Kentish Football 
VCD Athletic 0-1 Phoenix Sports - It was probably the best feeling I've ever had in football - Ryan Hayes' last minute penalty hitting the back of the net, says promoted Phoenix Sports boss Steve O'Boyle
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VCD Athletic 
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Phoenix Sports |
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| Location | Oakwood, Old Road, Crayford, Kent DA1 4DN |
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| Kickoff | 29/04/2023 15:00 |
VCD ATHLETIC 0-1 PHOENIX SPORTS
Inter-Step Play-Off
Saturday 29 April 2023
Stephen McCartney reports from Oakwood
PHOENIX SPORTS manager Steve O’Boyle says winning promotion via the Inter-Step Play-Off against their local rivals VCD Athletic is probably the best feeling he has ever had in football.
Winger Ryan Hayes, 37, held his nerve from the penalty spot, to seal promotion back into the Isthmian League South East Division at the first attempt, five minutes and 24 seconds into stoppage time at the end of a cagey stalemate at Oakwood.
It means that Michael Power has failed to save VCD Athletic from relegation, losing eight of his 11 games in charge since replacing Grant Basey in February.
The Vickers' spent 10 seasons in the Isthmian League (including two in the Premier Division).
Phoenix Sports went into this winner-takes-all showdown as favourites, despite finishing their 38 match Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division campaign as runners-up to Erith & Belvedere, who collected 83 points, two more than O’Boyle’s men.
It means that the bottom four sides in the Isthmian League South East Division will be relegated as VCD Athletic (38 points from 38 games) and Haywards Heath (36) lost their home Inter-Step Play-Off ties and Faversham Town (31) and Corinthian (28) slipped through the trap door by finishing in the relegation zone.
This game was heading for the drama of a penalty shoot-out but two VCD Athletic defenders lost their heads in stoppage time, while 34-year-old striker Andy Pugh was released from the subs bench with 11 minutes of normal time remaining and turned the game.
Tolulope Jonah picked up his second booking for a foul on Pugh, just 21 seconds into stoppage time, while his replacement, Folarin Awoleke pushed over Pugh inside the penalty area (45:21), before Hayes slotted in his 14th goal of the season into the bottom right-hand corner, despite goalkeeper Jordan Gillmore guessing the right way.
“It’s the best feeling in the world,” said O’Boyle, who suffered a stressful afternoon at the home of their local rivals.
“Fifty-three weeks of graft. We got relegated 53 weeks ago and I went in attacking it and there was no way in the world I was going to lie down and let this football club just be at SCEFL club. I wasn’t prepared to just accept it. It’s been a long 53 weeks and I feel like I’ve aged a lot this year, credit to the players.
“Listen, I don’t think it was a spectacular game. I don’t care! We’ve won promotion! One-nil, another clean-sheet. I thought we defended brilliantly today, like we do most weeks.
“Honestly, it doesn’t matter how we’ve played today or how bad the game was or how good the game was. All that matters is we are now an Isthmian football club again and I can’t tell you how happy that makes me feel.”
VCD Athletic were missing four key players with 11-goal Bromley loanee Soul Kadar (ACL), Jack Bath (holiday) and injured pair Joe Bingham and Jack Holland missing the club’s biggest game of the season, watched by a record crowd of 820.
VCD Athletic were the better side during the first half and created an opening after only 97 seconds.
Karl Dent released striker Sam Williams down the left-channel and he cut the ball back to holding midfielder Reece Gillies, whose half-volley was blocked. However, right-back Chris Edwards put the ball back into the box and Gillies hit a right-footed volley screaming past the far post from 22-yards.
Phoenix Sports’ first opening came inside the opening seven minutes after Gillies fouled Lee Bird.
Hayes floated a left-footed free-kick towards the top right-hand corner from 35-yards, Millwall loanee goalkeeper Gillmore dived to his left and was relieved to see the ball sail past the post.
Hayes had a second free-kick at the halfway point, this time from 25-yards, and this time Gillmore stepped to his right and grabbed hold of the ball at the second attempt.
