Erith & Belvedere 3-2 VCD Athletic - We'd like to emulate what Herne Bay did, says Micky Collins

ERITH & BELVEDERE  3-2  VCD ATHLETIC
The FA Carlsberg Vase First Round Replay
Tuesday 16^th October 2012
Stephen McCartney reports from Park View Road

ERITH & BELVEDERE boss Micky Collins says he wants to emulate Herne Bay by going on an epic FA Vase run this season.

Herne Bay reached the semi-finals of The FA Carlsberg Vase last season and they suffered a heartbreaking second-leg defeat at West Auckland Town before they clinched the Kent League title.  Herne Bay manager Simon Halsey was at Park View Road tonight to see how his on-loan defender Steve Hanson was getting on at Erith & Belvedere.

Saturday’s first game at Oakwood ended in a goal-less stalemate, but Kent League leaders Erith & Belvedere sealed their passage into the Second Round thanks to their first ever home win over VCD Athletic.

The Deres found themselves 2-0 up at the break, courtesy of goals from strikers Andy Constable and Adam Burchell, who had a second-half penalty saved by heroic Vickers keeper Jack Bradshaw, before Constable volleyed home his eleventh goal of the season with 21 minutes left.

VCD Athletic, who went into this game sitting in fourth-place in the Kent League table, just six points behind their opponents but with a game in hand, nearly produced a sterling fight-back when substitute Michael McKenna grabbed two late goals, but it was Erith & Belvedere who will welcome Frimley Green in the Second Round on 17 November.

Collins said he was well pleased with his side after they banked £900 in much-welcomed prize money with this win, which stretched their unbeaten run to six games and ended Vickers’ unbeaten run of five.

“Having seen the draw during the week, getting a home tie in the second round was always a positive,” said Collins.

“I thought the boys, over the two games, acquitted themselves really well.  We had a good performance on Saturday, very solid. We should’ve won it on Saturday but we didn’t but fair play to VCD.  They played really well with ten men and tonight I think anyone who was at the game will say the scoreline probably flattered them a little bit.”

Collins revealed his side created history for the club.

“Something happened tonight that is a first – we’ve never beaten VCD as a club at home in any competition ever. I’m proud of the boys because they’re the first people to ever do it so we’ve made history tonight for the club, which is fantastic. We’ve put that hoodoo to bed, which is great.”

VCD Athletic boss, Ricky Bennett, couldn’t hide his disappointment afterwards.

He said: “I felt for the first 25 minutes we were excellent to be fair. If the official keeps up with Uche onside when he scores it’s a different game but for 25 minutes I thought we played really well, but it weren’t our night.

“They’ve had four or five chances and scored three and we weren’t ruthless enough with our own chances.

“I’m gutted because we thought we would be equipped to have a good run in the Vase but you can’t do nothing about the draws and we’ve hit an in-form side early in the competition and we weren’t good enough to beat them.

“I’m disappointed because I like the Vase because it’s a good competition but now maybe they’ll have a good run and it gives us a bit more time to concentrate on the league and the domestic cups.”

Erith & Belvedere created the game’s first opening, inside the opening five minutes, when Jamie Wood swung in a left-footed corner from the left and Hanson peeled off his marker to glance his header across several bodies and past the far post.

But VCD Athletic re-grouped and enjoyed a decent spell, and Uche Ibemere planted his header wide of the post from ten-yards after James Duckworth swung in a right-footed free-kick, before Ibemere had a goal chalked off for offside.

VCD Athletic continued to press and in the eleventh minute a run from the impressive Greg Benbow saw the winger feed Lee Morgan, who played the ball to Ibemere, who cut inside before centering to Billy Bennett, whose right-footed shot on the turn from 12-yards deflected narrowly over the crossbar.

But Erith & Belvedere opened the scoring through a set-piece halfway through the first half, courtesy of a quality free-kick from Orlando Smith, who featured for Blue Square Bet (Conference) South side Bromley this time last year.

