VCD showed off their top of the table credentials with a hard fought victory away at Chatham Town on Thursday night.

In what was a scrappy game, upset by the inconsistency of the referee, a scrappy first half strike by Michael Power and a second half wonderstrike from Lea Dawson saw VCD come out on top before Ade Yusuff late thunderbolt reduced the arrears.

The first half started brightly for the home side and when Ade Yusuff mazy run was stopped illegally on the edge of the area, Lee Hales curling right footed free kick forced the best out of the away keeper Blue, diving full length to his left, but it was VCD who almost struck next.

Ex Chats striker Alfie May, playing on the left of a front three for the visitors, cut inbetween two players and struck a curling effort towards the bottom left corner but Jack Bradshaw saved well. From the resulting corner, the ball was played in low and Power struck a shot against the base of the post before it was cleared to safety.

VCD’s extra power up top created two more chances which Uche Ibemere squandered before he was involved in the opener after half an hour. Ibemere turned the left back benbow inside out before crossing low from the byline, the ball was partially cleared but only as far as Power whose shot took two deflections before nestling in the bottom corner to give VCD the lead they deserved.

This was the last meaningful play of the first half with the bobbly pitch and the referee’s whistle preventing any fluent attacks from either side.

The second half started and Chatham should have equalised straight from the kick off, Left back Nesbitt miscontrolled a long diagonal ball and Ade Yusuff was through in on goal but he shot tamely straight at the keeper.

Chatham were again the stronger side at the beginning of the half with long balls pinning VCD back towards the clubhouse end and it was from a long aimless ball that Chatham almost equalised. Lee Hales picked up a loose ball before cutting in  from the right and shooting just inches wide.

As Chatham’s endeavour caused them to tire, VCD grew back into the game and showed why they are league leaders with Karl Dent going on a great run and forcing a good save from  the home keeper before the rebound fell to Duckworth eight yards out with an open goal but he skewed horribly wide.

It was looking likely that one would be enough for the league leaders but they doubled their advantage nine minutes from time with a goal that could grace the premier league. Sub Sherwin Stanley spun his man before racing to the byline on the left hand side before standing up a cross to the back post where Ibemere teed up the onrushing Lea Dawson to smash a volley into the top corner to send the away bench into raptures.

Gloss was almost added to the scoreline with Stanley missing the goal from fourty yards after a poor kick from the keeper, but with just three minutes remaining, the Chats got a lifeline.

Ade Yusuff beat Peter Smith to the ball just left of the centre circle, he rampaged forward and unleashed an unstoppable drive into the top corner for the second wonderful strike of the game.

It was back to the wall now for the league leaders as the home side showed the grit and spirit which had led to them winning their last seven games and one more chance fell the home sides way in stoppage time.

Yusuff again got to the byline and his cross evaded  everyone but Morath-Gibbs at the back post but his shot was blocked as it went goalwards. The final whistle went after six minutes of stoppage time, way more than the allocated three and VCD continue their charge towards promotion.

 

Chatham: Bradshaw, Morath-Gibbs, Benbow, Solly, Hickey, Knight, Yusuff, Holder (Lawrence 67), Gacheru, Hales, Mccann.

Subs not used: Mcdonagh, Chapman, Kidman

 

VCD: Blue, Manners, Nesbitt, Reeves, Payne, Smith, Dawson, Dent ( Moorse- Macdougall 85), Power ( Stanley 70), May ( Duckworth 60), Ibemere.

Subs not used: Sains, Powell

 

Attendance: 154