VCD Athletic failed to create any further clear cut chances in the first half with Phoenix Sports’ two centre-halves Ryan Sawyer and Matthew Bourne outstanding, especially dealing with the 10 long throws that were hurled into the box by Jonah, as Vickers ran out of ideas in attack.
O’Boyle said: “Bourney and Ryan today, every ball in the box had a long throw. They kept on heading it back out didn’t they?
“We had them watched and I’ve watched a couple of their games recently and if you want to keep on throwing it in our box, we’ve got Ryan Sawyer and Matt Bourne who will head it, that’s like bread and butter to them.”
Jonah’s fifth long throw was dealt with by Phoenix left-back Lewis Clark in the 23rd minute and Gillies’ hooked volley from eight-yards sailed high over the top of the near post.
Bath’s replacement, Jamie Watson, opened the gate in the 29th minute when a poor headed clearance from Bird’s long ball let in striker Francis Babalola down the left-channel. He cut the ball back to Bird, whose first time cross was met by 18-goal striker Tashi-Jay Kwayie, who glanced his free header across the keeper and past the far post from 12-yards.
A cagey first-half ended goal-less and O’Boyle – who was a lot more stressed than his relaxed opposite number Power during the game – gave his side an earful during the interval.
“At half-time, they proper got it. You wouldn’t want to be a fly on the wall at half-time. I don’t think we turned up first half and I think they were the better team,” said O’Boyle.
“I’m not going to lie to people, they know what I’m like. I wear my heart on my sleeve and a few of them were told at half-time ‘I don’t think we’ve turned up here today’, and they got told at half-time that they need to f*****g liven up and I think they did.
“We were a little bit fearful and at half-time I said what I had to say and I think we were a lot better in the second half and I thought we came strong at the end.”
Vickers’ talisman Karl Dent started to pull the strings in the middle of the park and he created the home side’s best chance of the second half 13 minutes in.
A good through ball from Dent released former Fisher winger Darnelle Bailey-King, who cut inside but lacked composure and rolled his weak left-footed shot straight into the gloves of Andy Walker, who made a comfortable save at his near-post down on his knees.
Treatment to Phoenix Sports’ right-back Henry Douglas in the 61st minute allowed both sets of players to have a water break and O’Boyle demanded more from his players and they responded by dominating the remainder of the game.
Phoenix Sports – now playing with two men up front - wasted a glorious chance to grab the lead in the 65th minute.
Bourne rolled the ball back to Walker, who launched a big kick straight down the heart of the pitch and Kwayie had a couple of attempts to bring the ball down as the ball dropped on to the pristine playing surface.
Alfie Evans got involved and hooked the ball into Babalola, who found Kwayie in space inside the box but he dragged his left-footed shot across the keeper and past the far post from 15-yards.
“On Tashi’s standards, he has to score but he hasn’t,” came O’Boyle’s swift response.
O’Boyle demanded more from his side going into the final quarter of the game and Hayes’ deliveries from set-pieces were on the money.
Hayes floated a corner in from the left and Bird sent his free header down and straight into the gloves of Gillmore, who made a comfortable save.
Four minutes later, Hayes swung in Phoenix Sports’ sixth corner of the game and Sawyer came up from the back and bury his free-header against the centre of the crossbar from 15-yards.
VCD Athletic brought on the ineffective striker Luke Tanner in the 67th minute, while O’Boyle could have the luxury of bringing on 34-year-old striker Pugh with 11 minutes remaining.
“I brought him (Pugh) on and I said ‘get me something’, and he got me something,” revealed O’Boyle.
“He’s been out injured and lucky that the groin injury he got the other week at Stansfeld (8 April) wasn’t as bad as what it seemed and we’ve been working on him for weeks now and we were basically priming him for today’s game and well, it's worked hasn’t it?
“He done a full training session on Wednesday and he come through it. Brilliant and he’s gone down and got the penalty. Brilliant. Love him to death, great lad, brilliant pro. In front of goal he’s excellent and what a great signing, he’s been brilliant for this football club.
