VCD Athletic 1-3 East Thurrock United - Some of the lads need to show a bit of commitment and desire to stay up, says Vickers boss Keith McMahon

VCD Athletic 1 – 3 East Thurrock United
Location	Oakwood, Old Road, Crayford, Kent DA1 4DN
Kickoff	05/01/2016 19:45

VCD ATHLETIC  1-3  EAST THURROCK UNITED
Ryman Premier League
Tuesday 5^th January 2016
Stephen McCartney reports from Oakwood

VCD ATHLETIC manager Keith McMahon has challenged his players to show the commitment and desire to keep the club in the Ryman Premier League.

The Crayford-based club remain in the bottom two having won four and drawn seven of their 26 games and have 20 league games left to play to beat the drop.

The Vickers are 10 points adrift of safety after John Coventry’s East Thurrock United side climbed up three places into sixth-place on 44 points from 25 games following this comfortable victory at Oakwood.

East Thurrock United, who lined up with a 4-2-3-1 formation, deservedly opened the scoring on the half-hour mark through Tom Wraight’s header.

As mist descended on one corner of the ground, former Bromley striker Sam Higgins drilled in his 21^st goal of the season just before the hour, before VCD Athletic scored their 21^st league goal of the season through Donovan Simmonds’ fine chest and volleyed finish.

But the impressive Wraight produced a quality finish to score his 11^th goal of the season to cap off a good night from him and his team-mates.

The commitment showed by groundsman Colin Powell to get the pitch in a pristine condition when other games in Kent were called off through waterlogging needs to be replicated on the pitch if Vickers are to extend their membership into the Ryman Premier League for a third season.

“I thought we looked a little bit jaded first 20 minutes,” admitted McMahon, whose side went down to a 3-0 home defeat to Tonbridge Angels on 26 December in their last outing.

“I was a bit disappointed with the way we defended, especially with all three goals. I thought we struggled to cope with Lewis Smith through the first half if I’m honest and I thought we were a little bit weak defensively through all of the goals. I thought we could’ve done something about them.

“We weathered the storm just before half-time, came out second half, I thought we actually done alright.

“The second goal’s killed us but then we’ve got back into it, missed a very good chance to equalise and then switched off again right at the end.

“I thought we were a little bit outworked, a little bit bullied defensive wise by their front three.”

East Thurrock United were the better side and they created their opening chance inside the opening four minutes when Higgins raced clear and drilled his left-footed shot into the side netting.

Poor defending from VCD Athletic central midfielder Richard Avery saw him give the ball away to Wraight, who twisted and turned right-back Frantz Tchonang, but his weak shot rolled into the hands of Tom Hadler.

VCD Athletic created their first opening with 12 minutes on the clock.

Ritchie Graham cut the ball back to Ashley Probets and the left-back whipped in a first time cross towards the near post but Simmonds glanced his header just over the crossbar from eight-yards, the ball landing on top of the roof of the net.

“We said about getting the balls into the box and that’s where our goal came from,” said McMahon.

“We had a spell of three or four corners as well when we nearly scored from. We were causing them problems, getting the ball wide.”

Good play by Lewis Smith down the right saw him play the ball short to right-back Ryan Sammons, who hit a low and hard cross towards the far post which was poked wide by Wraight.

East Thurrock United’s best chance to open the scoring, however, arrived at the halfway point of the first half.

Higgins drilled a low right-footed free-kick through the wall from 25-yards and Hadler, the 19-year-old goalkeeper whose loan spell from Gillingham expires on 14 January, produced his first brilliant save, getting down swiftly low to his left to make the block.

VCD Athletic broke down the right when Graham released Simmonds charging down the wing, but he cut the ball inside to Mathias Bakare, but his first touch let him down and the ball ran out of play.

Rocks’ right-back Sammons then clipped a long ball out of defence for Smith to cut inside and drill his shot across Hadler and past the far post.

It was therefore no surprise when East Thurrock United deservedly opened the scoring with 29:23 on the clock.

Tchonang’s headed clearance from inside the Vickers penalty area sailed over to Higgins, who took a touch and lofted the ball over from the right-hand side of the box for Wraight to rise to plant his header over Hadler to score from six-yards.

McMahon said: “We said before the game, get tight, don’t let them get deliveries into the box, stop the deliveries coming in!

“We’ve headed it clear and Sam’s managed to have a touch, look up, a few seconds we just stood and watched the cross coming in and he’s picked out Wraight in the middle of two centre halves. 

“We should’ve stopped the delivery but we just switched off.  I think we could’ve shut the cross down. Stop the delivery and they don’t score but we were too slow getting out.”

But VCD Athletic were to be denied an equaliser, courtesy of two saves from otherwise quiet goalkeeper Lewis Lockyear.

Probets’ corner from the right was cleared out to Arron Wickham, who drilled his 25-yard drive through a crowd of players and the keeper fumbled the ball to his left and Simmonds failed to bury the rebound from inside the six-yard box.

