Despite a poor first half performance the Vickers finished strongly to keep their unbeaten league run going, although, but for some excellent saves from keeper Nick Blue early on, the game could have been out of their reach by the time they got going. VCD started sloppily, giving the ball away too easily and Soham’s game plan to man mark made a good first touch essential, but careless control plus a bumpy pitch assisted the hosts as they pressured the visitors from the off, although the lack of a cutting edge hampered their good work. Baff Addae, making his VCD debut, worked the ball down the left and when he tucked it in to Tyrus Gordon-Young his low shot was fumbled round a post by home keeper Daniel Bircham. Than Ola Rabiu got clear to create a chance but shot weakly at goal. The Vickers were nearly undone by a quick counter when the lively James Hall broke clear, and as he threaded the ball into the path of Chris Lindsay, keeper Blue was smartly off his line to make an important block to keep the score level. Then a long kick from Bircham reached Hall, but after cutting inside Lee Craig he shot past the post. Soham had more half chances with Blue making some fine interceptions as Town pressed, but gradually VCD got into the game and created chances for themselves. Dent, Smith and Gordon-Young combined well to make ground through the home defence, but the latter’s shot skimmed inches wide, then Addae skipped past Matt Robinson but his fierce low drive was well saved by Bircham at the foot of a post. When a deep corner from Dent was only half cleared, Liam Burgess, also making his debut, tried his luck from outside the area but Bircham was well placed to save his volley. However, with seconds to go to the break, the hosts finally got in front when the ball was lost in midfield and played wide, from where it was delivered into the box and a header crashed off the bar. With little reaction from the VCD defenders, the onrushing James Hall ran on to the loose ball to send a low drive low into the corner past Blue.
The Vickers made their intentions clear as they went immediately on the attack in the second half, and within 5 minutes had levelled matters. Baff Addae weaved his way down the left and laid the ball across to Karl Dent, who took one touch before despatching it low into the corner past Bircham. The usually secure Vickers midfield were having an off day with some uninspiring play which invited the hosts on, led by the impressive Martin Bromwich, but with Hall in attack seemingly struggling with an injury they were unable to take advantage, and it was VCD who gradually got the better of the game. The Vickers introduced Sherwin Stanley and Enoch Adjei into the fray with the excellent hold up play of Stanley and the pace of Adjei causing problems, and when Addae again got the better of Robinson his neat cross reached Stanley whose header went just over the bar. With a draw looking imminent it was the visitors who finally got ahead with a late breakthrough when Burgess released Addae down the flank, and he again picked out Karl Dent who, in a repeat of his first goal added the second.
The visitors were now happy to run down the clock, keeping possession well, but there was one more twist when, in the final minute Peter Smith released Dent who sent Adjei away down the flank, and as he entered the box he was bundled over for a penalty. Karl Dent then stepped up to send the spot kick wide of Bircham to claim his hat-trick. Soham will rightly feel they deserved something from the match, but once again the high energy of the Vickers late in the game has proved vital in securing victories from an unlikely position.

VCD Athletic