VCD Athletic 3-0 Greenwich Borough - We just didn't turn up, admits Billy Walton

Saturday 12th February 2011

VCD ATHLETIC 3-0 GREENWICH BOROUGH
Safety Net Associates Kent League
Saturday 12th February 2011
Stephen McCartney reports from Oakwood

GREENWICH BOROUGH assistant manager Billy Walton (Senior) apologised for his threatening behaviour towards a VCD Athletic supporter and Vickers team personnel as the red mist descended towards the end of their woeful 3-0 defeat at a sunny Oakwood.

The game was marred by each side having man sent off as Casey Scotter (VCD) and Kennickson Jarrett-Elliott both picked up two yellow cards during the second half, but an ugly verbal confrontation in the final four minutes brought shame on the perpetrators.

Walton and the supporter (who was standing behind the perimeter fencing in between the dug-outs) were exchanging their opinions over Jarrett-Elliott’s challenges on Vickers goalkeeper Jack Bradshaw and Karl Dent that forced referee Michael Marsh to issue his second red card of the game and when Walton expressed his thoughts on his side’s treatment at Oakwood, the supporter replied, “Don’t come down here then!”

With some of the Vickers non-playing staff (behind the fencing) offered their views and Walton turned round and insisted, “I’ll fight anyone of these c**** down here! F*** them! C****!”

Thankfully at the final whistle both team’s management teams shook hands and they sat their teams down on the pitch for their post match talk so by the time the players walked down the tunnel, VCD first then minutes later their well beaten visitors, the flash-point had settled down.

“I’ve apologised to VCD, I’ve apologised to Ricky, Paul and a few of their other people,” Walton said afterwards.

“That was me being passionate, but people pay their money, they come and stand here (in between the dug-outs) but why do they have to get involved, and say things to us?

“I don’t turn round and say things to them, they have to come and stand right beside us and say things. There’s no need for it!

“Go and stand in their own part of the ground, pay their money say what they want, but why come and stand over by us and keep on saying things?!

“I mean when we played them in the Cup their goalkeeper does waste a lot of time and it’s just frustration boiled over. I have apologised. It was me. I have apologised to them. It was out of character.”

It took off the gloss of a very impressive VCD performance, who dominated the whole of the first half.

They got off to a flying start through Daryl Wheeler’s fine chip after just six minutes and a goal in each half by debutant striker Daniel Westerman, who has signed from Erith & Belvedere, sealed the points for the Vickers, who climb up one place into fifth in the Kent League table, eight points behind leaders Erith Town (who lost 1-0 at home to bitter-rivals Beckenham Town today) with four games in hand.

Vickers boss, Ricky Bennett, was pleased that his side bounced back from their disappointing 2-1 defeat at struggling Fisher last Saturday.

“The scoreline says it looks comfortable but in spells it was a difficult game,” said Bennett.

“They’re a good side, always give you a good game, so we had to be on our mettle throughout the ninety minutes so I’m really pleased with the response after last week’s result, which wasn’t good enough and I feel I’ve had a very good response today, a good result and a clean sheet to boot.”

Walton admitted the Greenwich Borough’s performance was “absolutely terrible!”

He said: “It’s our worst performance of the year so far! Totally outplayed by a much better side on the day.”

Both sides went into the game with a suspended striker, as third-placed Greenwich Borough were without 14-goal Peter Afolayan and Vickers were without 8-goal Lewis Wood, who Walton thought was the troublemaker during the 86th minute dug-out flashpoint, although the former Cray Wanderers striker did nothing wrong.

Greenwich Borough, meanwhile, rued an excellent chance to change the outcome of the game when Jamie Turner’s excellent through ball released Nathaniel Bell down the middle but his shot was blocked by the advancing, ever-present Vickers keeper Jack Bradshaw, who in the second phase blocked Danny Hunt’s centre from the by-line.

Walton said: “I think if Nathaniel would have taken that chance it might have been a different game but he didn’t take that chance and they went up the other end and took their chance. It might have been different but we’ll never know, will we?”

Vickers went up the other end of the pitch and opened the scoring after 6 minutes and from then dominated the rest of the first half against a sluggish Greenwich Borough side.

