We will review our targets in January, says Foley

Tuesday 27th October 2009

HAVING shared a point with the Ryman League Division One North leaders Great Wakering Rovers, VCD Manager Paul Foley is pleased with the way his side have performed at this level so far this season, writes Jeff Perkins.

Having beaten then second placed East Thurrock 4-2 with 10 men two weeks ago and also having drawn with second placed Concord Rangers earlier in the season the early signs are that the Crayford based side are more than coping with life in Ryman League Division One North football.

Saturday's game against Great Wakering could have gone either way as the wind played a big part in the game. The Vickers went in front on 34 minutes thanks to Leroy Huggins' third goal in the week and second from the penalty spot following some typical skill from flying winger Nick Hegley that drew a clumsy foul from a Rovers defender.

Chances to increase the lead with the Vickers in the ascendancy fell to Meshach Nugent, Jason Barton and Gary Cook but the Rovers defence scrambled the ball clear on each occasion.

The best chance of the half fell to the in-form Huggins from a pinpoint cross from James Duckworth but the predatory forward's powerful header was straight at the keeper who stopped it on the line with Nugent ready to pounce.

Rovers equalised just past the hour mark with a far post header being put away by Neil Richmond but close efforts from Aaron Firth and Lee Maskell worried the Rovers defence before a blatant foul on Hegley only 10 yards out as he shaped to fire home went unpunished with only 10 minutes to go.

Rovers pushed for the winner but some fine defending by the Vickers and Gary Cook in particular saw off the threat with a last ditch tackle from Gary Ward and a superb finger-tip save from James Tedder at the death keeping the scores level.

Vickers’ boss Paul Foley felt the result was a fair one however when he had this to say after the match

“Both sides could have wrapped up the game in each half really so a draw was probably a fair result,”
Foley told www.vcd-athletic.co.uk.

“The wind affected the game a little and we had great chances to go two up but then at the end of the game we were under the cosh a bit so I would say both managers would settle for the point.”

When asked about the blatant foul on winger Hegley with the scores at 1-1 Foley responded, “Maybe the ref did not want to give two penalties to us in the same game, who knows?

“They were both about as blatant as they come so he got one right and the other one I can only assume that because Nick was honest in trying to stay on his feet and get his shot in, he forgot about the foul.

“It was a key moment though as if we get that Leroy would have dispatched it no problem and we would be two points better off. I'm sure we will get some decisions our way soon though!”

Asked about how the season is going so far, the man who has restyled the club from top to bottom in three seasons, winning the Kent League and Kent Senior Trophy double and steering them to the highest level in its 93 year history responded, “We definitely haven't had an easy run of fixtures so far as we have played 8 out of the top 10 in only 11 games so maybe our position in the league is a little distorted.

“We will find out in the run of games we have leading up to Christmas which should sort out that irregularity.

“I said right at the start of the season that in a completely new league you will only get a decent indication of how you are doing at the turn of the year by which time you should have played everyone.

“Some sides up the top half have been fortunate not have played the better teams so the table may need to settle down a bit.”

Foley added, “We have drawn with Concord Rangers who were top before Saturday, drawn with table toppers Great Wakering and we beat third placed East Thurrock 4-2 with ten men for most of the game so if you look at it that way we have proved we belong here.

“In most of the games against the top sides we have found that there is very little to tell between the sides, as Jim Ward (my manager at Maidstone United and Ramsgate) used to say the league is 'like my front room, there's nothing in it!'

“We had a few bad ones earlier in the season, especially away but we went and strengthened the side where it needed it straight away.

“We are never standing still which should stand us in good stead. Lets see how we are doing come January, last year that period of the season from January to May was our best as we are always looking to learn from the previous game earlier in the year. We have our own targets and projections for the season which we will review in January.”

Article courtesy of www.vcd-athletic.co.uk

Romford v VCD Athletic

Ryman League Division One North

Tuesday 27th October 2009

Kick Off 7:45pm

At Mill Field, Mill Road, Aveley, Essex, RM15 4SJ