not helped by the assistant turning round and grinning at the VCD bench. VCD now had much to do and had a chance to reduce the arrears when Hahn played the ball to McLeod out wide from where he cut inside and laid it into the path of Jamie Guy, but he pulled his shot wide. Shortly after came another dubious decision when a ball over the top saw Gilfedder and Nyadzayo both seemingly offside, but again the flag stayed down with Nyadzayo going on to score. The hosts capped off the scoring with a good goal when another ball over the top found Nyadzayo, this time definitely onside, and he ran on to slot the ball low past Freund. The Vickers played to the end and had a number of close calls late in the half when first Kris Newby put Guy clear from where his shot beat Pride but came back off the inside of a post, then Mitch Hahn saw his volley skim the bar, before McLeod fired in another drive that crashed back off the bar, but it wasn’t to be, and Wroxham comfortably held on to claim 3 much needed points.

VCD Athletic: Freund, Tchonang, Joseph, Hogan, Bruce, Gorbell (Guy 59), Newby, Duncan, Gordon-Young, Hahn, McLeod

Subs not used: Garcia, Akpele, Awotwi, Pearce

Attendance: 103
Report by Brian Norris