Two goals in each half guided Corinthian to a convincing local derby victory at VCD Athletic.

Coming into the game, the visitors had only won three league games this season but one was earlier in the campaign at home to the Vickers which followed their double over them last term. 

Michael Golding’s team came out in lively fashion and had already threatened before they went ahead in the seventh minute. Oliver Box worked his way down the left wing to the bye-line and pulled back a low cross for Oscar Housego to fire home.

Box caused further problems down the other wing and again crossed low but Sam Bewick couldn’t get a clean connection on it. The seventeen year old was in the thick of it once more when he beat the offside trap and set up Jack Beerling but he couldn’t find the target.

A shot from Bewick was deflected narrowly wide before VCD had an effort when a corner was half cleared but Craig Ross fired well wide. Bewick was again out of luck when Harry Brooks made a great save to thwart him. The corner didn’t look like it would come to anything however Corinthian kept it alive, and Brooks made another fine save to thwart Bewick.

Bewick turned provider seven minutes before the break when Box played him in down the wing, and he picked out Brandan Davey who scored with a crisp finish.

One last chance came before half term when Housego delivered a free kick that Harry Sargent headed over.

Six minutes after the break, Corinthian extended their lead. Ahmed Salim Futa’s header came back off the bar but Bewick was on hand to force it over the line.

Three became four when Beerling sent Box through and he finished in style. Soon after, it might have been five when Bewick burst through and shot early but Brooks made a flying save. He then headed wide from a Housego free kick.

Andrew Allassani fired wide for the hosts and Soul Kader shot narrowly over however the Vickers had to wait until stoppage time before they got onto the scoresheet when a free kick was headed into his own net by Jamie Billings.

Grant Basey, the VCD manager, will be looking for a reaction when his team hosts Sittingbourne on Tuesday while Corinthian are now just one win away from easing out of the bottom two and they host Three Bridges, also on Tuesday evening.

VCD Athletic: Brooks, McNeil-Nash, Makhosini (Tanner 57), Bingham, Oluwafikayo (Holland 57), Tolupe (Phillips 57), Adesite, Allassani, Kader, Dent, Ross.

Subs not used: Banjoko, Barnes. 

Goal scorers: Billings o.g. (90+2)

Yellow cards: None

Corinthian: Colmer, Beerling, Futa, Lashley, Billings, Sargent, James (Leach 69), Davey, Box (Pepple 86), Housego, Bewick (Kamara 76).

Subs not used: Godfrey, Olatunji. 

Goalscorers: Housego (7), Davey (31), Bewick (51), Box (56) 

Yellow cards: None

Referee: Ben McDonald

Assistants: Ron Albert and Marian Stoichitoiu

Attendance:  135

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.