“We need to react a little bit more in people’s boxes,” admitted McMahon as a good chance went begging.

“Decent delivery. We had a corner before that’s dropped on the goal-line and we should’ve buried that as well.

“We just looked a little bit rusty. I thought a couple of lads, if you look at attitude, I’m not too sure, but we looked a little bit rusty on the second ball and if we looked a bit more lively we might’ve capitalised a bit better.”

Four saves from Hadler inside the last five minutes of the first half kept outplayed VCD Athletic in the game going into the break.

Ben Wood, who alongside George Craddock sat in front of the back four, clipped the ball up field for Higgins to stroke a shot on the turn which was comfortably collected by Hadler.

But Hadler excelled just 71 seconds later advancing to the edge of his penalty area to use his legs to block Ade Yusuff’s shot when faced with a one-on-one.

Smith then released Higgins through on goal and Hadler made another fine block and received a slice of luck when Yusuff clipped the rebound over the empty goal.

Wood clipped another ball over the top of the Vickers defence to pick out Higgins, who drilled his shot from a tight angle into the chest of the brave Hadler, well positioned at his near post.

When asked about Hadler’s outstanding performance, McMahon replied: “Sam Higgins is a very good forward. He’s not the most mobile, but he scores goals and holds it well. 

“Lewis Smith caused us problems all night with his movement, as well as the two wide players. That’s what disappointed me, I didn’t think we got tight enough to the two wide men and were made to pay for that.

“We didn’t go with the runners, our midfield struggled. We looked very jaded in the first half. We struggled when Lewis (Smith) dropped in the hole and left holes for the people in midfield.

“I just felt we looked heavy legged in the first half and couldn’t cope with their movement.  They were getting through us at will in the last five minutes and for the last three months we’ve been solid and that’s the disappointing thing.

“That’s his job, it’s no different to being a centre half or a centre forward. His job is to make saves and he’s made them.

“He’s a big lad, he’s at a pro-club and he’s done really well. I’m not taking anything away from him. I expect him to make a few saves.

“He’s here for a month at the moment until the 14^th January. Two weeks have been called off while we’ve had him. He’s a really smashing lad as well, a good goalkeeper and he’s kept us in it.”

VCD Athletic created the last chance of the first half.

Wickham whipped in a low cross from the right but Bakare blazed his shot high over the bar whilst under pressure from 20-yards.

When asked his thoughts at the break, McMahon replied: “I just told them, we went through tactically a little bit, but I just thought the midfield didn’t get a grip and wasn’t reacting quick enough. I thought we were waiting for things to happen and we needed to get a little bit closer to their 10 (Smith) and stop the delivery and get the ball wide.

“I thought we had to get the ball to Nigel and Matty (Neita/Bakare). For the first 15 minutes they caused them all sorts of problems but we stopped doing that and our ball retention in the first half was awful.

“At the back we panicked and kicked it straight back to them and we were on the back foot again.  I just told them to keep hold of the ball, work a bit harder and basically get back into the game!”

Mist started to descend from the bottom far corner of the pitch (the players tunnel) but the game was never in doubt to come to a conclusion.

Smith noticed goalkeeper Hadler was off his line and attempted to score from the half-way line but the speculative effort was gathered by the keeper after 51 minutes.

Yusuff then cut in from the right and his shot rolled into Hadler’s hands for a comfortable save.

Probets swung in a corner from the left and the ball was flicked up by Tchonang but an untroubled Lockyear caught the ball routinely.

McMahon added: “There wasn’t much going on at either end. It was counter each other out.  We changed the shape a couple of times to get something from the game.

“I actually thought we looked the more likely scoring. I thought just get a goal, try to settle us down and get on the ball but poor defending again let them back in.”

East Thurrock United killed the game off with their second goal after 58 minutes.

Lockyear’s clearance found Yusuff down the right and he played the ball inside to Smith, who worked the ball out to Higgins on the left.

The striker cut inside and drilled his right-footed shot across the diving Hadler to score from 20-yards.

McMahon admitted: “It’s a great strike!

“I thought it was a long punt up. Yusuff has not been challenged. He’s bullied Ashley (Probets) our left-back, not even a challenge. He’s pinged it, laid if off and they’ve stuck it out wide and if you give someone like Sam come inside you and give him a yard he’s going to bury it and that’s why he scores all these goals. “

VCD Athletic created little more than a half-chance with 20 minutes remaining.

Graham swung in a corner from the left, which was punched clear by Lockyear at the near post and the keeper comfortably caught Avery’s header from the edge of the penalty area.

But VCD Athletic accepted a lifeline by pulling a goal back with 18 minutes remaining.

Graham fed Bakare down the right and he whipped in a cross from the right, which missed substitute Lheureux Menga and Rocks’ central defender Rickie Hayles.

But Simmonds chested the ball down before smacking his right-footed volley straight in the middle of the goal to score from six-yards.

