VCD Athletic 1-0 Deal Town - Winchcombe celebrates 300th appearance by bagging League Title

Wednesday 22nd April 2009

VCD ATHLETIC 1-0 DEAL TOWN

Bulmers Cider Kent League

Wednesday 22nd April 2009

Mike Green reports from Oakwood

ONLY a freak of footballing mathematics can surely now deny VCD Athletic their first ever Kent League title crown.

Nick Hegley’s solitary goal on the hour was enough to beat a determined Deal Town side and by doing so Paul Foley’s side moved three points and 13 goals clear of Hythe Town with just 90 minutes of the Bulmers Cider Kent League season to go.

Whilst the victory was not spectacular it was all that the Vickers’ needed and bar a disaster, which surely has never been seen before on a football pitch, it will be VCD Athletic who will take their place in the Ryman League next season.

A jubilant Foley, speaking to BBC Radio Kent afterwards, said, “I’m delighted, we can’t count all of the chickens just yet, but we are all but there.

“We’ve started the season shakily and we lost five games by the odd goal but we’ve proved a lot of people wrong in the final outcome.”

Foley was particularly pleased for his long serving players in particular full-back Kevin Winchcombe, who played his 300th game for the Crayford club tonight.

Foley went on, “Since Dean (Frost) and I came to the club, we’ve had three or four players stick with us and I’m delighted for them in particular.

“I had to text Kevin to tell him that it was his 300th game and I’m so chuffed for him and the rest of the boys.”

In truth, as the game wore on, you sensed that it was going to be just a question of if VCD could break Deal down, but when they did, on the hour there was a degree of controversy about the goal.

Substitute James Duckworth launched a long, hanging cross into the Deal penalty area and as keeper Paul Rogers went to challenge Alfie Harris the two collided finishing on the floor and before Rogers could recover his composure, Hegley was on hand to drill the ball into the net for his 11th goal of the season.

The Deal bench were convinced that the keeper had been fouled, but the goal stood.

The first half was pretty non-descript, except for two moments.

Richard Sinden brought a smart reflex save out of Rogers from a corner and then defender Gary Cook saw a header well gathered by the Deal keeper.

The visitors’ huffed and puffed and although VCD goalkeeper James Tedder had a few anxious moments, dealing with some crosses, the home goal wasn’t truthfully threatened.

The second half followed much the same pattern as the first.

Duckworth saw a driven cross headed narrowly wide by Sinden, before the substitute himself was denied by Rogers - the Deal keeper doing well to hold on to a low drive.

The championship champagne was very nearly put back into the fridge, however, four minutes from time as a long throw into the Vickers’ penalty area was flicked on by David Bathgate and Tedder was a very relieved keeper to see the ball bounce just wide.

And so Vickers’ now go to Winch’s Field on Saturday for their final league game of the season against Norton Sports with daylight at the top of the Bulmers Cider Kent League, three points clear and more a dozen goals clear surely the Vickers’ have done enough.

That said, didn’t someone once say that football is a “funny old game.”

If Foley and his troops aren’t champions come five o’clock on Saturday afternoon, somehow I don’t think there will be many at Oakwood smiling.

Congratulations to everybody at VCD Athletic on their fine achievement this season.

VCD Athletic: James Tedder, Kevin Winchcombe, Kane Rice, Gary Ward, Gary Cook, David Hunt, Luke May (Alfie Harris 58, Sam May 73), Anthony Hogg (James Duckworth 58) , Danny Penny, Richard Sinden, Nick Hegley.

Subs: Casey Scotter, Tom Bradshaw.

Goal: Neil Hegley 60

Deal Town: Paul Rogers, Darren Waring (Joe Neilson 76), Josh Davidson, Adam Govey, Michael Cassar (Harry Collins 81), Aaron Robinson, Jack Collins (Shane Suter 69), David Bathgate, Mark Pollard, Stuart Vahid, Danny Smith.

Booked: Danny Smith 34, David Bathgate 88

Attendance: 256

Referee: Mr C Wood (Gravesend)

Assistants: Mr P Gorvett (Erith) & Mr A Peters (Kidbrooke)