Following a hard fought home win over Thurrock, Tony Russell’s VCD Athletic stay top of the Ryman One North after a Michael Power brace kept the Vickers ahead of Soham Park Rangers on goal difference at an ever increasing wild Oakwood.

Power’s predatory instincts put the Vickers in front just after half ten before he coolly drove home an 80th minute penalty to seal the win, although there was still time for injury time fireworks as following a clash between Ben Payne and Thurrock sub Callum Ibe, there was a nineteen man “coming together”, before both players were shown the red card by referee Fissenden who handled the game superbly throughout.

It was a tense affair between two teams that haven’t played for a couple of weeks – and it showed!” admitted the VCD boss after the game.

“It was like a game of chess and who was going to flinch first. The wind limited us to what we could do especially in the first half and then second half if I’m honest I thought we should have got more that the two that we did.”

“We told the players before the game that I generally believe that they will be the main threat to the League as they’ve obviously got an ex League One Manager (Gills ex boss Mark Stimson) and it shows – they were really well organised and they were always be a test.”

“But we’ve got the three points and it’s a great three points for us too! I was pleased tonight as I thought we controlled the game and I quite like that – you know I quite like boring games as I’m not here to please everyone – it’s all about getting results and we limited them to very few chances.”

If the two sides had of been playing chess in the first half, they would have surely been Russian Grand Masters of yesteryear as although both sides tried to get the ball down and play, ultimately they cancelled each other out to such an extent that both sides were limited to half chances.

On 19 minutes, Thurrock’s David Knight set up Bradley Warner for a drive that VCD keeper Nick Blue did well to hang on to, whilst at the other end, James Duckworth stung Thurrock keeper Andy Walker’s hands from 25 yards.

The second half opened up thankfully as the crowd needed some cheer as the wind became ever colder and the rain started – again – as the home side took the lead six minutes after half time.

Uche Ibemere did brilliantly down the left as he broke clear beating the offside trap from Dean Carpenter’s great ball. As the ball was played across the face of the goal, the first shot was blocked only for Power to coolly step up to drive the ball into the bottom corner.

On 56 minutes Ishmail Kamara was played through but Walker was quick from his goal line and the shot went wildly wide when it could have easily doubled the lead.

The home side were indebted moments later to a great Peter Smith challenge as Warner set up Ross Wall for a chance but Smith’s brilliantly timed challenge denied the chance.

Midway through the half Kamara missed another golden chance. Duckworth’s charging run ended with a super square ball to Kamara, but just as he was about to shoot the ball bobbled and with it went the chance to open the scoring as the ball sailed high over the bar.

VCD did double their lead ten minutes from time and again Power was heavily involved. It was his run into the box that was ended with a clip of the ankles, and the striker picked himself up, dusted himself down, and drove the spot kick beyond the diving Walker and into the net.

Blue was then called upon to make his best save of the night when the ball somehow found its way through to Lewis Clark, and defender Clark seemed destined to half the lead before Blue stuck out a right boot to brilliantly deflect the ball past the right post.

The game ended on a sour note however with the dismissal of Payne and Ibe, but after the game, Russell was a very happy man.

Speaking of his personal friendship with his match winner, the VCD boss explained, “We’ve been friends with Michael (Power) for a long time and he’s done great for me every since I put him in a few weeks ago when Sherwin Stanley was injured.”

“I’ve told him the minimum requirement from him to me is to be the best player on the pitch every week.” It’s just as well for player and manager then that Power was named Man of the Match.

Final word though goes to the defeated boss Mark Stimson. As he left the ground Stimson told KSN, “they’re a special side here you know – there’s something about them!”

“Some of the football they play wouldn’t look out of place in the Football League. Can we catch them? Perhaps, but it’ll take a good side to do it…”

VCD ATHLETIC – Nick Blue, Barney Williams, Lee Craig, Nick Reeves, Ben Payne, Peter Smith, Dean Carpenter (Sam Gent 73), James Duckworth, Ishmail Kamara (Sherwin Stanley 70), Micahel Power (Joe Matthews 84), Uche Ibemere

Subs – Enoch Adeji, Greg Morrse-McDougall

THURROCK – Andy Walker, Lewis Clark, Remi Sutton, Rob Gillman, Simon King, Robert Clark, Luke Stanley (Loui Hazelwood 68), Lewwis Spence, David Knight (Jordan Clark 61), Ross Wall (Callum Ibe 88), Bredley Warner

Subs – Lewis Perkins, Connor Martin

Referee – Mr I Fissenden
Assistants – Mr J Down & Mr I Gelov