VCD Athletic 0-1 Horsham - The better team lost today, admits Vickers boss Ricky Bennett

VCD ATHLETIC  0-1  HORSHAM
The FA Cup with Budweiser First Qualifying Round
Saturday 8^th September 2012
Stephen McCartney reports from Oakwood

VCD ATHLETIC boss Ricky Bennett says he needs to bring in a ruthless striker after his profligate side lost to a poor Horsham team in The FA Cup today.

The Kent League side completely dominated their Ryman League Division One South opponents in this one-sided First Qualifying Round tie – but Horsham completed a smash-and-grab raid to win it with 25 minutes remaining thanks to a side-footed close range finish from former Eastbourne Borough striker Billy Medlock.

“I think there’s two ways of looking at it,” said a disappointed Bennett afterwards, “You can either say we didn’t deserve to lose, unlucky, blah, blah, blah or the other way is we weren’t good enough in the last third.

“We should have had the game won at half-time.  We had two, if not three, great chances. If they go in I think it’s game over!”

A cheesed off Bennett added: “It’s pleasing if you get a result but we’ve got nothing out of it other than a decent performance without getting the result that matters really.”

It was a frustrating day for Bennett and his number 2 Andy Silk, who guided the Crayford club to the Second Qualifying Round last season when they went out to a single goal away to then Conference South side Thurrock in a replay.

The luck that Silk spoke about in his pre-match interview leading up to the game certainly deserted the third-placed Vickers as Horsham grabbed a victory that they didn’t deserve.

Bennett, whose attempts to lure striker Jack Harris (who has also interested Conference South side Welling United and Ryman League Division One South Herne Bay) away from Tunbridge Wells failed last week, admitted he needs a goalscorer.

He said: “It’s getting a bit silly now!  I’ve got loads of faith in my squad and my players, I think they’re all great but it’s evident and it has been evident that we need that ruthless striker who’s going to get your 20 goals a season.

“I have been trying and for one reason or another I’ve not been able to bring that one in but I’ll keep trying because I think we need it.

“The players I’ve got know I’m looking. It’s down to them to put that right themselves, to try to keep their shirt but at the end of the day that’s all we’re lacking.

“If you’re honest and you’re a neutral watching today I think most people will turn round and say if we had a natural finisher we would have won the game.”

VCD Athletic, who were watched by their second largest of the season, created the game’s first chance inside the opening six minutes.

James Duckworth, who linked up well with lone targetman Paul Gross, released Billy Bennett down the right channel and he whipped in a precise cross with his right foot but Jack Asbury’s free-header was caught by visiting keeper Michael Hunter.

Boss Bennett admitted afterwards his side really should have taken their 12^th minute chance.

Uche Ibemere’s diagonal ball put Duckworth in behind the defence and the wideman rounded the advancing keeper, who got a slight touch to make the angle difficult for the number 10, who cut the ball back and Gross’s weak shot from eight-yards was cleared off the line by Ian Varley.

Bennett bemoaned: “That was probably the easiest one for me, a few yards out. It doesn’t matter how you connect with it, whether it’s a toe-poke or just a smash, it’s a goal!

“It may have been behind him a little bit but I felt we should have scored. I think he knows that as well.”

Bennett explained why his skipper was wearing the number 9 shirt.

“We’ve had Aiden (Pursglove) up there but he’s not been with us regularly of late through work and family commitments and his fitness has dropped because of it. Gross has played there before and he’s played there a few times for me last season up there.

“You know what you’re going to get. He’s going to hold the ball up and link things. He may not be the sharpest in and around the box. I think, to be fair, for the majority of the game it worked quite well with him bringing other people into the game rather than getting on the end of things.”

Billy Bennett released Ibemere down the left channel and he chased a lost cause and used his strength to cut the ball back to Duckworth, who laid the ball off to an unmarked Jimmy Rogers, whose right-footed drive from 25-yards sailed over.

A poor Horsham outfit took 20 minutes to create their first opening, much to the annoyance of their manager, Simon Colbran.

Goalkeeper Hunter launched a ball straight down the middle of the pitch and this was flicked on by Tony Nwachukwu and Medlock cracked a right-footed angled drive over.

