Victory at VCD Athletic ensured that early pace-setters Glebe remained top of the Southern Counties East Football League table.

Looking at the final score-line, many will think that it was a regulation victory for the Foxes.

However, until VCD gave away a goal through a catalogue of defensive errors with just over ten minutes to go, they could easily have got something out of the game.

Half chances for the Vickers’ Olalekan Osideko and Glebe’s Malachi Morris came and went in a cagey opening twenty-five minutes before the hosts broke the deadlock. Bethel Gboda surged forward, played a one-two with Osideko, and slotted home confidently.

They only held their lead for two minutes, though. Michael Adepojo threaded through a pass that sent Marcel McDonald away and he gave Daniel Colmer no chance.

Then, after four further minutes, the game was turned on its head when Glebe went ahead. Nathan Mampono’s deep cross was headed back across goal by Jamie Philpot, and Jonathan Erhabor bundled home from close range.

Jimmy Shepherd picked out Osideko but he shot off target before the first half drew to a close.

After the interval, the hosts came out strongly and Jeff Duah-Kessie headed wide from Nathan Palmer’s cross before they had a shout for a penalty turned down.

Osideko got the wrong side of Jamal Abubakari and went down as they tangled but referee Jacob Miller was not interested.

Osideko created another opening that Duah-Kessie was unable to finish before Philpot crossed for McDonald whose shot from twenty yards was well saved by Colmer.

Philpot then intercepted a sloppy pass out and squared across the face of goal to Mampono but Colmer again came to VCD’s rescue with an excellent close range save.

Colmer made a comfortable save from Philpot before it was Nathan Edwards’ turn when making a good save from Kweku Ansah.

Philpot thought that he had kept his scoring streak going when netting until seeing the assistant referee’s flag raised for offside.

Palmer slung in a free kick and Zak Bryon lost his man but didn’t get a clean connection on his volley and the chance went.

Moments later, Glebe got their crucial third. A long pass forward was headed up into the air as Morris chased it. The next defender did exactly the same thing and his header looped backwards over Colmer who had neither stayed nor come out and Morris kept going to get a touch prior to it crossing the line.

Duah-Kessie’s low shot was saved before the Foxes added a fourth with two minutes remaining. A long throw wasn’t cleared and Erhabor was on hand to crash home his second.

Liam Spellwood fired well over for VCD but it was too little too late as the visitors were soon celebrating victory.

VCD Athletic: Colmer, Lawrence (Spellwood 89), Cousins, Bryon, Aziaya, Leach (Sargent 46), Osideko, Gboda, Duah-Kessie, Palmer, Shepherd (Ansah 64).

Subs not used: Fenn, Webb. 

Goal scorers: Gboda (25)

Yellow cards: Aziaya

Glebe: Edwards, Jarvis (Hassan 89), Fofanah, Adepojo, Abubakari (Reid 68), Erhabor, McDonald, Muirhead (De Graft 90+1), Morris, Philpot (Barrett 90+4), Mampono (Hever 75).

Goalscorers: McDonald (27), Erhabor (31), (88), Morris (79)

Yellow cards: Erhabor

Referee: Jacob Miller

Assistants: Jordan Whitworth and Adam Clayton

Attendance: 81

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.