“But I just can’t talk about Andy Pugh. I can talk about everyone in that dressing room. They’ve been a pleasure to manage and a pleasure to work with.”
A nervy looking VCD Athletic side were hanging on and appearing to be satisfied to take the game to the lottery of a penalty shoot-out.
VCD Athletic almost snatched the victory with 40:06 on the clock, however.
Edwards’ delivers are always on the money and he put a free-kick into the box from close to the centre-circle and Walker punched the ball away and Dent smacked a right-footed volley screaming over the crossbar from inside the D.
A clapping O’Boyle demanded ‘one final push’ from his side with 42:11 on the clock and with 44:32 on the clock, Connor Fanelli’s offside flag was raised to deny Kwayie, who buried his header into the near-corner of the net after Sawyer knocked on Hayes’ free-kick.
“I’m been like that (stressed) for a quite a few weeks now if I’m being honest,” revealed O’Boyle.
“I’ve aged quite a bit this year. I’m actually looking forward to a break. I need a break. I need to have a bit of time away from football. I need to rest up and recharge my batteries.
“I haven’t even spoken to any players yet or anything. I haven’t spoken to the board yet. I don’t know what happens tomorrow.”
However, a dominant Phoenix Sports side showed great character to put that disappointment behind them and press for that winning goal they craved.
Referee Harrison Blair showed Jonah a red-card (45:21) after picking up yellow cards for fouls on Kwayie and the outstanding Pugh.
“I think it’s a red card, two bookings. I thought the referee today was very good, best referee we’ve had this season, very good. I thought it was a clumsy challenge that deserved a second yellow card,” added O’Boyle.
Power swiftly brought on Awoleke and threw him into the melting pot at the heart of defence and Hayes put one final ball into the box towards Kwayie and Pugh and the hapless Awoleke bundled over Pugh and the referee pointed to the spot.
There was only going to be one outcome. Hayes stepped up and clinically slotted his left-footed penalty into the bottom right-hand corner, despite the keeper coming so close to dive to his left and keep it out, to seal Phoenix Sports’ promotion alongside champions Erith & Belvedere.
Players ran from the dug-out and on to the pitch. The referee confirmed post-match that he booked Babalola as he took off his shirt during the celebrations by the corner flag. The referee also confirmed that he sent-off VCD Athletic assistant manager Dean Harrison after the final whistle (which was blown at 52:25).
“Ryan Hayes stepping up for a penalty, not being horrible, but it’s who you want on the ball, a penalty to take you into the Isthmian League rests on Ryan Hayes,” said O’Boyle, who planted a big kiss on his match winner during the post-match press conference, that VCD Athletic failed to attend.
“Ryan was brought to the club to win me promotion and he’s won me promotion. Some of the players this year have gone over and above, it’s been brilliant. Honestly, there’s some real good people at Phoenix and they deserve the success. This isn’t all about me. It isn’t about the players’. It’s everyone at the football club, there’s some real good players.”
When asked how he was feeling before Hayes stepped up to score the penalty, O’Boyle replied: “Can I take it? No, I can’t but I would’ve loved to have taken it. For however long it took to take, it went on for quite a while and it was a great penalty wasn’t it?
“It was probably the best feeling I’ve ever had in football, that hitting the back of the net, it’s probably the best feeling I’ve ever had!
“It means absolutely everything to me. I can’t tell you…. I’ll be honest with you, I didn’t enjoy this season. I criticised a few things. I didn’t enjoy it. We don’t have to do sin-bins next year, rubbish like that.
“I think (the Isthmian League) is where the club needs to be. When I left the club a few years’ back we were an Isthmian club and unfortunately that ended last year and I’m on top of this world in this moment in time because I’m so pleased I got us back there.
“It means a lot to our supporters and it means a lot to me – thank you, thank you very much for everything you’ve done, the supporters were so vocal, absolutely love them, always love them.
