VCD Athletic 3-0 Tunbridge Wells. Ford heaps praise on battling rivals - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS

VCD ATHLETIC 3-0 TUNBRIDGE WELLS
Saturday 18^th November 2006
FA Carlsberg Vase Second Round
Stephen McCartney reports from Oakwood

VCD Athletic are the sole Kent representatives in the last 64 of the FA Carlsberg Vase but despite winning by three clear goals against their Kent League rivals Tunbridge Wells, the scoreline simply flattered them.

Tunbridge Wells may be bottom of the table with just five points from their first eleven games, but they arrived at the Oakwood in determined mood with a game plan to close down Vickers’ playmakers and keep tabs on the front pairing of Richard Sinden and Leroy Huggins, who have both played at a higher level.

Tunbridge Wells’ resistance, however, lasted until the 55^th minute when Huggins opened the scoring and he netted his fifth goal in six games (following his move from Ryman Leaguers Maidstone United), inside stoppage time.

A controversial goal from substitute Steve Taylor had given the Crayford side their second goal with 17 minutes left.

“Give Tunbridge (Wells) their due I thought they made a right good game of it today,” relieved VCD Athletic boss Martin Ford said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk after their win.

“They came at us first half like I knew they would, any Martin Farnie side will.

“They done their homework on us, shut us down and we were glad to get in at half-time unscathed.

“We sorted a few things out, got people together a little bit closer second half and I thought the front two worked well, Richard (Sinden) and Leroy (Huggins).

“I thought Danny (Penny) came on and did really well and I thought that was the deciding factor, which we just upped our work-rate and picked them off when we did.”

VCD Athletic almost opened the scoring after eight minutes when Ashley Probets’ left-footed free-kick from 30-yards was tipped over by former Dartford goalkeeper James Simpson.

Vickers next two chances came from Probets’ free-kicks. Mark Greatorex met a far-post delivery with a downward header, which bounced past the foot of the near post, and then Huggins was left unmarked on the edge of the penalty area, who then squared the ball to substitute Stuart Abbott, whose shot drifted well wide.

Abbott had just replaced skipper Kevin Winchcombe, who had strained his hamstring.

Tunbridge Wells, though, created their first chance of the game after 23 minutes, but VCD Athletic had Adrian Hatcher to thank for squandering an excellent chance.

The defender ghosted in at the far post to meet Bradley Mortimer’s cross, but instead of rifling the ball high into the net from close range, he felt he was defending his own goal and directed the ball towards the penalty spot instead of giving the visitors the lead against the run of play.

Striker James Carter, signed for a period of a month from Dartford, was booked after 34 minutes after sending long haired Vickers midfielder Gary Ward into the air following a midfield challenge.

The frustrated home side had to wait until the stroke of half-time before creating another couple of chances.

A clearance from goalkeeper Grant Wallis was not cut out by Joe Fuller and Abbott cut in from the left but his shot from 20-yards was wayward.

Vickers forced a couple of late first half corners, with Terry Ratchford, under pressure, nodding Abbott’s near post corner wide.

But it was Tunbridge Wells who created the first chance of the second half.

Mortimer poked the ball to Carter on the left-hand side and received the ball back from the Dartford striker.

Mortimer squared the ball to his captain Jason Bourne, who teed up Andy Garrett, but his right-footed 35-yard drive sailed over.

Huggins issued the Wells a warning when he managed to get behind their defence and his low centre found partner Sinden, who failed to get a shot away towards Simpson’s goal.

But they did combine to give VCD a deserved lead after 55 minutes.

Probets’ left-footed free-kick was chipped into the Wells box and Sinden nodded the ball across the face of goal and Huggins lashed the ball into the net from 12-yards.

The game needed a goal to spark it into life, but Wells were forced to shoot from distance as Lee Coburn marshalled the home side’s back-line.

Wells left-sided midfielder Alex Rich was never going to trouble Wallis with his left-footed drive from forty yards.

Wells’ best chance, however, fell on the hour mark. Fuller’s cross from the right was flicked on by Mortimer but Carter blazed over from six-yards.

Five minutes later Ben Hilden stroked wide of the far post after Carter touched on Mortimer’s left-footed free-kick.

But VCD Athletic doubled their lead in a controversial manner with 73 minutes on the clock.

Wells’ defence were sleeping as they allowed Wallis’ clearance to go over the top for Huggins to latch onto.

But with only the goalkeeper to beat, the much-travelled striker was denied by a fine block by Simpson.

Taylor’s exquisite chip towards goal dropped about a foot over the goal-line according to Chatham based assistant referee Mr Mark Sage when quizzed by an enraged Wells fan beside their dug-out.

But the Wells thought Bourne’s efforts on the goal-line had prevented Taylor scoring his third goal of the season.

“The second one is not a goal,” Wells’ boss Martin Farnie told www.kentishfootball.co.uk  EXCLUSIVELY after the game.

He added: “I don’t know how the linesman gives that from the angle he is. I am disappointed with the three officials today - I thought they were poor.”

Good play from Ward teed up a driven volley from Abbott, which was superbly tipped over by Simpson with five minutes remaining.

Carter, who was pleased that he got 90 minutes under his belt, was denied a goal when his header was saved by Wallis, following Hilden’s cross towards the far post.

But moments later Huggins latched onto a through ball and slotted past an exposed Simpson into the bottom left-hand corner as VCD Athletic look to emulate last season’s run when they reached the last sixteen.

They are joined by Croydon, who took advantage of home soil, as Dickson Gill’s side defeated Sidley United by three goals to one at the Croydon Sports Arena.

But Erith & Belvedere, Hythe Town and Sevenoaks Town were knocked out, having lost at Chessington & Hook United, Hailsham Town and Three Bridges respectively.

Despite their FA Vase exit, Farnie couldn’t fault the commitment from his side.

“I thought we shaded the first half and I thought they shaded the second half but 3-0 flattered them,” he said.

“The difference today was quality up front. They took their chances, we didn’t. Simple as that!

“That’s why their paying money out to the two strikers and we’re struggling where we are in the league because of goals really but I thought we were excellent today.”

Ford, who praised Lee Coburn as his side have now kept four consecutive clean sheets, is hoping to emulate last season’s Vase run.

“I’d like to go as far as we went last year,” he said. “I think we honestly can as we have got a better squad this year.

“I’m looking to get into the national bit again which is the last 32. If we can do that it will be fantastic for the club.

“Now we’ve got a home ground we’re chomping at the bit to get home games. Last season I think we played all of the rounds away from home.

“But we want to play all our games here. It’s fantastic for the local area and it was important to get through today.

“I think this competition will attract more local support.”