POINTS SHARED AT OAKWOOD

POINTS SHARED AT OAKWOOD

VCD ATHLETIC 0 BURY TOWN 0

With a blustery wind blowing things were difficult for both sides, and although each tried to play football the thing most lacking was a cutting edge in the final third. Chances were created in what could have been a high scoring game, but often a lack of composure with the final ball took away the spectacle for the crowd. The visitors passed the ball around neatly and had the first chance in the opening minutes when a deep corner was retrieved by Noel Aitkens, who returned it into the box where Oliver Fenn’s header was touched over by the impressive Michael Gooch in the home goal. The Vickers responded with a well worked move getting the ball forward before it was played wide to Daniel McCullock, from whose first time ball in Mitch Hahn powerfully side-footed inches past a post. The game was end to end with the wind a constant problem, but on the half hour VCD created another good chance when a quick free kick caught out Bury, and Rashid Kamara sent Kojo Awotwi free where he set up Victor Caicedo, who turned his man neatly but fired straight at Neil O’Sullivan in the visitors’ goal. Bury had some half chances with Leon Ottley-Gooch heading wide, before Joe Yaxley fired wide when well placed and then tall striker Josh Mayhew was off target with a free header. Just before the break Kamara sent Awotwi free down the flank where his pace took him into the area, but his well-drilled low drive brought a fine save from O’Sullivan. Mayhew then wasted a glorious chance for the visitors when Aitkens ball into the box fell loose, but with time to compose himself he tried a back-heel that went past the far post. VCD had the last chance of the half when, from Mitch Hahn’s ball in Victor Caicedo headed narrowly over the bar with O’Sullivan beaten.
Bury went straight on the attack at the restart and a great pass put Josh Mayhew clear on goal, but Michael Gooch brought off a fantastic save and quickly sent the ball up-field, where the wind caught out the Bury defence setting Mitch Hahn free, but his drive was well saved by O’Sullivan. Town continued with their neat passing and a promising move set up Ryan Jolland, but with Gooch exposed he fired over the bar. Bury had a constant threat from the long throws of Darcy De’Ath, but with Jeffrey Imudia outstanding in the Vickers defence there was no way through for the visitors, and when they did pick out a Bury player, Michael Gooch was in impressive form making a number of fine saves to deny the eager Town forwards. The game continued end to end with both sides passing well on the excellent surface, but with much of the paly confined to the middle third it was difficult to see where a goal was coming from. The Vickers had one last chance to claim the points in the closing minutes when a superb diagonal ball picked out Kojo Awotwi on the left flank where he got past his man and into the box, but instead of squaring into the six yard area he elected to shoot from a tight angle and O’Sullivan smothered the ball on the line. A frustrating afternoon for both sides, but overall a draw was probably the right result.

VCD Athletic: Gooch, McCullock (Byrne-Hewitt 76), Awotwi, Imudia, Kisitu, Joseph, Blackwood, Symons, Hahn, Kamara, Zapata-Caicedo

Subs not used: Dann, Grant, Sinclair, Guy

Attendance: 86
Report by Brian Norris