VCD carried on their fine early season form with a hard earned victory over Chatham albeit fortunate.

VCD got off to the best start when after 5 minutes Sherwin Stanley received the ball on the edge of the area & he turned the defender then went round the keeper Jack Bradshaw before prodding in from 8 yards, in scoring he injured himself & had to leave the pitch.

Chatham took a while to get into the game but in the 17^th minute a corner by Matt Solly was met by Drew Crush’s head but it went wide, another chance came in the 24^th minute when Austin Gacheru was put free in the area & his cross shot evaded everyone & went out for a goal kick.

Two minutes later Kieran McCann saw his shot from 18 yards saved by Nick Blue low down at his near post then in the very next minute Gacheru’s snap shot was saved by Blue’s legs.

In the 34^th minute another half chance came when McCann jinked his way on the outside & his shot was saved by Blue but in the very next minute the referee gave a soft Penalty when Gacheru was fouled, up stepped Andy Constable who sidefooted it straight down the middle to equalise.

With half time closing in VCD took the lead in the 44^th minute against the run of play when a long throw into the area was allowed to bounce & Enoch Adjei headed in from 2 yards.

Chatham came out with purpose & took the game to VCD & in the 55^th minute Billy Bennett received the ball 30 yards out & his shot came back of the crossbar.

In the 58^th minute VCD’s Peter Smith in the area saw his shot saved by the onrushing keeper’s legs.

The game changed in the next 3 minutes when first on the hour  nice interplay saw Ola Rabiu in the area & his shot was smothered by Bradshaw & in the next minute a long ball forward found its way to Alfie May who from 18 yards on his own saw his shot blocked by Lee Craig but he used his arms & the referee in discussion with the assistant sent him off & gave Chatham a penalty, up stepped Constable again & his low shot went in. Chatham now thought they could go on & win & in the 77^th minute McCann & Kalvin Moriath Gibbs combined allowing McCann to shoot from 20 yards but it was saved by Blue.

In the 80^th minute they thought they had taken the lead when Gacheru 20 yards out saw his shot deflected towards goal & with Blue stranded the ball came down & hit the crossbar & went out for a corner. With time running out it was VCD who had a chance to win the game in the 88^th minute when a free kick 25 yards out was curled round the wall by Liam Burgess but Bradshaw pushed it round the post.

Then in the first minute of added on time Karl Dent passed to Rabiu in the area & his shot from an acute angle beat Bradshaw to break Chatham’s hearts but relief for VCD who now are top of the league.

 

VCD ATHLETIC:

1. N.BLUE  2. B.WILLIAMS 3. L.CRAIG  4. C.WALTERS-WRIGHT  5. B.PAYNE

6. P.SMITH  7.L.BURGESS  8. K.DENT  9. S.STANLEY (6)  10. B.ADDAE (58) 11. E.ADJEI (66)

 

SUBS USED: 12. T.GORDON-YOUNG (6)  14. O.RABIU (58)  16. R.POWELL (66)

UNUSED SUBS: 15. S.OKOH  17. J.HUMPHRIES

 

SENT OFF: 3. L.CRAIG

 

CHATHAM TOWN:

1. J.BRADSHAW  2. B.POTTER  3. G.BENBOW (80)  4. M.SOLLY  5. D.CRUSH  6. C.HOLDER

7. A.MAY  8.K.McCANN  9. A.GACHERU  10. A.CONSTABLE (63) 11. B.BENNETT

 

SUBS USED: 12. K.MORIATH GIBBS (63)  16. T.McDONAGH (80)

UNUSED SUBS: 14. J.ALDERMAN  15. L.MAY  17. L.KIDMAN

 

BOOKED: 9.A.GACHERU  11. B.BENNETT

 

REFEREE: Mr I.BENTLEY

ASSISTANTS: Mr E.WALKER  Mr D.SOTIMIRIN

 

GOALS:

VCD

STANLEY (6) ADJEI (44) MORAITH GIBBS (90+1)

CHATHAM

CONSTABLE (36, 62 PENALTIES)

Attendance: 72