Jamie Wood sent the hosts on their way as his dummy allowed the ball to roll through to Jimmy Rogers who found Wheeler on the right-hand side of the penalty area and his right-footed chip dropped over a stranded Danny Firkins and into the bottom corner.

Bennett said that the first goal came from “a great bit of football.”

He said: “We haven’t played too well of late in recent games and to start today like we did and look like our old selves with some good movements and some good passing movements, especially on the pitch as it is, it’s not ideal at the moment but yes, very good start, a well taken goal.”

Greenwich Borough, who were playing with four men in defence, two up front and a diamond formation in midfield, squandered a good chance in the 13th minute when Turner drilled a right-footed free-kick over the crossbar from 30-yards.

Greg Benbow, who was giving Greenwich right-back Adam Wadmore a torrid time, played a short free-kick inside to Dent and his right-footed cross skimmed off Frankie Warren’s head at the near post and Scotter nodded the ball wide when well placed.

Rogers then tried his luck, curling a right-footed shot over from 20-yards, after Wood slid in to thwart the away side to play the ball out from the back.

Greenwich Borough were thankful to their keeper Firkins for preventing VCD deservedly doubling their lead after 20 minutes.

Benbow’s pace left Warren struggling behind him and his rasping left-footed drive was beaten out by the visiting keeper, who swiftly got down to his right to turn Benbow’s follow up shot around the near post.

Five minutes later, Dent’s corner from the left was met at the far post by left-back James Brown, who powered his header over from a tight angle.

Greenwich Borough gifted Westerman his first Vickers goal, in the 29th minute.

Warren busted his gut to prevent the ball from crossing the touch-line close to the away dug-out but instead of rolling the ball back to his goalkeeper, he gifted the ball to Westerman who slammed a right-footed shot past a stranded Firkins into the bottom near corner.

“We’re asking them to play at the back, we try and play our football, but on that surface perhaps it’s the fault of the management that we’re asking them to play too much football,” said Walton.

“Frankie’s unfortunately slipped and got caught and we got punished. Another day we’ll play out of there but today we never!”

Bennett added: “That’s Boro’, they do like to play football, sometimes they might overplay in the wrong areas. We spoke about that and we just put them under so much pressure. At times it forced errors and that was one occasion. A great finish. He’s given him the eye.”

Benbow released Wood through on goal, with Billy Walton (junior) struggling behind, and the ball bounced off a bobble on a sticky playing surface and Wood skied a left-footed shot over the bar from ten-yards.

Greenwich rallied towards the end of the first half as Turner’s right-footed free-kick from 30-yards caressed the top of the crossbar before Michael Jones tried an ambitious half volley with the outside of his right-boot, which was caught by Bradshaw.

But their best chance came in stoppage time when Turner released Warren down the right and his cross was met by a header by skipper Michael Jones, but his header brought a smart low save out of Bradshaw.

Greenwich grew in confidence during the early stages of the second half and showed the energy that was certainly lacking during a poor first half.

Sam Friskey did well down the left riding a challenge and keeping the ball in play and he released Hunt who centred for Bell, but the ball bounced off his outstretched right leg and the ball bounced wide.

However, at the other end, Gary Cook released Wheeler down the left and his low centre looked destined to be finished off by Wood at his near post but Jarrett-Elliott made the challenge and the ball spun into Firkins grateful hands.

Greenwich Borough’s pressure saw Vickers’ lose their composure and this was the perfect time to strike, especially when the home side lost central defender Scotter in the 66th minute, picking up his second yellow for a challenge on substitute Joe Jackson, having earlier been booked for a foul on Hunt.

Herne Bay based referee Mr Marsh allowed Scotter to receive treatment from physio Peter Burke for a head injury before issuing a second yellow card, which Vickers assistant manager, Andy Silk, thought was an “outrageous” decision.

Bennett said: “The second yellow is never on this earth a yellow card! He’s made a tackle, he’s won the ball! The way he sort of landed and the way their fella landed maybe from the ref’s view may have looked different but if you ask anyone along that side I’m sure they’ll agree with me.

“The first one, yes, you’ve got to hold your hands up, it was a bit rash, he’s just made one hell of a challenge in the corner and had to make another one and yes he’s got a yellow for that, but the second one, for me, no!”

Walton gave his take on Scotter’s sending off.