Winger Smith whipped in an excellent right-footed free-kick from the left channel and the Vickers defence failed to track Constable’s run and the striker powered his near-post header through a crowded area and into the net.

Collins defended his side’s long-ball game and said: “It’s why long-balls do well. They put balls in areas. It’s all we do, what we practice.  It’s good enough for the pro’s all the way up to the Championship and it’s good enough for us and it proves it works at times.  If you put it into the right areas it’s very difficult to defend against. I don’t care who you are. If the ball’s put in there and you can get something on it, it’s a goal.  We could’ve passed it sideways made seven passes, give the ball away. We didn’t! We put it in the box and we scored.”

Bennett agreed: “It was a great delivery. It’s really hard to defend against.  I was a bit concerned about having two men out there but it’s a great ball in, good movement and it’s hard to defend. It’s a good goal that.”

VCD Athletic squandered a decent chance to equalise when Duckworth swung in a low right-footed free-kick in from the left and the ball fell at Paul Gross’s feet and his right-footed shot on the turn brought a low save from Scott Chalmers-Stevens.

Smith’s electrifying pace hit Vickers on the counter attack down the left and he fed Burchell who reached the by-line before he whipped in a cross towards the near post and Constable glancing header from four-yards caressed the crossbar.

Erith & Belvedere deservedly doubled their lead ten minutes before the break.  Burchell broke down the left and played the ball to Constable, who laid the ball back to Burchell (aided by Morgan) and Burchell drilled a right-footed shot across Bradshaw to find the net.

Assistant referee Mr Scott Rudd raised his flag claiming the goalscorer was offside but referee Peter Killip awarded the goal after consulting his colleague.

Collins said: “The linesman hasn’t seen Andy’s gone to play the ball backwards and their defender has played the ball through and that’s what’s happened so Burch’s not offside because it’s their defender who played it.

“Fair play to the referee. He’s bright as a button, pulled up on it, saw it and allowed the goal to go.  I was really impressed with the referee, after watching the debacle on Saturday with officials, to see that tonight I felt he was really good.”

Bennett added: “I thought it was spawny football to be honest. It’s just bounced about. It’s come off Morgs into Burchell’s path and he’s got quick-feet and he’s scored so it’s a poxy goal from our point of view, but there you go.”

When asked whether he thought the goal was offside, Bennett replied, “yes, but we saw it that it came off Morgs so we knew it would be over-ruled!”

Collins praised Burchell, who scored his seventh goal since dropping down to the Kent League.

“I’ve got to be honest, at times Adam can be very frustrating. He’ll be the very first person to say that but when he’s on form he proves he’s a player that can play at least one, two league’s higher than this, no shadow of a doubt and at times he’s unplayable and the same can be said of Orlando Smith.”

Bradshaw, who came back into the side for Steve Northwood, was Vickers’ man-of-the-match, made a smart double save to thwart the home side on the stroke of half-time.

A long ball from Jamie Wood exposed last defender Paul Gross and he failed to stop Constable in his tracks and the striker played the ball across to Burchell, whose low right-footed angled drive was parried by Bradshaw, who got up immediately to block Constable’s follow-up, the ball looping over the crossbar and out for a corner.

Bennett was full of praise for his returning shot-stopper by saying, “Last couple of weeks he hasn’t played through injury and that was pleasing to see tonight, that Jack was back to the old Jack that we knew from last season and hopefully it’s a sign of a good run of form for him.”

Collins told his side to “be careful” of any second half backlash from the men in green and white hopped shirts.

He added: “They’re a good side, take nothing away from VCD. They’re always a good side. Ricky sets them up well. They’re always strong and they never give up and we said that from the moment.  We said if we get the third goal we think we win the game and even then we nearly threw it away!”

When asked about his half-time thoughts, Bennett replied, “I thought we were still in it. If we got the next goal I thought we would go on and possibly win the game, but we huffed and puffed and it didn’t quite go in our favour.”

