VCD Athletic 2-2 Cray Wanderers - We've told everyone they're playing for a shirt, says Joe Francis

VCD ATHLETIC  2-2  CRAY WANDERERS
Pre-Season Friendly
Tuesday 24th July 2012
Stephen McCartney reports from Oakwood

CRAY WANDERERS’ assistant manager Joe Francis says his side will be ready for their Ryman Premier League opener at Leiston on 18 August.

The Wands twice threw away the lead as they were held to a 2-2 draw by impressive Kent League side VCD Athletic on a sultry evening in Crayford.

Vickers were fresh from their comfortable 3-2 victory at Herne Bay to lift the Kent League Challenge Shield, whilst Cray Wanderers suffered a 3-0 defeat to landlords Bromley, at the weekend.

Cray Wanderers drew first blood, taking the lead after only 122 seconds through Leigh Bremner’s header, but VCD Athletic equalised through Karl Dent’s 28^th minute strike.

But Vickers’ hard work to get back into the game was undone as the Ryman Premier League visitors’ regained the lead just 83 seconds later through Guayan international Shawn Beveney, 30, who featured as an attacking right-winger.

VCD Athletic restored parity, courtesy of a fine right-footed half-volley from Billy Bennett, 19, the manager’s son, in the 62^nd minute.

Francis, who is a coach at Charlton Athletic, said: “Good game as far as pre-season goes.  I hate pre-season! Pre-season is the same every year. I can’t stand it!  You just have to get through it and look at positives and keep the boys’ engaged with effective training.

“It’s been particularly difficult this year with it being so wet and miserable but the boys have enjoyed the sessions I think.

“We’re getting down to three weeks before the start of the season and I can’t wait for it to be over.  We’ll be ready!”

VCD Athletic boss, Ricky Bennett, who played for the Wands when they clinched the Kent League title back in 2002 and 2003 said: “Again, like I said to you Saturday, I was pleased with our fitness levels. I had a couple back from holiday tonight and they needed a good blow out and it was difficult for them, but all over the park I thought our fitness levels were good and some of our play was good again so I’m pleased.”

VCD Athletic squandered an excellent chance to open the scoring first when James Duckworth whipped in a cross from the right to find fellow strike partner Mike McKenna at the near post but his header was saved by the diving Andy Walker, who saved low to his right.

But Cray Wanderers raced into an early lead, thanks to hard-working striker Bremner.

Chris Saunders played a short corner to Laurent Hamici, who rolled the ball back to Saunders, who floated in a cross towards the near post and Bremner headed the ball past Jack Bradshaw to find the bottom right-hand corner from six-yards.

Francis said: “I thought we looked bright up front and Laurent and Leigh and Bevs worked quite well together. Still ironing out a few rusty edges as you always do for a pre-season. 

“Also, second half I thought the boys fighting for a place did themselves justice.”

Bennett admitted he wasn’t pleased with the way his side started.

He said: “Again, like I said to you before the Welling game. We conceded an early goal similar. We’ve got to cut that out and I’ve had a word with a few people how I thought it came about and it’s something that we have to iron out.

“The pleasing thing is we didn’t melt or go into pieces because against sides like Cray and Welling they will turn the screw and punish you if you don’t show some good character and to be fair I thought we did show some character and deservedly got an equaliser.”

A pacy run from Bremner, when he burst past Dent down the right wing, created an opening for Hamici, but the striker, who is back at Hayes Lane after a season at league rivals Carshalton Athletic, flashed a right-footed shot just past of the post from 25-yards.

Cray Wanderers turned defence into attack when central defender Joe Vines smashed a right-footed volley up field and Hamici burst past Vickers defender Paul Gross down the left and the Frenchman cut inside and cracked a right-footed angled drive, which sailed past the far post.

But VCD Athletic equalised and central midfielder Bennett played a part in the first goal.

Jimmy Rogers dinked the ball from middle to left and Bennett had time and space to curl a shot over Andy Walker and down off the crossbar. The ball fell nicely into Dent’s path and the former Dartford player smashed a right-footed shot across Walker to find the bottom far corner.

