Honours were shared in the Crayford Christmas derby between VCD Athletic and Phoenix Sports in the Pitching In Isthmian South East Division.

A penalty apiece provided the goals in a combative but fair contest.

In the early stages VCD had nearly all of the territorial advantage. Anthony Adesite went on a long run but shot over then Youssef Bamba hit a long range effort that was saved easily by Charlie Martin in the Phoenix goal.

Chris Edwards drove in a low cross that Martin claimed bravely before Bamba brought down a long ball well but shot wide of the near post.

Ayman El-Mogharbel found Jeff Duah-Kessie and he spun and shot straight at Martin before the Vickers went ahead. Penalty area pinball ended when the ball hit a Phoenix arm and a penalty was awarded. After waiting for the Sports to make a substitution, Bamba converted for his seventh league goal in six games.

Kiki Oshilaja headed over and Adesite shot wide as VCD pushed for a second but Phoenix almost caught them cold at the other end and Sam Mott made a brilliant save to turn away a shot by Chaka Barnett.

El-Mogharbel played a one-two from a short corner and drove it across the face of the ball but nobody was able to get on the end of it to turn it home.

Bamba then hit a shot that was blocked bravely by Josh Dorling and Adesite was unable to finish after rounding Martin but slipping as he shaped to shoot.

Malaki Toussaint had the last effort of the half for the visitors but curled his attempt over.

There was a slight delay to the start of the second half as Phoenix were a little tardy in coming out but whatever was said in the changing room appeared to have had a good effect as they were far more competitive in the second period.

Substitute Lee Bird let fly from fully thirty-five yards and his shot clipped the bar on the way over then, at the other end, Duah-Kessie shot over against his former club after good work by Bamba.

An hour had just past when Phoenix levelled. Edwards fouled Barnett in the area and Connor French fired into the roof of the net from the spot for a debut goal. 

Chances came and went at either end with Dorling losing his man but heading wide from a Barnett corner then, at the other end, Ben Gorham rose to meet an Edwards free kick but could not keep his header down. 

Another Edwards free kick flew well over then Theo McKenzie drove across the penalty area but it was too fierce for anyone to get their head on the end of it.

Deep into injury time Edwards launched a ’Hail Mary’ of a free kick into the penalty area and Jason  Williams got up but he could only guide his header over. 

As a result, neither side have changed league league positions but for Phoenix it took them a point nearer to safety. 

VCD Athletic: Mott, Edwards, Probets (McKenzie 58), Black, Gorham, Oshilaja, Adesite, Dawson, Duah-Kessie (Williams 68), El-Mogharbel (Barrington 78), Bamba.

Sub not used: Watson, Dythe.

Goalscorers: Bamba pen (16)

Yellow cards: None

Phoenix Sports: Martin, Douglas, Cousins, Tabima-Alvira (Bird 46), Adeyemi, Dorling, Barnett, Toussaint , Poku (Thompson-Fearon 15), French (Whitelock 77), Walker.

Sub not used: Andrews, Ramazani. 

Goalscorer: French pen (61)

Yellow cards: Barnett, Adeyemi

Referee: Valentine Anekwe

Assistants: Harry Phillips and Kennedy Kikulwe

Attendance: 317

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.