Herne Bay 0 VCD Athletic 1 (EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS)

HERNE BAY 0

VCD ATHLETIC 1
Kevin Winchcombe 36

VCD Athletic win 2-1 on aggregate


Stephen McCartney reports from Winch’s Field
Kentish Observer League Cup Semi-Final Second Leg

A stunning strike in the 36^th minute from Kevin Winchcombe sent VCD Athletic through to their second cup final of the season at a cold Winch’s Field today.

The former Erith & Belvedere and Thamesmead Town player, close to making his 200^th appearance for the club, cut inside from the right and from 20-yards unleashed a left-footed curler, which flew into the top corner of the far post.

It was, however, the best chance of a very dour first half, which lacked passion.

There was drama before the game even started though. The kick-off was delayed for ten minutes as Whitstable official Mike Potts made an unexpected dash to the ground as Canterbury based assistant, Mark Cheeseman failed to arrive as he was allegedly shopping at Bluewater Shopping Centre, not knowing he should have been running the line for this game.

There was only one change to the two starting line-ups from Tuesday’s first leg at Harrow Meadow, which finished 1-1.

VCD’s Burly striker, Richard Dimmock made way for Mark Greatorex - who missed the first leg - but Dimmock came off the bench at the interval, replacing David Hunt (back).

But the former Cray Wanderers striker, who was booked in the 61^st minute, was shown his second yellow card inside stoppage time - much to his disgust and Martin Ford, his manager.

Ramsgate referee Andy Carter called Dimmock over to book him, after he tangled with Richard Styles as he tried to flick on a throw, right in front of the dug-outs and officials seating area.

But Ford felt the official had “marked” Dimmock’s “card” long before he came off the bench.

“We can’t make it out,” said a puzzled Ford. “When he came on I thought the referee marked his card.

“He warned him a couple of times when he was virtually warming up, so he came on and booked him for looking at him,” Ford said.

“The first booking was for looking at him in a threatening manner - so what that’s all about I don’t know?”

Ford, however, felt Dimmock’s second yellow was controversial, and chose some words that would land the long-serving manager in trouble if published.

“The second thing is he’s had a shout back at the bench and the referee’s said that he’s shouted at him, which is far wrong,” insists Ford.

But he added: “Richard’s a little disappointed with himself but it won’t overshadow the fine victory that we’ve had today.”

But had Herne Bay’s Dave Soutan taken his two headed chances, it could have been a different story.

His first, after just nine minutes, saw him head into the grateful arms of visiting goalkeeper Grant Wallis, who went on to keep his 18^th clean sheet of the season.

But he agonisingly went close to grabbing a late equaliser when he rose to meet Styles’ cross from the right, but the ball flew just wide of the top of the left upright.

What can I say about the poor first half? Not much really! After 21 minutes, Danny Penny latched onto Winchcombe’s threaded pass and blazed over from 18-yards but the flag was raised for offside.

Then six minutes after the goal, the ever-impressive left-sided midfielder Stuart Abbott drove a right-footed shot from 20-yards, which was comfortably picked up by Herne Bay’s ever-present goalkeeper, Jack Delo.

After 66 minutes, Jason Lillis, Herne Bay’s manager, handed David Fitzgerald his debut.

The 21-year-old netted twice in two games for the club’s reserve side, having scored 25 goals this season for Medway Sunday League side Cliffe, playing left-sided midfield.

But Seven minutes into his debut he accidentally collided with the onrushing VCD goalkeeper, who came out of his penalty area to bravely nod the ball clear. Wallis needed treatment, which caused concern, and Fitzgerald got a bump on the head for his troubles.

Good play from Penny and Dimmock gave Abbott a sight at goal but his shot from the edge of the penalty area flew agonisingly wide of the left upright and into the side netting from a central position.

Herne Bay’s 17-year-old striker Stuart King - scorer of their late leveller in the first leg - burst through two defenders before unleashing a left-footed long range effort, which sailed just over.

Before his sending off, Dimmock couldn’t jump high enough to meet Abbott’s cross from the left, and after Greatorex retrieved the loose ball from the other flank, Dimmock blazed over following Winchcombe’s cross.

Soutan’s failure to head home his fifth goal of the season means the North Kent coastal club have eight league games to salvage something from their season.

Lillis was too dejected to be interviewed, leaving his coach Jon Warden to admit they weren’t at the races.

“They didn’t really get out of the starting blocks today really,” he admitted. “We never got a grip in the game, considering the position that we started the game.

“It’s disappointing that we never managed to close it off and complete the job we started the other night.”

Warden, whose playing career took him to many clubs at Ryman Premier League level, including Bromley, was expecting his side to finish off the job after coming away from Greenwich Borough’s ground with a vital away goal.

He said: “We would have been pleased coming away with a draw and come back to our ground with an away goal. We were more than happy with that. We expected to complete the job here really.”

The Bay are sixth placed in the Kentish Observer League table and tackle Tunbridge Wells at home on Tuesday night - looking to add to their 38 points tally - but Warden explained their intentions for the rest of the season.

“We have to pick ourselves up, brush ourselves down and now push on for a promotion spot,” he said.

“I think that’s what we’ve got to do now. I mean that’s our main goal now. We’ve got to concentrate on getting as many points as we can now and get ourselves in that promotion spot.”

He was, however, pleased with Fitzgerald’s debut, and insisted any player that’s good enough will be given a chance.

“He’s another young lad,” said Warden. “It just shows the open door policy we have at this club. If players do well from the reserves they’ll get their chance.”

Ford added: “I thought we fully deserved it today. (We were) back to full strength more or less, Mark Greatorex back in the side, made a massive difference to us. Yes, we’re delighted.”

Maidstone United are in the driving seat to also reach the final, at Folkestone Invicta’s Buzzlines Stadium in Cheriton Road on Saturday, 29^th April.

Lloyd Hume’s men defeated Hythe Town 2-1 at Reachfields Stadium last Tuesday.

The other second leg takes place at Bourne Park, Sittingbourne on Wednesday, 29^th March, and if the Stones get through it will mean the top two sides that came out of Group C will be contesting the final.

Ironically, VCD and Maidstone meet again at Harrow Meadow on Tuesday night in the league.

* VCD have also reached the final of the Kent Senior Trophy, where they’ll tackle Tunbridge Wells at Welling United’s Park View Road ground on Sunday, 9^th April (3pm).

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Nathan Eastwood (Owain Williams 76) Sean Bremner (David Fitzgerald 66), Gary Cook, Stephen Lloyd, Richard Styles, Marlon Button (Sam Denly 45), Simon Brown, Stuart King, Dave Soutan, Dave Masters.
Subs: Kevin Eldridge, Martin Collins.


VCD Athletic: Grant Wallis, Chris Whitehouse, David Hunt (Richard Dimmock 45), Paul Foley, Kevin Winchcombe, Steve Hogg, Stuart Abbott, James Brown, Danny Penny, Mark Greatorex, Ashley Probets.
Subs: Ricky Bennett, Alan Owen, Terry Murphy, Clayton Probets.

Sent off: Richard Dimmock 90


Attendance: 165
Referee: Mr Andy Carter (Ramsgate)
Assistants: Mr Paul Beadle (Sevenoaks) & Mike Potts (Whitstable)