Horsham started to play much better and a corner from Ryan Marriott was headed away by Gross and Varley volleyed the ball back which found Marriott again and he put the ball back was cleared out to Kery Kedze, who dinked the ball through to Gary Charman and the club stalwart steered his shot across Jack Bradshaw and into the far corner but from an offside position in the 27^th minute.

Vickers keeper Bradshaw was finally called into action within a couple of minutes when Nwachukwu’s cross sailed over Jack Asbury’s head and Marriott’s low cross wasn’t cleared by Vickers defender Chris Hill and Kedze played in Medlock, who turned George Mitchell, but his flicked shot was blocked from point-blank-range by the home keeper.

Bradshaw was called into action again when he punched away Nwachukwu’s corner from the left and reacted swiftly to Kedze’s right-footed hooked volley at the far post – the keeper sticking up his left arm to turn away for a corner.

Bennett said: “He’s a bit like the old Jack today, which I’m really pleased about it. He knows it himself. He’s come back from a bad injury, he hasn’t been quite firing on all cylinders, but today he was back to the old Jack which is really pleasing.”

Gross, who worked tirelessly to bring his team-mates in to the game, did exactly that when he held the ball up before releasing Duckworth, who burst down the right flank and he did excellently to shrug aside Billy Joe King, cut along the by-line before cutting the ball back to Bennett, who clipped the ball into the penalty area and Rogers’ skied a first time shot over from eight-yards.

A poor headed clearance by Asbury gifted Marriott a chance but the Horsham left-winger blasted his volley over from a tight angle.

Vickers created a couple of decent chances just before half-time.

Mitchell – who was immense beside Hill at the heart of Vickers’ defence – clipped the ball out of defence and Gross’s flicked the ball on to release Ibemere, who cut inside the poor Horsham left-back Billy Joe King and his deep cross picked out Gross at the far post who could only power his diving header into the side-netting from eight-yards.

Duckworth then played in Bennett in behind Horsham’s two central defenders and all he could do was slide his right-footed shot wide under pressure from a sliding tackle when he really should have tested Hunter.

Vickers should have gone into the break in the lead and former striker Bennett has challenged Duckworth and Ibemere to find their ruthless streak.

He said: “Duckers and Uche, they’ve got that in their locker so if they had a little more of a mean streak in them they wouldn’t be playing at this level but that’s why they are because they’re too nice.  I want them to be nice but I want them to be ruthless on a football pitch.  If you could mix the two up you’re laughing but unfortunately they are how they are.  They’re superb footballers, great lads but they’re not that ruthless in and around the box and they’ll be the first to admit that.”

Horsham midfielder Kedze drove a left-footed shot on the angle from 25-yards which was comfortably caught by Bradshaw inside the opening five minutes of the second half.

Horsham just found Hill and Mitchell just too good at the heart of Vickers’ defence.

Bennett said: “George has just got into the side after being really patient. He had an injury in pre-season and he’s had to bide his time because Gross and Chris Hill have been playing well and through circumstances he got a start last week and he was excellent.”

Bennett barked “how many more?” when a dink from his son Billy played Ibemere in behind the Horsham defence but the physically strong winger shot wide.

Ibemere then shrugged off Gary Charman’s attentions and with only the keeper to beat his shot was spilt by Hunter at his near post, the Horsham keeper gathering the ball at the second attempt.

Horsham ventured forward just before the hour when Kedze cut the ball back to right-back Jamie Brockhurst, who swung in a right-footed cross towards the far post all that Marriot could offer was to send a poor downward header which was easily gathered by Bradshaw.

A diagonal pass from Vickers’ midfielder Rogers was swept forward first time by Duckworth to release Ashbury hurtling down the left channel.   His poor centre was cleared and Gross teed up Duckworth, who steered his right-footed shot wide of the far post.

Therefore it was inevitable that Horsham would complete their smash-and-grab raid in the 65^th minute.

Vickers’ man-of-the-match, warrior in the middle of the park, Gary Clarke, was clearly fouled as he was the meat in a Horsham sandwich but referee Garry Maskell allowed play to continue and Billy Joe King was released down the left and found Marriott, who cut the ball across the face of goal from the  by-line and Medlock hooked a side-footed volley into an empty net from three-yards out.

Bennett said: “I don’t think they pulled us apart to be honest. They were very quick but I don’t think they cut us open.”