Bradshaw continued to thwart the home side and he made yet another fantastic save after only 135 seconds into the second half.

Erith & Belvedere left-back Richard Davies had time and space to unleash a left-footed drive from 35-yards, which was destined to fly into the top left-hand corner, but for Bradshaw’s outstretched right-hand, which pushed the ball over the crossbar.

A poor clearance from Bradshaw was picked up by Smith, who slid a diagonal ball to Burchell, but the Vickers keeper made amends to advance quickly off his line to make a fine block.

VCD Athletic couldn’t live with the pacy attack from Burchell and Smith throughout and the two combined again but Smith stroked a low first-time shot wide of the near post.

Constable then played the ball across to the left channel and Smith cut inside and cracked a powerful right-footed drive which was beaten out by Bradshaw, low to his right.

But Erith & Belvedere were awarded a penalty in the 65^th minute when referee Mr Killip brought play back after Vickers’ defender Laurence Collins pulled Burchell back.

Burchell was punished for showing a bit of arrogance with his run-up, turning his back before turning and running up to the ball before stroking his right-footed penalty towards the bottom right-hand corner, but Bradshaw, who was booked for dissent following the penalty decision, guessed the right way and parried the shot and gathered the loose ball before the embarrassed Burchell could pounce.

Collins said: “Poor penalty!  Burchy wants to take it because he’s a confidence player and he wants to get the goal and he wants to boost his confidence.  He’s taken it off the other lads who should’ve taken it and he’ll be the first to say he’s changed his mind halfway through his run-up and it’s a poor penalty.

“He might have been better off running up with his back to goal and back-healing it. It might have had a bit more power in it!”

Collins was very impressed with the Vickers’ keeper and said: “I’ve always rated Jack.  I think he’s a good keeper and again, he’s another one I think who could play at a higher level.  Maybe at some time he’s got to look to push on a bit higher.  I know he’s had a few injuries, the poor lad.  He’s a great goalkeeper. He’s kept them in it tonight.”

Bennett was puzzled as to why the penalty was awarded.   “He’s won the ball and the ref’s called out ‘play on’ and when he’s not scored he’s pointed to the penalty spot.  I can’t understand that one!

Reflecting on Bradshaw’s heroics, he added: “He’s got that about him. He’s a great keeper. He’s not been at his best this year but he’s come back from a bad cruciate injury.”

The game appeared to be over when Constable finished off a fine move with 21 minutes remaining.

The Deres cleared the ball out of defence and Smith picked the ball up in midfield before spraying an over-hit diagonal pass to Burchell down the right.  Burchell had to retrieve the ball before he cut the ball inside to Wood, who dinked his pass towards the near post and Constable hooked a first time volley across Bradshaw to find the bottom far corner from eight-yards.

“It was a great goal!” said Collins.  “That’s great football. That’s at least four or five passes that’s lead to that and we’ve worked our way into an area. It’s a little dink by Jamie and Andy Constable does well in the box and he’s put it away.

“Again, we’re berated for our style of play and you watch that and it’s certainly wasn’t one ball from the back to the front!”

Bennett added: “That was a good ball from Woody and a good bit of movement from Contable. You can’t really argue, it was a good goal but I’m a bit disappointed. We’ve got more to show really. First 25 minutes it’s critical when you’re on top you’ve got to score. Unfortunately we didn’t.”

With the game turning fractious, VCD Athletic started to show signs of recovery when Duckworth smashed a low right-footed shot past the near post from 25-yards before Ibemere headed wide.

Erith & Belvedere almost put the game beyond doubt when Smith’s swept pass carved open another chance for Constable, who was denied by the onrushing Bradshaw and from Wood’s resulting right-wing corner, Hanson came up from the back and his near post header was parried by Bradshaw at his near post.

But VCD Athletic made a game off it and they pulled a goal back in the 81^st minute.