He claimed: “When we played them in the Cup he was fortunate not to get sent off. He is a lad that puts the tackles about. I think it was a bit harsh the second one (yellow card). Myself, I don’t want to see no-one get sent off.”

But Vickers didn’t have to worry about having a man sent off as they kept with an attacking 3-4-2 formation and should have increased their lead further when Brown was left unmarked in the middle and powered a header over following Dent’s corner from the left.

VCD Athletic ensured it was a stroll in the sun as they wrapped up the comfortable win in the 73rd minute.

Benbow played the ball inside to Westerman and the 24-year-old striker bent a low right-footed curler around Firkins and clinched his fists in celebration as the ball nestled into the bottom far corner.

Bennett added: “Another good goal! We was under the cosh a little bit to be honest, having a man sent off wrongly from my point of view, but another well taken goal.

Bennett firstly praised Benbow and two-goal hero Westerman.

“Greg’s been fantastic all season,” said Bennett. “Very young, 18 I think and he’s got a lot to learn but he’s a definite prospect. Sometimes he needs to slow himself down, get his head up. He knows that but that will come with time and games but yes, very good player. He’s got so much energy. It’s unbelievable!”

Bennett explained why he’s brought Westerman to Oakwood.

He said: “It’s paid off getting Westie in. I knew a little bit about him from his Dartford days and I just felt we needed a little bit of a shake up with our forwards. No matter who’s played out there in recent games we haven’t really been clicking and taking chances. We always create chances even though we’ve been playing below average but I just felt it needed a little bit of a shake up today and it’s paid off.”

Jarrett-Elliott (who was earlier booked for clipping Bradshaw) was heading towards the players tunnel before the referee could brandish the central defender with his second yellow card and then a red, for a foul on Dent down the inside right-channel to sum up a miserable day for Greenwich Borough, who drop down a place to fourth place following Hythe Town’s 8-0 home win over Sporting Bengal, who welcome VCD to The Mile End Stadium on Wednesday night.

“We’re all disappointed from the day,” admitted Walton.

“We’ll be looking for a reaction from the players. Hopefully they’ll take on board what we said to them but we just don’t turn up against the big sides.

“I’ve just said to the lads in there, I just think some of the better players don’t turn up against the better sides and it’s down to them and to us to correct that.

“I think a lot of the lads in there, when we do play a better side, they seem to go into their shells, whether it’s inexperience I don’t know. They’re all good players but they should be able to cope with that.”

When asked whether the club will be looking to clinch promotion back into the Ryman League, following their controversial demotion after just one season due to ground criteria, Vickers Bennett said: “We’ve never touted ourselves to win the league. The way we’ve started with a new set-up - I keep going on about it - I really don’t want to any more to be honest but we’re where we are because we deserve to be where we are.

“We’ve had a bit of a blip over the last few games. Hopefully we’re now back on track and we can carry on Wednesday night away to Sporting Bengal with another decent performance and another three points.

“The top six is so tight anyone that goes on a run can find themselves in a decent position to look to win the league at the end of the season so we have to make sure we do what we’re good at.”

VCD Athletic: Jack Bradshaw, George Mitchell, James Brown, Gary Cook, Casey Scotter, Jimmy Rogers, Daryl Wheeler, Karl Dent (Mark Allen 86), Daniel Westerman (Danny White 77), Jamie Wood (Tom Gamblin 89), Greg Benbow.

Subs: Adam Heaslewood, James Duckworth.

Goals: Daryl Wheeler 6, Daniel Westerman 29, 73

Booked: Casey Scotter 35

Sent Off: Casey Scotter 66

Greenwich Borough: Danny Firkins, Adam Wadmore, Danny Tipple, Sam Friskey (Joe Jackson 63), Billy Walton, Kennickson Jarrett-Elliott, Frankie Warren (Jason Mabbs 71), Michael Jones, Jamie Turner, Danny Hunt, Nathaniel Bell.

Subs: Bobby Hanley, Thomas Rolt

Booked: Adam Wadmore 42, Kennickson Jarrett-Elliott 62

Sent Off: Kennickson Jarrett-Elliott 83

Attendance: 70

Referee: Mr Michael Marsh (Herne Bay)

Assistants: Mr Daniel Bonneywell (Canterbury) & Mr Ryan Cole (Herne Bay)