VCD Athletic 3-0 Hythe Town - Foley: It's about time we beat them!

Second half goals from substitutes Nick Hegley and Richard Sinden, either side of James Duckworth’s eight-yard strike, saw a plucky Hythe Town side, who were left to rue one of the misses of the season in the first half when the score was still blank.

To be fair, though, over the ninety minutes the Vickers deserved to progress, although manager Foley, who played for the opening 45 minutes, took none of the plaudits for the half-time substitution that saw Hegley’s introduction in his place and a change of formation for the home side that in the end sealed their comfortable progress.

Shrugging he said: “Let’s face it, after three games in ten days, we had to get it right eventually!”

After a turgid opening 45 minutes, which saw Dave Cook somehow miss from six-yards out with the goal at his mercy, following Hegley’s introduction, VCD became the more fluid side and yet ironically their deserved opener came from an unlikely source - the head of the substitute.

Chris Hubbard did well down the right hand side and his deep centre found the unmarked Hegley at the far post and his looping header sailed over Paul Hyde and into the Hythe net with the veteran keeper motionless.

There was also little that Hyde could do about Vickers’ second. Again, Hubbard was the provider, this time his lay-back found Duckworth, whose first time shot produced a fine block from the goalkeeper but the young striker was quickest to react to blast the ball home from eight-yards.

The victory was rubber stamped in stoppage time when Duckworth’s flick found Sinden, who was pulled down by Pat Kingwell and Sinden dusted himself down to drill the penalty beyond Hyde and into the corner of the net.

The Vickers now face a tough looking tie in the next round, away to the Ryman One North table toppers, but Foley admitted to BBC Radio Kent that it’s the level that he wants his side to be regularly tested at.

He said: “We haven’t made the best start to the season and it will be a good test for us.”

When pressed for a prediction, the Vickers boss, simply smiled and disappeared into the night.

VCD Athletic: Michael Holder, Bill Edwards, Kevin Winchcombe, Gary Ward (Kevin Spriggs 87), Gary Cook, Paul Foley (Nick Hegley 45), Kane Rice, Casey Scotter, Dave Hassett (Richard Sinden 81), James Duckworth, Chris Hubbard.
Subs: Juan Ramirez, Alex Hyde, G Mitchell, W Roomes.

Goals: Nick Hegley 66, James Duckworth 81, Richard Sinden 90 (pen)

Booked: Gary Cook 9, Kane Rice 46

Hythe Town: Paul Hyde, John Walker, Dale Skelton, Sam Marsh, Pat Kingwell, Jason Brazier (Gary Mickelborough 66), Dave Cook, Ben Sly (Joe Neilson 76), Michael Smissen, Joe Hitchins, Lee Winfield.
Subs: Nick Shaw, Ben Williams, Ben Lawzon, Jake Harvey.

Booked: Pat Kingwell 90

Attendance: 153
Referee: Mr Paul Harris
Assistants: Mr Alan Escudier & Mr Lee Dyson