Praising Dent, manager Bennett said: “He knows where the goal is. He popped up with a few last season. There’s bits to his game that he needs to work on.”

Francis added: “Sloppy goal.  All the goals that we conceded and the three that we conceded (against Bromley) on Saturday were all down to our own mistakes.  You don’t mind them now but we’ve got to eradicate that over the next couple of weeks and look to be tighter all round.”

But VCD Athletic switched off in defence and allowed Beveney – a security guard for Marks & Spencer but still plays in World Cup Qualifiers for his country – to score a fine solo goal.

Boss Bennett pointed the finger of blame at his left-back Greg Benbow and central defender Chris Hill for messing about in the corner of the pitch and Beveney snatched the ball off Hill and cut in from the right and with only Bradshaw to beat steered a low right-footed shot past the exposed keeper to find the bottom near corner.

He said: “I had a chat with Greg. It weren’t a dig at him. We worked so hard to get an equaliser and then almost straight after we’ve took a risk in an area we didn’t need to. 

“Alright, Chris Hill’s touch weren’t great and he’s caused himself a problem and he’s got robbed and they’ve scored, but Greg needs to learn and a few others to be fair that once you’ve got yourself back in the game you just clear your heads, do the right things and don’t get in areas where you’ll get unnecessarily punished.”

Francis said his side’s three main attacking players linked up well tonight.

“I thought Bev was a real threat.   We know the qualities that Bevs has got and all we need to do is utilise those qualities, get him playing on the last man and get him behind people.

“Shawn’s signed.  He’s a threat.  He’s a physical presence.  He’s another good personality as well to have in the dressing room.”

Hamici left the club to sign a lucrative contract at Carshalton Athletic, but Francis is glad he has returned for another spell at Hayes Lane.

Francis said: “Laurent’s a threat. What is unfortunate for his first year with us, he worked with Leigh (Bremner) all year and they were finally clicking in the final six weeks of the season. They’ve just got to rediscover each other’s strengths but I thought they played well together tonight, good movement.

“Leigh enjoyed himself, getting in behind people because that’s his game. They’ll develop their respect for each other again.”

Cray Wanderers boss Ian Jenkins made three changes at the interval, bringing on goalkeeper Grant Hall and midfielders Danny Phillips and Louis Sprosen and only defenders Tyrone Sterling and Danny Young got through the entire 90 minutes as nine substitutions were made in total.

Vickers made four changes at the break, including summer signing from Tunbridge Wells, midfielder Gary Clarke.

Cray Wanderers have pulled off a coup by signing Billy Burgess following a season at Ryman League Division One North club Maldon & Tiptree.  The right-back was one of five players to be released by Dartford manager Tony Burman in May 2011.

Francis said: “Billy’s a good player, a good footballer. I think he’s enjoying it and each week that Billy does pre-season, he’s working hard in pre-season and he’s a good defender and a good footballer.

“He went out to Maldon with Knighty (former Cray Wanderers goalkeeper Glen Knight) but he’s got a good pedigree and he’s played at the level and he’s a good personality.”

Phillips, meanwhile, caught the eye and he created a couple of early chances as he buzzed around the VCD Athletic penalty area. His first effort flashed narrowly wide of the foot of the right-hand post, and  then after a move involving Sterling and Hamici, Phillips’ left-footed drive from the edge of the box was comfortably saved by Bradshaw, who has just come back from holiday.

VCD Athletic gained a share of the spoils just past the hour-mark when Bennett cracked a right-footed half-volley across Hall to find the bottom far corner from 25-yards after the ball was hurled into the penalty area from the left.

Boss Bennett added: “It was a good strike.   It was only Grant in goal at that time!  No, I’m only joking! Yes, it was a good strike.  I thought he caught it on the half volley and yes, it was not a bad strike!”

