Two teams struggling for form met at Oakwood but VCD Athletic and Faversham Town provided plenty of entertainment in their BetVictor Isthmian South East Division match.
The main talking points came in the first half. Aymun El-Mogharbel put the hosts ahead after six minutes but Osman Proni levelled five minutes later. George Monger restored the Vickers lead from the penalty spot before Faversham had Thomas Fitzgerald dismissed meaning that they had to play over fifty minutes with ten men
El-Mogharbel’s opener came when he get on the end of Raphe Brown’s flick on and finished from close range but the game had barely had a chance to settle down when Proni levelled.
Dead ball situations seemed most likely to cause problems and from a corner Steven Springett fired over for the visitors before their goalkeeper, Luke Watkins, saved a Monger free kick.
Another corner fell to Springett but he touched wide then at the other end, Ali Fuseini’s far post header from a corner of their own drew another save out of Watkins.
When Monger restored VCD’s lead it was probably a little against the run of play. However that was the last thing on his mind when he struck his spot kick firmly enough to beat Watkins who went the right way.
Two minutes later Charlie MacDonald went clear and was brought down by Fitzgerald giving the referee no option other than to dismiss him.
Early in the second half, Fuseini chipped just beyond MacDonald and Watkins was able to tidy up, and Watkins was soon in action again, saving MacDonald’s low shot after Laurent Mendy sent him away.
For long periods of the half, it was not obvious that Faversham were one short and when Michael Hagan burst down the left wing and cut in his fierce shot was turned away well by Nick Blue.
However, as the game went into the latter stages VCD had the better of the chances. Mendy’s header from Bode Aniduge’s shot drew an excellent save out of Watkins and he made another save soon after from Fuseini.
Substitute Theodore McKenzie fired over before fellow replacement Alex Gaggin intercepted a loose pass out and his quick feet gave him the opportunity to get a shot away but Watkins was able to make the save.
After returning to winning ways, the Vickers will hope to take this momentum into their game with Hythe Town on Saturday while Faversham will look to bounce back when they entertain Burgess Hill Town.
VCD Athletic: Blue, Simms, Brown, Monger (Gaggin 81), Bartley, Steventon, El-Mogharbel (McKenzie 77), Anidugbe, Fuseini, MacDonald, Mendy
Sub not used: Eweka, Sargent.
Goalscorers: El-Mogharbel (6), Monger pen (37)
Faversham Town: Watkins, Loynes, Maxted, Chambers, Ibe, Springett, Proni (Hayes 75), Wright (Griffiths 59), Khanye (Adebayo 80), Fitzgerald, Hagan.
Subs not used: O’Leary, Taiwo.
Goalscorer: Proni (11)
Red cards: Fitzgerald
Referee: Joseph Gray
Assistants: Nic Hucker and David Payne
Attendance: 72