Report

Kent Youth League

North Division

VCD Athletic 3 Long Lane 2

                        George White                (HT 1-1)

                        Michael Adofo 2                                               

For VCD’s final league match of the season, title contenders Long Lane were the visitors. VCD had already put a significant dent in Long Lane’s championship hopes with a 1-0 victory in the away fixture so this was likely to be another tough encounter and we were not disappointed. Harry Osbourne made a welcome return to the centre of defence after missing the Paulista game with a hand injury. Within a couple of minutes VCD took the lead. A long throw from Max Moore into the six yard box was met with a glancing header from George White beyond the reach of Nathan Parsons in the Long Lane goal to set the home crowd buzzing. Long Lane gradually recovered from this setback and were keenly contesting the midfield battle. VCD were creating some dangerous crosses from good work by Jack Holland down the right, while at the other end Long Lane went close with a header. From a free-kick just outside the VCD area, Long Lane had keeper Jordan Borrie at full stretch to claw the ball away from the top corner. An equaliser came just before half-time from good work by the lively Long Lane winger. His flighted cross was finished off by the player sliding in at the far post. VCD ended the first half on the attack with a succession of corners resulting in jack Holland heading just over. The half-time whistle went with honours even.

Jordan Adelekan and Michael Adofo entered the fray at the start of the second half to take over up front from Cobby Jackson and Peter Ogunbiyi whose tireless running had kept the Long Lane defence on their toes in the first half. Long Lane started the second half the brighter and went close with a shot that was deflected over the bar. After absorbing a spell of Long Lane pressure, VCD launched an attack with a strong run from Jordan Adelekan but his cross just eluded Michael Adofo at the far post. Further attempts from Michael Adofo, Harvey Panteney were just off target and Jordan Thomas’s low drive proved a comfortable save for the Long Lane keeper. We were then treated to an action-packed final quarter. VCD thought they had taken the lead as Jordan Adelekan turned in a low cross from Jack Holland but the goal was ruled out as the linesman had seen a hand-ball in the build-up. Long Lane then did take the lead as the tricky right winger teed up the centre forward for a clinical finish. But VCD were not going to be denied. Jordan Green curled a free-kick into the Long Lane six yard box. It was met by Harry Osbourne’s header which came back off the post but Michael Adofo reacted quickest to turn in the equaliser. With time and their title chances slipping away Long Lane had a free header which just dropped over the VCD cross-bar. There was one final twist left as Michael Adofo latched onto a forward ball from George White and leaving defenders trailing in his wake, slammed the ball into the bottom corner to win the game and end the season on a high.

After the game coach Adam Groom commented “What a game last night I was over the moon. Bit jittery in the first half and we were under a lot of pressure for first fifteen minutes of second half but the character we showed and determination and passion I was so happy. The boys have come on leaps and bounds since the start of season”