Reflecting on the goal, Bennett pointed the finger of blame at the Essex referee.

He blasted: “Ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous from the referee and that wasn’t the first time, there were quite a few of them during the game.  That was the most obvious foul and he’s let it go and they’ve gone on and scored, which is heartbreaking, but that was always on the cards.”

But he did praise the Horsham goal-getter, by saying, “I think you could see from their nine, not the greatest physique on him but he used his body intelligently. He made good runs and he looked to be in and around the box.”

But Bennett was full of praise for Clake, who he brought in from Tunbridge Wells in the close season.

He said: “He’s been outstanding since he’s come here.  To be fair, to me, he’s been man-of-the-match in nearly every game we’ve played.  He’s just like a machine. He gets knocked about but he keeps getting back up and he gives 100%.  He’s picked up one (injury), which might be a crack to his rib so he’ll have to go to the hospital to see how that is. Hopefully he’s not out for too long because he’s been immense for us.”

It was cruel for VCD Athletic, who certainly didn’t deserve to be losing at this stage of the game and sent the vocal Horsham fans dreaming about going to Wembley.

Horsham almost grabbed a second when Marriott’s corner was flicked on and Medlock flicked his shot wide from an acute angle at the near post just three yards from goal.

Asbury pumped a deep free-kick into the Horsham box and Ibemere powered his header wide of the near post with time ticking out.

As VCD Athletic started to push bodies forward in search of an equaliser that their performance deserved and Horsham looked a lively outfit on the counter attack.

Asbury lost the ball high up the pitch and Horsham broke at pace and Billy Joe King played a diagonal ball across to Nwachukwu on the right who burst forward before centering to Kedze, who blasted his right-footed shot over from 25-yards.

Another break from Nwachukwu resulted in substitute Jamie Ampleford being denied by Bradshaw, who swiftly got down low to his right to deny Horsham a flattering second goal.

With Bradshaw coming up for last-gasp corners, Vickers knew their time was up in this season’s FA Cup campaign inside the second minute of stoppage time.

Substitute Kiran Dingri clipped the ball towards the far post, from just outside the left corner of the Horsham penalty area and Duckworth turned and smashed a right-footed shot towards goal but Hunter stuck out his right arm to make a fine block.

Bennett said: “It summed our day up to be honest. He’s hit it quite well to be honest. Nine times out of ten Duckers scores from there. It was just one of those days I think.  The keeper’s pulled off a worldy right at the end.”

The final whistle saw Horsham’s supporters celebrate victory like their side had just pulled off a major FA Cup upset by beating a higher-league outfit.

Bennett added: “I think if they were honest and they would hold their hands up and say the better team lost today and I’m sure a lot of people watching will be thinking that as well, but they’ve won it and that’s it.  We can’t do anything about it now. Good luck to them in the next round.

“We’re out of the Cup. We should be looking forward to the (Second Qualifying Round) draw on Monday.  We’re not and now we have to come back down to earth, regroup, train in the week and work to put it right against Rochester next Saturday.

“Realistically we’re not going to get too far in the FA Cup but I felt we should be in it another round at least so we’ll concentrate on the league games and the domestic cups and look to push on.”

VCD Athletic: Jack Bradshaw, Jack Asbury, Greg Benbow, Chris Hill, George Mitchell, Gary Clarke, Jimmy Rogers (Kiran Dingri 87),Billy Bennett (Daryl Wheeler 66), Paul Gross (Aiden Pursglove 73), James Duckworth, Uche Ibemere.
Subs: Laurence Collins, Mike McKenna, Danny Burke

Horsham: Michael Hunter, Jamie Brockhurst, Billy Joe King, Ian Varley, Gary Charman, Adam Hutchings, Tony Nwachukwu, Kery Kedze, Billy Medlock (Jamie Ampleford 80), Wayne Clarke (Qudus Bolaji 66), Ryan Marriott.
Subs: Harry Smith, Chris Maxsted, Jonathan Buriend

Goal:  Billy Medlock 65

Booked: Kery Kedze 72

Attendance: 126
Referee: Mr Garry Maskell (Westclif-on-Sea, Essex)
Assistants: Mr Jeffrey Stanley (Basildon, Essex) & Mr Graham Methurin (Stanford-le-Hope, Essex)