“As a manager, I’ve won a bit, like winning leagues. This is probably the best, play-off, last minute penalty. You can’t top that. When we won the league previously it was quite comfortable in the end. That was out of the blue and to win it like that, yes you can’t beat what we’ve just done. I’m going to get quite drunk and make a fool of myself.”
Hayes, meanwhile, revealed all his dreams came true today.
“It was good. It’s an unreal feeling to be fair. We got here today and I actually told Pughie I had a dream last night and exactly what happened, happened. It was emotional at the end,” said Hayes.
“Nil-Nil, last minute penalty, put the penalty away. Yes, that was the dream, it happened, so I’m over the moon.
“I thought we gave them too much respect in the first-half. We didn’t come out, our game plan didn’t work but I thought second half we were a bit more compact and then I thought we were the most likely team to score if I’m honest.
“I don’t think Walks had a shot to save and against a team from the league above you expect to be under a bit of pressure but I thought we were alright and our back four were good and we done well.
“With about half-an-hour to go, the management called us over. We changed shape and when we changed shape we got on the ball a bit more, so I’d say from 60 minutes on I think there was a belief from everyone that we were going to go on and win the game.”
Hayes paid tribute to Pugh for his match-changing cameo role.
“He is different class Pughie. I really do feel if he was injury free during his career he’d be easily in the League. He’s quality. For him to come on with 11 minutes to go or whatever it was and help us over the line, was unreal for him.”
When asked what he was feeling before stepping up to seal the fifth promotion of his career, replied: “I just wanted to get the ball and put it down and get on with it. I was so excited when the referee gave the penalty. I knew exactly where I was going to go. They obviously knew exactly where I was going to do but I was so happy when it nestled into the bottom corner.
“The keeper went the right way but he didn’t get his hands to it so they obviously done their homework on where I go. I was just over the moan when it hit the net.
“I went to Boylie’s house in the summer and we spoke about it and that was the plan, to go up, whether it was to win it or to get up through this play-off, that was the aim and just to do it for the club and for Boylie really, he wears his heart on his sleeve and he’s over the moon about it.”
Hayes has had many career highlights but revealed ‘it’s up there, definitely. To be captain of the club and to get us the winning penalty, I’m absolutely over the moon for everyone involved in the club, so yes, it’s defiantly up there.
“It’s up there, it’s the biggest (goal) as in the meaning of it. 100% definitely. It’s definitely up there as in what it means for people. It’s got to be up there.
“As a squad, everyone has played their part, the whole squad, even the young lads have come in and done their jobs. Everyone’s done excellent.
“Since Mikey Dalton and Matt Bourne have come in, we have just been a different animal. We have been solid, we get the ball back quicker, we dominate the game. We’ve got the best defence in the league.”
VCD Athletic: Jordan Gillmore, Chris Edwards, Craig Ross, Reece Gillies, Tolulope Jonah, Jamie Watson, Muraino Banjoko, Karl Dent, Sam Williams (Luke Tanner 67), Michael Aziaya (Harry Barnes 73), Darnelle Bailey-King (Folarin Awoleke 90).
Subs: Zach Dainkeh, Danny Phillips
Booked: Michael Aziaya 21, Tolulope Jonah 53, Folarin Awoleke 90
Sent Off: Tolulope Jonah 90, Dean Harrison (assistant manager) 90
Phoenix Sports: Andy Walker, Henry Douglas, Lewis Clark, Mikey Dalton, Ryan Sawyer, Matthew Bourne, Alfie Evans, Lee Bird, Francis Babalola (Andy Pugh 79), Tashi-Jay Kwayie, Ryan Hayes.
Subs: Tom Cousins, Liam Northwood, Harrison Pont, Kieran King
Goal: Ryan Hayes 90 (penalty)
Booked: Mikey Dalton 47, Francis Babalola 90
Attendance: 820
Referee: Mr Harrison Blair
Assistants: Mr Connor Fanelli & Mr Scott Crowhurst
Fourth Official: Mr Craig Barnett
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd