VCD Athletic 0-1 Gillingham - I'm got the best squad, insists Foley - EXCLUSIVE

VCD ATHLETIC 0-1 GILLINGHAM
Pre-Season Friendly
Wednesday 18^th July 2007
Stephen McCartney reports from Oakwood

Paul Foley claims that he’ll have the largest first-team squad in Kent League football, once the new season kick’s off in just over three weeks time.

The newly-appointed VCD Athletic player-manager, 35, named a whopping 27 players for their opening pre-season friendly tonight, against a young Gillingham side that included seven trialists in their starting eleven and their oldest player was 22-years-old.

And one of those trialisits, Spaniard Pablo Rodriques, scored the only goal of the game, from the penalty spot, after 32 minutes, to give the Coca-Cola League One club a flattering 1-0 win.

The impressive Tyrone Berry, a nippy right-winger, got behind the Crayford side’s defence for the first time and whipped in a cross from the flank.

And the ball flashed against Kevin Spriggs’ hand, which was spotted by Orpington-based assistant, Mr Andy Mead, who had no hesitation but to raise his yellow flag above his chest.

After Mr Mead and referee Mr Keith Wenham (Orpington) discussed the incident, Rodriques sent James Tedder the wrong way with his right-footed penalty kick.

Tedder, who finished last season with Vickers’ Kent League rivals Slade Green, had a much more busier 45 minutes on Monday night when he played for Ryman League Division One North outfit Dartford against Tottenham Hotspur.

The giant stopper, who impressed, conceded only one goal during his second half showing, during Spurs’ devastating 7-2 win at Princes Park.

Foley, who didn’t feature, was without injured pair Ashley Probets and Gary Ward, and was able to cast his eyes over many new faces, from his technical area.

Paul Ribbens (ex-Maidstone United and Deal Town), Gary Cook (Herne Bay), John Mighty (ex-Fisher Athletic, Greenwich Borough and Ramsgate), Ian Court (ex-Maidstone United), Phil Turner (ex-Cray Wanderers), Sam Taylor (Crystal Palace) and former Maidstone United defender, Ross Edwards, who skippered Broxbourne Borough last season, featured.

Speaking EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards, Foley doesn’t mind that he utilised so many players tonight.

“It’s a nice headache to have,” he said. “I’d rather it was that was that way, than the other way round.

“We got in our mind that if we play these next two friendlies, the games against Ramsgate and Cray Valley, I’m off for that week so when I’m back I’ll sit down with Frostie (coach, Dean Frost) and we’ll decide the ones we’re having and hopefully go for a squad of around 22, maybe a little bit more.”

But it was VCD Athletic who should have opened the scoring within two minutes but Stuart Abbott, who played for only 22 minutes, drove an angled right-footed shot harmlessly past the far post, despite being in a good position.

Gills centre-half, Chris Clemens, hooked a shot past Tedder’s far post, in what was the visitors’ first opening of the game, after eight minutes.

Vickers went close again five minutes later when striker Richard Sinden nodded on Paul Ribbens’ trade-mark long throw, but goalkeeper Chris Kiely, prevented Leroy Huggins from scoring with a looping header.

Abbott’s last action of the game saw the right-sided midfielder sky a half-volley high over Kiely’s bar.

A ripple of applause broke out from the main stand at Oakwood after Sinden’s looping header from six-yards dropped agonisingly wide of the foot of the left post, following Kevin Winchcombe’s free-kick.

Central defender Cook played the best pass of the match after 28 minutes when he set Huggins through on goal.

But the much-travelled striker was denied by a smart save by the advancing Kiely, who blocked the shot with his legs.

But Vickers were punished when Gills got behind them on the right and Spriggs was penalised for handball at the near post as the ball flashed across the goal-mouth.

Later on, Gillingham’s other first-half chance fell to Rory Bell, who unleashed a wayward shot with his right-foot from 25-yards.

VCD Athletic were satisfied with their impressive display during the first half, and changed players for the second half.

And a move involving talented pair, Danny Penny and Juan Ramirez, resulted in trialist James Barnes-Farnham driving an angled left-footed shot past the far post.

And at the other end, Berry floated in a left-footed drive, which floated past the far post, after he cut in from the right-hand side after 53 minutes.

And wayward efforts from substitute Charlie Howard and Rory Bell were not what you called Football League class, which was missing tonight as it was the home side that impressed.

Vickers substitute Phil Turner squandered an excellent chance to equalise with twenty minutes left when he latched onto a through ball but his shot was blocked by the advancing Kiely.

Vickers substitute goalkeeper, Danny Burke, 18, made a string of fine saves to thwart the Medway club late on.

Frenchman Jeremy Choplins thought he had doubled Gillingham’s lead after 75 minutes but Burke, who won the Keeper Wars competition with midfielder Jack Parkinson at Dartford last month, dived to his right to push the angled right-footed drive around the post.

And Bell only had the youth team goalkeeper to beat ten minutes later, but Burke made a stunning double save, and then a frustrated Bell cut the ball back to substitute Ben Bissett, who suffered similar fate, as Burke came out on top, earning praise from the Gillingham bench for his treble save.

Despite the defeat, Foley was pleased with the performance from his two teams.

“We did very well,” he said. I thought both (my) teams did well. They might have tired a little bit in the second half, but all the new players did very well, the ones that we’ve had did well, so I’m well pleased with the performance.”

Former Maidstone United favourite, Ian Court, 33, certainly put himself about during his 12 minute cameo at the end of the first-half.

“He’s a good player to have on the pitch,” admitted Foley. “I’ve played against him and I’ve played with him, and I’d rather he was on my team than against me.

“He’s had a long time out, if he gets himself fit and back to how he was, he’s an asset to any team.”

Foley, however, wants his side fully fit ahead of their Kent League opener against Tunbridge Wells at Oakwood on Saturday, 11^th August.

“It’s purely fitness,” he said of tonight’s outing. “I’m not looking particularly at formations or tactical decisions, so its just a chance for the lads to have a blow, get some match fitness, and for us to have a look at the new boys and for them to see if they like what they see.”

Despite describing himself as an “aggressive” player, Foley is much more quiet in the technical area - compared to his predecessor Martin Ford.

“I’m not a ranter and a raver funnily enough,” he said. “I won’t be a loud person on the touchline.

“Fordy was a bit of a barker, but everyone has their own styles, but I’m not really like that - I’ll get my point across.

“As a player I know there’s not a lot that someone can say from the touchline anyway that changes (things) once you’re on the pitch.

“You just have to get the ideas over to them before (the game) and in training.”

With the aid of playing on a vast improved playing surface, Foley believes his side have a very good chance of clinching the club’s first ever Kent League title at the end of the season - having finished as runners-up to Whitstable Town last season.

“The squad we’ve got, and I mean that, I wouldn’t change it with any other squad,” he said.

“We’ve got a good chance. We’re in the pot with three or four other teams and I’m confident. I’ve always been confident, and I am a winner.

“The pitch is superb, it’s a big improvement on last year, disappointed I couldn’t play on it tonight - we just have to do the business out on the pitch.”

Jim Ward brings his Ramsgate side to Oakwood on Saturday, whilst Gillingham’s first-team travel to Dover Athletic - a game that www.kentishfootball.co.uk are covering at Crabble.

VCD Athletic: James Tedder (Danny Burke 45), David Hunt (Brad Ryan 45, Marc Merridan 69), Paul Ribbens (Sam Taylor 45), Kevin Spriggs (Steve Hogg 45), Martin Driscoll (Ross Edwards 45), Gary Cook (Nick Hullance 45), Stuart Abbott (John Mighty 22, Mark Greatorex 45), Jack Parkinson (Danny Penny 45), Leroy Huggins (Ian Court 33, Juan Ramirez 45), Richard Sinden (Ricky Bennett 45), Kevin Winchcombe (James Barnes-Farnham 45, Phil Turner 69).
Sub: Billy Driver.

Gillingham: Chris Kiely, Dan Walker, Marvin Hamilton, Scott Smith (Charlie Howard 45), Chris Clemens, Oliver Ouso, Tyrone Berry (Tyrone Thomas 76), Jamie Watson (Ben Bissett 67), Pablo Rodriques, Jeremy Choplins (Tom Wynter 67), Rory Bell (Luis Bell 67).
Sub: Paul Agou.

Goal: Pablo Rodriques 32 (pen)

Referee: Mr Keith Wenham (Orpington)
Assistants: Mr Darren Blunden (Dartford) & Mr Andy Mead (Orpington)