Gross swept the ball out to Benbow on the left, who fed Ibemere, who reached the by-line before cutting the ball across in the air to substitute Karl Dent and his header was beaten away by Chalmers-Stevens, who inexplicably pushed over Aiden Pursglove, who had his back to the goalkeeper in an attempt to shield the ball.

McKenna stepped up and drove his right-footed penalty into the bottom left-hand corner, leaving the keeper well beaten.

Bennett said: “We always keep going.  That’s us. We always will.  When we got two back and we had one cleared off the line right at the death it was interesting, shall we say?

“From where I was it looked like a penalty. I don’t think there was any question with it. Macca’s tucked it away well and to be fair to Macca he’s been patient. He’s not had many minutes lately. He broke his collarbone earlier in the season and he was out for a while but he’s found it hard to get a start, but he’s proved when he’s come on he’s got some quality.”

Vickers then grabbed a life-line, with two minutes and 20 seconds into injury time, but their second game proved to be too late.

Benbow combined well down the left with Ibemere and the left-winger whipped in a precise cross towards the near post and McKenna swept home a first-time shot across Chalmers-Stevens to find the bottom far corner.

Bennett added: “It was a good striker’s goal that goal, movement, but too little too late, right at the death.

“We nearly done it, didn’t we?  We had one off the line.  Had we scored that, go into extra-time, it’s a different ball game but there you go.” 

Bradshaw stayed up in a bid to snatch a last-gasp leveller to force extra time and they almost did that but Erith & Belvedere survived a scare to send Vickers crashing out of the competition at their first hurdle.

Collins admitted his side got sloppy during that crazy last ten minutes.

“The game’s 90 minutes and you’ve got to play 90 minutes.  We got sloppy.  I think the first time we defended in two games we switched off a little bit and Scott will be the first to say he should’ve dealt with the cross better and dropped it.  Aiden’s done well, he’s got his body in the way and fell over and he’s good at that and he’s got himself a penalty. The kid’s put it away well and the next one, Scott will be the first  to put his hands up again. I think he’s got to save it.

“They piled the pressure on and the goalkeeper came up and we’ve cleared one off the line to save it but I think when you look at the balance of play and you look at chances for and against, if you were a neutral here today you’d like to say on the night and probably over the two games the better team have gone through.”

Looking ahead to playing Frimley Green at home in the next round, Collins said: “We’ve got another home tie, which is great we’re still in the competition, which I’m chuffed.  We’d like to emulate what Simon did with Herne Bay last year and go as far as we can because that was an amazing achievement, especially to win the League as well and if we get anywhere near that distance, even if we could get to the national stages, that would be a massive plus for this club.

“We’ve got a great bunch of lads here and we’ve got a chairman and directors that believe in us.  Hopefully we’re rewarding them with what we’re doing on the pitch.  The prize money helps.   Let’s hope we see some of it!”

Erith & Belvedere: Scott Chalmers-Stevens, Allan Matthews, Richard Davies, Jamie Wood (Sam Hasler 84), Steve Hanson, George Benner, Sean Johnson, Paul Springett, Andy Constable, Adam Burchell (Kieran McCann 90), Orlando Smith.
Subs: Karl Knight, Luis Regis, Marvin Francis

Goals: Andy Constable 22, 69, Adam Burchell 35

Booked: Allan Matthews 15, Andy Constable 74, Sean Johnson 90

VCD Athletic: Jack Bradshaw, James Duckworth, Laurence Collins, George Mitchell (Jack Asbury 41), Paul Gross, Gary Clarke, Lee Morgan (Karl Dent 60), Billy Bennett (Michael McKenna 75), Aiden Pursglove, Uche Ibemere, Greg Benbow.
Subs: Jimmy Rogers, Mark Hammond

Goals: Michael McKenna 81 (pen), 90

Booked: Jack Bradshaw 68, Paul Gross 74, Lee Morgan 81

Attendance: 68
Referee: Mr Peter Killip (Crystal Palace, London SE20)
Assistants: Mr Paul Gorvett (Erith) & Mr Scott Rudd (Dartford)