Play-offs in the Southern Counties East Football League commence on Tuesday evening and VCD Athletic host one of them when entertaining Punjab United.

Ross Baker and Danny Joy’s Vickers have home advantage by rights of finishing as runners up to Faversham, with only the champions winning automatic promotion. Punjab had to win their final game to ensure their participation, as they knew that Rusthall, who started the day one point behind and with a better goal difference, could pip them.

Chipie Sian’s Punjab hosted Erith and Belvedere. Jack Hopkins put the hosts ahead midway through the first half and they held the lead at the half time break. Nerves would have started to jangle when veteran striker Tommy Whitnell levelled nineteen minutes into the second period, but Stefan Payne restored the home team’s lead three minutes later. They held on to take the important victory, despite Anthony Adesite’s dismissal in stoppage time.

Although already guaranteed the runners-up spot, VCD wanted to finish on a high to take momentum into the play-offs and they claimed the three points at Bearsted. Rajan Sahni put the Vickers ahead in the fourteenth minute, however, Dieko Falade levelled twelve minutes later. Harry Lawrence scored the goal that turned out to be the winner for the visitors midway through the second half.

At home, VCD have been particularly strong with fifteen victories, three draws and just one defeat. Punjab’s away record is decent having won ten, drawn four and lost five.

In the two league meetings between the two sides this season, Punjab hold the advantage. When they met in Gravesend in October, the hosts burst into a three goal lead in the first thirty-four minutes. Hopkins, Wayne Bushell and Turk Ibrahim scored the goals. Robert Burton pulled one back with fifteen minutes remaining and Richard Jimoh’s goal in stoppage time was too little too late.

There were goals in the return match in March too. This time, it was the Vickers who started strongly and were two up midway through the first half through goals by Liam Gillies and Bethel Gboda. However, Hopkins scored two minutes before half time, and Bushell levelled five minutes after the break.

Although the Vickers will start as favourites, due to having finished seventeen points ahead of their visitors, play-offs are one-off games and there will be no lack of tension.