McMahon said: “A great move. We started getting into the game and Ritchie Graham in midfield started getting on to the ball and I think it was about 10 passes.  We were patient. We kept the ball, we kept coming inside and out. We got it out wide.

“Menga could’ve got his head to it but it’s a pretty decent finish as well. It’s a good first touch and he’s drilled it in and then you think you’re back in the game.”

Simmonds has now scored 7 goals in 19 appearances and played as the lone striker before Menga came off the bench to offer support.

“He’s done well for us. I still think there’s a little bit more (to come) from him,” McMahon said of his goalscorer.

“We play him up top on his own, which has been hard and when we play Menga with him it gives him a little bit more and he doesn’t have to work as hard. 

“He’s a threat and he can finish. He’s done well since we’ve got him. He’s been a good lad.”

Vickers’ man-of-the-match Hadler pulled off another fine save when he dived to his right to prevent Craddock scoring with a left-footed drive from 30-yards.

VCD Athletic squandered an excellent chance to grab an equaliser when Menga somehow sliced his shot wide after Lockyear dived to his right to parry Neita’s left-footed free-kick from 28-yards.

“That’s the chance. He’s pushed it straight out to Menga and he’s stuck it over the crossbar from six-yards out,” agonised McMahon.

“If that goes in, two-all, we’re on the front foot and quite possibly could go on and nick the game and that’s the difference.

“They’ve got someone like Sam Higgins, Ade Yusuff and Lewis Smith that bang the ball in the back of the net and that’s what we needed then.

“A  decent free-kick but it’s come out inside the six-yard box and the ball’s got to go in the back of the net and that was the turning point.

“We were starting to get on top. We score there, Nigel was getting a lot of joy behind the front two and that’s the chance we needed to get.”

That miss proved costly as East Thurrock United claimed a two-goal victory with 81 minute on the clock.

McMahon was clearly disappointed with his side’s defending as Wraight capped off an impressive performance by flicking the ball up and hitting a stunning left-footed half-volley screaming across Hadler into the far corner from 25-yards.

McMahon said: “Great strike but it was just from a free-kick. A long ball in. We’ve headed it straight in to the air when we should’ve headed it clear then the second header, we’ve just headed it down to Tom whose smashed it in the top corner.

“It’s just basic defending. That’s what we didn’t do today and we got punished.”

East Thurrock United rode their luck late on when Vickers’ substitute Harry Brickwood cut in from the left and curled his right-footed shot from 25-yards around the goalkeeper, only for the ball to ping against the far post.

McMahon added: “We’re glad with the young lad, he’s got so much potential. He’s come on and done really well. A bit rash from the free-kick with their goal, which is experience.  He’s going to have a great future and I’m really pleased with him. 

“He was really unlucky with his shot. He can score goals as well but he keeps the ball, he’s very clam on the ball. Harry’s one of the big plusses tonight.”

VCD Athletic took 20 games to win their first league game of the season when Farnborough were beaten 2-1 at Oakwood on 17 November.

They must beat sixteenth-placed Leatherhead here at Oakwood on Saturday to continue their mini revival.

“We’re positive. We just need to stick together and hopefully go on a run of games now instead of having stop-start-stop-start,” said McMahon.

“Can we stay up? All day long! I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t!

“We may need one or two to strengthen the side but what I’ve seen, we’re not a poor side. We just need to do the basics and then if we do that, keep the fight, I’m positive we can stay up.

“Eight wins and we stay up out of 20. The stupid cliché of every game at a time is massive for us. At the moment it’s every half at a time. We just need to keep working, keep doing what we’re asking them to do and I’m pretty sure we’ll get out of it.

“Some of the lads need to show a bit of commitment and desire to stay up.  It’s alright you saying to me do I think we can stay up? I’ll give the answer yes, but the lads need to have that belief as well.  I would say 95% of them do, you just have to look at them square in the eye.”

VCD Athletic: Tom Hadler, Frantz Tchonang, Ashley Probets (Harry Brickwood 62), Richard Avery, Joe Bruce, Ricardo Joseph, Ritchie Graham, Arron Wickham (Lheureux Menga 54), Nigel Neita, Donovan Simmonds (Mark Nwokeji 82), Mathias Bakare.
Subs: Davidson Tejaiye, Rob Budd

Goal: Donovan Simmonds 72

East Thurrock United: Lewis Lockyear, Ryan Sammons, Kye Ruel (Ryan Scott 36), Simon Peddie, Rickie Hayles, Ben Wood, Ade Yusuff (Kris Newby 84), George Craddock, Sam Higgins, Lewis Smith (Daryl Robson 87), Tom Wraight.
Sub: James Walker

Goals: Tom Wraight 30, 81, Sam Higgins 58

Booked: Rickie Hayles 77

Attendance: 112
Referee: Mr Stephen Brown (Ashford)
Assistants: Mr Glen Childs (Ashford) & Mr Jack Owen (Sevenoaks)