Francis, who was without central defender, Mark Willy, through work commitments (fireman) tonight, said: “Players’ are reaching their match sharpness and some of them have got to do more than others and we’ve spoken about that and they all know. They’ve played at this level for a long time and we’ve given them a motivating talk both Saturday and last night at training so we have faith in them.”

Cray Wanderers pressed for the winner and Sprosen stung Bradshaw’s fingers when the midfielder cracked a left-footed half-volley from 30-yards towards the Vickers’ goal.

But VCD Athletic almost snatched a late winner, but the Wands were grateful to Hall.

Highly-rated striker, James Duckworth, unleashed a right-footed drive, which was beaten away by Hall, who pulled off another fine save within seconds, diving to his left to push another Duckworth shot around the post.

Bennett said: “He made a great save to be fair.  It was a good effort from Duckers.  You think whatever stage it is in the game if he gets a chance he’s got a good ratio of scoring but on this occasion the goalkeeper made a great save!”

Cray Wanderers missed an excellent chance to win the game when Sprossen’s pass found fellow substitute Tommy Youle in space inside the penalty area but his fiercely driven right-footed shot curled over the crossbar when he really should have tested Bradshaw.
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Francis was pleased with the trialists display during the second half.

He said: “I thought we were bright, especially when we maintained the tempo through the second half. We moved the ball really good.  One or two sloppy moments but you get that.”

When asked how many players they will be running this season, Francis replied, “We’ll trim that down. We’ll have 16-17 players at the beginning of the season.

“We’ve told everybody they’re playing for their shirt.  You have got to do it that way.  You get performances out of them.”

VCD Athletic have only two more home warm-up games, Chatham Town on Thursday and Sittingbourne on Saturday, before they kick-off their Kent League campaign at home to Beckenham Town on 4 August.

Bennett, who was without Aiden Pursglove (ill), George Mitchell (back) and Billy Shinners (knee) tonight, revealed he has already released some players who featured in their sixteen-man squad at Herne Bay at the weekend.

He said: “With two weeks until our first game, I’ve had to cut the squad down to a size I think we can manage and unfortunately from Saturday I’ve had to let three players (Jake Burman, David Noel and Fraser Walker) go.

“We should’ve had sixteen today but Aiden (Pursglove) phoned in sick. He’s not been well today so we’re down to fifteen and four of those have just come back from holiday. It’s not ideal. I think long-term when we get our injured players back we should be alright.”

Bennett, meanwhile, has high hopes for winger Uche Ibemere, who was sporting a Mario Balotelli haircut tonight.

He said: “He’s frightening Uche to be honest.  Great haircut!  Another I’ve sort of had as a youth player here, under 15, 16.  He’s been sort of in and out of the club.  He went to try his luck at a higher level but he suffered with injuries over the last couple of seasons and hasn’t been able to get a full pre-season under his belt in probably two or three years, which has hindered his play. He managed to do that this year and he’s looking fit, a bit sharp and frightening at times.”

VCD Athletic: Jack Bradshaw, Jack Asbury (Chris Page 46), Greg Benbow (Laurence Collins 46), Chris Hill, Paul Gross, Karl Dent (Jimmy Rogers 67), Jimmy Rogers (Gary Clarke 46), Billy Bennett (James Duckworth 75), Mike McKenna, James Duckworth (Daryl Wheeler 46), Uche Ibemere.

Goals: Karl Dent 28, Billy Bennett 62

Cray Wanderers: Andy Walker (Grant Hall 46), Billy Burgess (James Darville 76), Tyrone Sterling, Aaron Day (Danny Phillips 46), Joe Vines (Ryan Martin 53), Danny Young, Laurent Hamici (Tommy Youle 68), Chris Saunders (Louis Sprosen 46), Leigh Bremner (Michael Power 68), Alex Stavinou (Williams Peauroux 57), Shawn Beveney (Jason Ward 76).

Goals: Leigh Bremner 3, Shawn Beveney 30

Attendance: 67
Referee: Mr Martin Lehane (Bexleyheath)
Assistants: Mr Neil Baker (Welling) & Mr Adam Back (Sidcup)