vcd260305

Foley's late header settles it

LORDSWOOD came into this game searching for three points to put pressure on Erith Town and Deal Town above them and with this game against their tenants, Paul Piggott's side fancied their chances.

Lordswood started brightly and in the ninth minute Aaron Burrett on the right wing crossed into the area but under pressure Ray Broad directed his header wide but the referee awarded a corner.

VCD, however, came back and in the 15th minute the ball was bouncing around the Lordswood penalty area and the ball eventually came out to Clayton Probetts, whose shot from 15 yards sailed over.

Martin Ford's side thought they had taken the lead when the ball was played into Danny Penny, who cushioned his header down to Mark Greatorex and his shot hit the top of the crossbar.

Lordswood goalkeeper Phil Lewis came out to collect the ball but under no pressure dropped it but Ashley Russell was at hand to clear.

At the other end John Gissing picked the ball up on the right, burst forward before unleashing a 22-yarder, which went just past the far post.

Lordswood should have taken the lead when a long ball forward found Andy Doerr, who set up a chance for Paul Brown, but his weak shot from 20-yards was comfortably saved by Dominic O'Connor.

The second half, however, started with a bang.  Lords goalkeeper Lewis again made a mistake in collecting the ball and Greatorex nearly took advantage but his shot was blocked by Russell.

From the resulting corner Penny headed home but the referee adjudged he had fouled a Lordswood defender and the goal was ruled out.

Both sides increased the tempo of the game and it was no surprise that chances would come.

Doerr found himself free and ran into the area, dummied the goalkeeper, went round him but from an acute angle he shot into the side netting.

Russell made his third clearance when he blocked Greatorex's goal bound shot following a VCD corner in the 73rd minute.

A minute later Penny flicked on a long clearance to Ben Coaker but from 15 yards he skied his shot over the Lords bar.

Penny shot wide inside the area but VCD wrapped up the points in the 85th minute.  A corner was cleared out to Gary Ward on the right wing and his cross was headed home from six yards by shaven headed VCD defender Paul Foley.

Lordswood: Lewis, Burrett, Russell, Crust, Colyer, Skinner, Broad, Brown (Pearce 85), Doerr, Gissing, Sharp.  Subs: Dengate, Reid, Piggott