Having not won a league game since beating Hythe in the season’s opener, only the most ardent Hoops fans would have been confident that they would beat third placed VCD Athletic.

However, they upset the form with an outstanding display.

It took them just four minutes to stun the Vickers by going ahead. A cross was only half cleared as far as Jack Mahoney and he looped his header over a helpless Sam Mott.

He might have added a second when Brandon Davey sent him clear but he didn’t get a clean connection and rolled it past the post.

After that, Corinthian’s defence played their part as VCD played some pleasing on the eye football from the back and in midfield only for it to be broken down as they got into the final third. As a result, the Vickers were reduced to long range efforts that did not worry Aiden Prall. 

Ayman El-Mogharbel went on a long surging run but shot well over from twenty-five yards. Alex Gaggin shot high and wide before Theo McKenzie’s shot was claimed easily by Prall.

Corinthian had another opportunity when Davey intercepted a sloppy pass at the back and burst through but Mott stood up large and kept out Davey’s attempt to surprise him inside the near post.

Jason Williams collected a pass from Chris Edwards with his back to goal and spun and shot, but it went wide before the first half came to an end.

In the opening minutes of the second period Kiki Oshilaja headed over from a near post corner before the hosts equalised. Edwards burst down the right wing and for once, the Hoops’ defence did not cut out the deep cross. Gaggin had time to bring it down and pick his spot before lashing it home.

McKenzie shot just past the angle of bar and post before Corinthian regained their lead. Mott was unable to cut out a cross and it fell for substitute Louis Clarke to bundle home. 

Mott then saved from Mahoney as VCD struggled to impose themselves.

Thirteen minutes remained when the visitors gave themselves some daylight. Mahoney played a long ball in, Mott couldn’t cling on to it under pressure from Emmanuel Oloyede and another Hoops substitute, Joshua Stirman, fired home gleefully.

Oloyede put the icing on Corinthian’s cake with a fourth after good work by Clarke on the bye-line as they closed the game out in comfort. 

VCD Athletic: Mott, Edwardss, McKenzie, Bingham, Barry, Oshilaja, Adesite (Bamba 64), Splatt (Dawson 62), Williams (Elliott 73), El-Mogharbel, Gaggin.

Subs not used: Probets, Meziane.

Goalscorers: Gaggin (52)

Yellow cards: Barry, Bingham

Red cards: None

Corinthian: Prall, Holland (Lashley 85), Trueman, James, Billings, Sawyer, Oloyede, Mahoney, Tanner (Clarke 50), Davey, Dembele  (Stirman 64).

Unused subs: Edmundson, Tobon.

Goalscorer: Mahohney (4), Clarke (57), Stirman (77), Oloyede (83).

Yellow cards: Mahoney, Trueman

Red cards: None

Referee: Craig Barnett

Assistants: Zack Moules and Gary Baker

Attendance: 111

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.