It was a happy new year for Phoenix Sports at Oakwood as the visitors took the honours in the Woodside Road/Crayford derby against hosts VCD Athletic.

Jeff Duah-Kessie was the difference as his curling effort into the top corner was all that was needed to win the game as The Sports registered their third away win on the bounce.

Going into the game the visitors were also harbouring hopes on closing the gap on the promotion and play-off places despite changes to the promotion rules this season.

In typical fashion of a local derby the opening period was frantic with little quality or end product on show although the visiting ‘keeper was called into early action at the end of three consecutive corners to VCD but captain Steve Phillips was equa to the task and stood firm as the visitors cleared the danger.

The Sports’ Kweku Ansah was unlucky not to give his side the lead midway through the opening period as with the goal at his mercy he lost his footing and the danger was cleared.

The game was typically tight with VCD playing a high defensive line causing the visitors to be constantly found in offside positions when breaking forward whilst also condensing the game into the middle third – At the other end The Sports were crowding out the hosts giving little opportunity for the VCD front men.

However when space presented itself the home sides’ Rashid Kamara went on a marauding run and as he found the right-hand touchline his cross to the back post was just too high for the leaping Toy Martin, the ball sailing over the strikers head.

With space limited it was likely a set-piece would break the deadlock and The Sports almost took the lead – A dangerous Ashley Probets free-kick on the edge of the box was initially cleared but with danger still around the increasingly more influential ‘Gil’ Carvalho closed in on a loose ball on the left corner of the penalty area but under pressure from Ellis Brown blazed well over.

With the opening half coming to a close both sides looked to take lead as The Sports’ Christie Pattinson and Ansah combined with the latter tamely shooting straight at Joe Mant.

At the other end VCD had two efforts in quick succession as Martin headed straight at Phillips and Alastair Gordon saw his header from a similar range beat the ‘keeper but the ball came back off the post and the danger cleared.

But with the half all set to end it was the visitors who made the breakthrough and with it the crucial winning goal as Jeff Duah-Kessie saw his curling left-foot effort nestle into the top corner – The Sports striker scoring his ninth goal of the season.

On a couple of seconds after the restart the referee blew for half time however shortly after the restart Duah-Kessie was substituted only three minutes in.

The second period was one of VCD pushing for the equaliser but the visitors were able to quell their advances and as the half drew on it was The Sports who looked the more likely to extend their lead – The Sports showing their more elevated league position and composure.

The Sports’ Jack Hopkins was unlucky not to extend his sides lead just after the hour finding himself all alone in the penalty area but was unable to direct his header as it drifted over the crossbar.

Ansah then found space on the right hand side to cut inside the box and drive at goal but Mant was equal to it to deflect it into the side netting and from the ensuing corner Jack Barry, unmarked at the back post, could only head wide.

Aside from Martin’s near post glancing header, well palmed aside by Phillips, the hosts for all their efforts were unable to break through The Sports’ well marshalled back line.

With darkness setting in and time running out for the hosts a flurry of substitutions did nothing for the flow of the game and The Sports were able to see out the game.

Putting their decent away form to one side The Sports will be seeking to replicate this at home this coming weekend against a struggling Guernsey side and with away games following at bottom side Shoreham and also struggling Faversham The Sports will be pushing furthermore for the coveted play-off spot.

For VCD the opposite with tough fixtures against and at high-flying Cray and Carshalton with mid-table Horsham up next on their travels.

 

VCD Athletic: Mant, Brown, Awotwi, Baker ©, Imudia, Blackwood, Kamara (El-Moyhalbel, 67), Gordon, Darboe, Martin (Akanbi, 77), Adebayo

Subs: Gorbell, Ajeon, Adeyoola

 

Phoenix Sports: S. Phillips ©, Lee, Probets, Hopkins, Young, Barry, Carvalho (Adeyemo, 75), Robinson, Duah-Kessie (Ogboe, 48), Ansah, Pattisson

Subs: Bryon, D.Phillips

Goals: Duah-Kessie (45+1)

 

Att: 142