VCD Athletic 1-0 Eastbourne Town. We've knocked out a very good side, admits Ford (EXCLUSIVE)

VCD ATHLETIC 1-0 EASTBOURNE TOWN
FA Cup Preliminary Round Replay
Thursday 7^th September 2006
Stephen McCartney reports from Park View Road

Martin Ford paid tribute to his weakened side as they progressed through to the first qualifying round of the FA Cup tonight.

The long-serving VCD Athletic manager was missing Lee Coburn (56 days), Mark Horan (86 day) and Mark Greatorex (7 days) through suspension. Goalkeeper Grant Wallis (Egypt) and Gary Ward (America), meanwhile, were both on holiday.

But defender David Hunt (groin) and Kevin Winchcome passed fitness tests prior to the game, which they won courtesy of Stuart Abbott’s first goal of the season, from his first start, 193 seconds after the half-time interval.

Former Kingstonian goalkeeper Alan Hughes, making his debut having signed from neighbours Dartford, launched a clearance up field, which was flicked on by Danny Penny into Abbott’s path, and he fired the decisive goal of the game past Mark Oldroyd from ten-yards.

The goal was what the North Kent side deserved, but they had to dig in for the last half hour as their east Sussex visitors threw everything at them in their search for an equaliser.

But Vickers held out and secured a trip to Southern Leaguers Bashley on 16 September.

Ford’s side went close to breaking the deadlock early on when the impressive Ashley Probets played in Abbott, and after cutting in from the left was denied by a fine block by the Eastbourne Town goalkeeper at his near post.

Probets turned provider again when his deep hanging cross was met by Penny, but his header flew agonisingly wide of the far post.

Eastbourne Town, who travel to Deal Town in the FA Vase first qualifying round on Saturday, created a half chance after 17 minutes but Hughes’ saw their leading scorer Liam Baitupp’s left-footed drive from 22-yards roll harmlessly wide.

Abbott came close to scoring just four minutes later when he saw his 30-yard right-footed free kick bounce off the perimeter fencing. Another yard to the left then Vickers would have been celebrating taking a deserved lead.

Both sides were allowed to play good passing on the excellent playing surface at the home of Nationwide Conference South club Welling United.

Penny played in Probets after 35 minutes down the left hand side, and the former Arsenal youngster saw his curler skim the outside of the far post.

But Abbott’s goal came at the right time for Ford’s side as they battled bravely to prevent their visitors getting the goal their attacking raids deserved.

Eastbourne Town raised the tempo and created three excellent chances in a ten minute spell just past the hour mark.

Andy Ducille’s low diagonal pass carved open a chance for seven-goal Baitupp, who was denied by a low save from the stretching goalkeeper.

Then following a long throw into the penalty area from skipper Luke Denton, Danny Simmonds’ header skimmed the top of the crossbar and then Steven Dallaway drove just past the foot of the far post.

But VCD Athletic responded in true FA Cup style - putting in challenges, working their socks off - and enjoying a bit of luck.

Their visitors could sense their opponents were tiring, but Ford encouraged his side to run that extra mile to earn the club £1,000 in prize money.

And when Ducille stabbed the ball just past the right post late on, you could sense resilient Vickers had done enough to progress.

“I spoke to you before the game Steve and to be quite honest with you I didn’t give us a hope tonight,” Ford admitted EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk after his side’s heroic victory.

“We’re down to bare bones and we had two lads who had fitness tests tonight. Maybe in an ordinary game they’d probably wouldn’t have been fit if it was Deal Town but fair credit to them they got themselves up for it today and I thought we were superb.”

Praising struggling Hunt and Winchcombe, Ford, now in his fourteenth season at the helm, said: “In all fairness they could hardly walk before the game. We got them here early, done what we could for them, patched them up and got them out there. I thought David Hunt was absolutely marvellous.

“Eastbourne are a good side and I think they’ll win the Sussex League by a country mile, that’s my honest opinion. We’ve knocked a very good side out of the FA Cup tonight. Deal Town have got their work cut out in the Vase on Saturday.”

Ford takes his side to Slade Green (Saturday) and Beckenham Town (next Tuesday) before travelling to Bashley in the next round of the FA Cup on 16 September.

“This Thursday night football we want to give it a go,” said Ford. “We’ve got a big enough squad at the club to maybe deal with it.

“I’ve just said to a couple of the lads who didn’t come on tonight that we’ll probably use them Saturday.

“No disrespect to Slade Green but it’s not worth having players at the club if you’re not going to use them when you need them.

“There will be a few fresh faces in there Saturday and we’ll go again as the league’s our priority.

“I’ve we had gone out (of the FA Cup) tonight I don’t think I would have been too disappointed.”

VCD Athletic and Whitstable Town are the last remaining Kent League sides left in the competition. Marc Seager’s side welcome Ryman League Division One South outfit Croydon Athletic to the Belmont.