It took penalties to separate VCD Athletic and Phoenix Sports in Velocity Trophy Group Nine with the visitors claiming the extra point.

Harry Harding put Phoenix ahead but Charlie MacDonald levelled immediately after the break and despite being reduced to ten men, the Sports held on to claim the winning draw when victorious from the penalty shoot-out.

However, it was Sevenoaks Town who were the real winners as, with neither side claiming the three points, their eight points from three games leaves them firmly in the driving seat.

Clear cut chances were at a premium in the first half but Alex Gaggin drew a good save out of Steve Phillips before Phoenix had their first effort when Harding fired his free kick straight into the defensive wall.

Ali Fuseini spun and shot just wide for the Vickers before Jack Barry had a shot deflected wide at the other end. Gaggin crossed and Fuseini’s first time shot was narrowly off target before the visitors broke the dead-lock. On the counter-attack Jack Hopkins was brought down in the penalty area and Harding gave Matt Funnell no chance with the conversion.

Jeff Duah-Kessie had the last effort of the first half but his fierce drive went wide of the near post.

At the interval, VCD made a change bringing on Charlie MacDonald for Aymun El-Mogharbel and it paid immediate dividends. Having only just failed to get onto the end of a long ball he was sent away by a slide-rule pass by Dominic Odusanya and he gave Phillips no chance with a calm finish.

After that, it began to get a bit heated and Jack Berry was the first to be cautioned for a late challenge.

Harding had another chance when Lauris Chin sent Harding through but Funnell made a good low save then it was Phillips’ turn when saving brilliantly from Fuseini’s free kick.

Ryan Andrews then got himself cautioned for a tackle from behind before getting involved in an altercation by the touchline one minute later and earning himself a second yellow card and a dismissal. 

Now with a numerical advantage, VCD went for the win and Henry Ikeije had a shot deflected wide.  

Fuseini delivered a corner that was headed down by Kelvin Ogboe but McDonald hooked wide. Fuseini was again involved and had a shot deflected wide but it wasn’t all one way and a Phoenix break ended with Ben Allen shot just wide.

Phillips made another good save from Ogboe’s low shot before MacDonald just failed to connect with Ikeije’s cross and the final whistle blew with the scores level and penalties looming.

Experienced Phillips was the hero for Phoenix with two saves in five while their takers scored four out of four leaving the Sports on five points and the Vickers on three.

VCD Athletic: Funnell, Simms, Brown, Monger, Eweka, Steventon, Gaggin (Ikeije 78), El-Mogharbel (MacDonald 45), Fuseini, Odusanya, Barrington (Ogboe 87). Sub not used: Mahal, Vincent-Edwards.

Goalscorers: MacDonald (46)

Yellow cards: Brown, Odusanya

Red cards: None

Phoenix Sports: Phillips, McGrady (Andrews 48), Probets, Hopkins (Juma 69), Young, Dythe, Solan (Allen 59), Barry, Duah-Kessie, Harding, Chin (Clarke 80). Subs not used: Ailreu.

Goalscorer: Harding pen (33)

Yellow cards: Barry, Andrews, Allen

Red cards: Andrews

Referee: Luke Donaldson

Assistants: Jide Ogunba and Kennedy Kikulwe

Attendance: 56