Two first half goals saw VCD Athletic through in their feisty, and at times controversial, Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division play off eliminator against Punjab United.

There was plenty of incident with VCD’s Connor Dymond often in the centre of things. He was cautioned in the third minute for a crunching challenge before Harry Lawrence threaded a pass through to Bethel Gboda and his shot was kept out by the chest of Punjab goalkeeper Owen Bushell.

Dymond was again involved in the tenth minute, this time for a positive reason. He had time to look up, twenty five yards out, and he side footed an inch perfect shot that curled away from Bushell and into the top corner.

Gboda went on a strong long run and found Ollie Freeman. He sent a first time shot towards the far post and Bushell got down superbly to push it around the post. Dymond’s corner failed to beat the first man and went out for another. His second was played short and when he got it back, he had a better angle to cross deep to Michael Fenn who rose high to head home.

William Johnson-Cole had a half chance to pull one back when a corner fell to him but he dragged it wide before Liam Gillies fired over for the hosts.

As half time approached, Reece Deakin looked to be clear but Harry Lawrence got across to make a brilliant last ditch block tackle. Then, at the other end, Nathaniel Olawole got on the end of a long clearance by Andy Walker and fired a shot over Bushell that dipped just too late.

Early in the second period, Dymond shot just too high before Walker had to make a brave save at the feet of Roman Campbell after the bounce had fooled two Vickers defenders. Andy Dythe was wide from a tight angle for Punjab then Gboda hit a free kick that that went just past the post with Bushell beaten.

Substitutions from both sides, including Stefan Payne coming on for the visitors, and then off injured twelve minutes later, caused the game to be disjointed. Only an easy save by Walker from Jack Hopkins registered as a goal attempt until the last fifteen minutes.

Anthony Adesite delivered a corner and Roman Campbell’s header came back off the bar. Dymond, attempting to defend it, took a blow to the head and was down for a good five minutes. After treatment requiring bandaging, he was considered fit to continue and was again involved in a big incident.

Walker did well to beat out Adesite’s free kick but Dymond’s header flew back towards his own goal. It appeared to have crossed the line before Walker clawed it out, but the assistant referee deemed otherwise and play continued.

Deep into stoppage time, Punjab again felt hard done by when a shot was blocked into the path of Hopkins with just Walker to beat. He fired home but was deemed offside despite there being a defender inside the goal.

Victory for the Vickers means that they will entertain Fisher in the play-off decider on Monday.

VCD Athletic: Walker, Lawrence, Fenn, Dymond, Fitchett (Whitelock 57), Peter, Olawole (Sotoyinbo (90+5), Bird (Sahni 90+8), Freeman (Bradshaw 71), Gboda, Gillies (Heatley 71).

Subs not used: Sotoyinbo, Whitelock, Heatley, Sahni, Bradshaw.

Goalscorers: Dymond (10), Fenn (29)

Yellow card: Dymond (3 foul), Freeman (22 foul), Lawrence (90+6 delay of restart)

Punjab United: O. Bushell, Lewin-Thomas (Curtis 25), Dythe, Barry, Ratcliff, Hopkins, Deakin (Payne 62 (Moynes 74)), J. Campbell, R. Campbell, W. Bushell, Johnson-Cole (Adesite 62).

Sub not used: Carnell-Davis,

Goal scorers: None

Yellow cards: Curtis (57 foul), Payne (73 foul)

Referee: Jack Smith

Assistants: Steven Tunnicliffe and Nicholas Monkman

Fourth Official: Kayden Abnett

Attendance: 375