VCD Athletic’s first home game since 28th December and only their second game in 2014 ended all square after twice taking the lead against Cheshunt on Tuesday night.

On a cold night and heavy pitch VCD came into the game as league leaders.

To use an old adage “a game of two halves” VCD boss Tony Russell was unhappy his side were not two or three goals up at half time. However with the chances Cheshunt created in the second half Russell was content to come away with a point knowing it could have been worse.

A frantic opening 10 minutes of contrasting styles, VCD playing neat passing football on the difficult playing surface and Cheshunt playing a counter attacking direct style of play, saw little goalmouth action, each side trying to outwit the other.

However on 11 minutes the home side took the lead. A corner on the VCD right side was headed clear falling neatly to Greg Moorse-MacDougall 20 yards out. The VCD No’7 struck the ball through a crowded penalty area, Michael Power redirecting it into the unguarded net to score his first goal for the club; Power has recently joined from Thamesmead Town; VCD Athletic 1-0 Cheshunt.

Cheshunt were struggling to match VCD with Power akin to his name, strong and powerful on the ball, Karl Dent in midfield always involved and creative on the ball and right winger Uche Ibemere a constant threat to Cheshunt’s captain and left back Milton Elenge.

VCD continued to press as the first half wore on testing goalkeeper Will Viner, mostly with shots from distance, which he was equal to.

After the half hour Cheshunt started to see more possession and with confidence growing began to test the VCD back line. On 32 minutes Cheshunt’s Luke Marshell, who became more influential as the game developed, forced goalkeeper Nick Blue to save low to his right side.

With two minutes to go until half time the game the game came to life with two goals in as many minutes. On 44, Cheshunt equalised. A good move down the right side resulted in a low cross across the goal along the 6 yard box which VCD captain Ben Payne could only clear to the onrushing Luke Marshell who fired into the roof of the net from 12 yards out; VCD Athletic 1-1 Cheshunt.

Within a minute though, VCD took back the lead. The influential Karl Dent was fouled on the edge of the box. The resulting free kick placed low into the ‘keeper Viner’s left corner by VCD’s No’4 Nick Reeves; VCD Athletic 2-1 Cheshunt.

HT; VCD Athletic 2-1 Cheshunt

Cheshunt came out for the 2nd half a different side. The visitors pressing the home side from the whistle, putting pressure on the ball and unsettling their hosts. VCD players were rushed into decisions and as mistakes crept in, Cheshunt put more and more pressure on the home ‘keeper Blue.

On 57 minutes the visitors’ pressure paid dividends with the equaliser. Luke Marshell took control of a loose ball on the halfway line. Taking on right back Lee Craig, Marshell cut inside the box, firing a shot onto the underside of the VCD crossbar. Omer Riza pounced on the loose ball to score with a simple tap in; VCD Athletic 2-2 Cheshunt.

On 62 minutes VCD boss Russell made a double change taking off the influential Karl Dent and striker Michael Power. Russell later telling me with Dent losing the ball in midfield, which also led to the second equaliser, meant he was forced to make a change to stem the flow and get a foot on the ball. VCD’s boss also informed me striker Power is currently lacking match fitness and at half time Power suggested his hamstring was tightening so the change was precautionary.

The double change boosted Cheshunt rather than the home side with VCD losing creativity in the middle and losing an outlet to hold the ball up front. Cheshunt continued to create chances forcing ‘keeper Blue into save after save and showing great awareness on more than one occasion having to come off his line to cut out potential one-on-one’s.

On 70 minutes there was a major scare for VCD when Cheshunt’s Riza found himself one-on-one with ‘keeper Blue. He rounded the exposed shot-stopper 18 yards out shooting at goal only to see a desperate sliding clearance deny him a second of the night. The rebound fell back to Riza by which time the ‘keeper had recovered to tip the goal-bound header over the bar.

The resulting corner saw a goalmouth scramble with three goal-bound headers somehow kept out between ‘keeper and defence with VCD boss Russell screaming at his players to keep the shape and composure evident in the first half.

The remaining minutes saw VCD slowly come back into the game but struggled to challenge visiting ‘keeper Viner with long range efforts.

VCD remain top of the Ryman League 1st Division North 3pts clear and with 4 games in hand on second placed Soham Town Rangers who lost 3-0 at Wroxham on Tuesday night whilst Witham Town winning 3-0 on Tuesday night sit third, 5pts behind with 3 games in hand on the leaders.

VCD; Blue, Williams, Craig, Reeves, Payne (Capt), Smith, Moorse-MacDougall, Dent (Adjei, 62), Power (Stanley, 62), Duckworth, Ibemere

Unused Subs; Matthews, Powell, McNamara (GK)

Goals; 11 (Power), 45 (Reeves)

Cheshunt; Viner, Clemo, Elenge (Capt), Da Silva Dias (Payne, 67), Sem, Obamwonyi, Kouassi (Bossman 46), Nash, Riza (Dedman, 70), Cooper, Marshell

Unused Subs; Bennett, Holmes

Goals; 44 (Marshell), 57 (Riza)

Referee: Mr David Spain
Assistants: Mr Olivier Roquez & Mr Jason Goldstein

Att; 74

VCD MOTM; Karl Dent