With mounting problems off the pitch and severe cuts to the playing budget, VCD recorded a fine win despite playing the last half hour with ten men.

In a week that has seen the players stick together for the management despite 50%+ wage cuts, the side showed bags of the same Vicker's grit and determination that saw the club march from third bottom to title winners last year.

With Meshach Nugent parting company with the club and fellow strike partner Leroy Huggins unavailable due to family commitments the foward line saw captain Danny Penny alongside the talismanic Aaron Firth.

At the back Chris Tedder was also unavailable due to work commitments but Kevin Winchcombe moved to right back with Kevin Watson reverting to centre half.

The Vickers were out of the blocks like lightning with Anthony Hogg, Lee Maskell and Gary Ward hounding the Wakering midfield into early mistakes.

With Penny and Firth both causing problems with some intelligent play, Nick Hegley was released in behind the home defence following a great move involving Firth and Penny but the winger's shot was well saved by the home keeper Godwin-Green.

At the other end the back four of Winchcombe, Watson, Cook and Barton were in determined mood and the two centre halves were clearly winning the aerial battle against Wakering's robust captain Dan Trenkel.

The Vickers had a blatant penalty waved away on 20 minutes by the ref as Cook was climbed all over in the box by the Wakering centre half and at the other end Wakering's winger Jimmy Webb put in an embarrassing dive to con the ref into awarding a penalty yet somehow escaped a yellow card.

On 27 minutes came the games' only goal following some good work by Ward and Firth on the right and as the ball was only partially cleared Penny nodded the ball into Hegley's path and the dead-eyed winger slotted home from a tight angle for his eleventh of the season.

Almost immediately Wakering nearly equalised as top scorer Neil Richmond sprung the offside trap and managed to poke the ball past Tedder but his shot from a tight angle went the wrong side of the post.

The Vickers nearly went two up when a perfect delivery from a Hegley free kick was glanced by Penny goalwards but Godwin-Green managed to scramble across and tip the ball around the post with a fine save.

With only a minute played in the second half the impressive Hogg spurned a great chance to add to the scoreline when a Winchcombe cross found his run into box but his header bounced off the turf and just missed the target.

Around the hour mark the game took two twists for the Vickers as Watson was forced to leave the field with a nasty eye wound from a stray elbow and midfielder Hogg was given his marching orders.

In an attempt to block a pass forward, Hogg fouled Wakering's substitute by the dug outs and as the home player reacted by squaring up to Hogg the players pushed each other before other players from both sides and the home side's manager all stepped in.

Hogg was given a red card for a 'punch' apparently which clearly did not occur and the Wakering player was only given a yellow by the very poor referee who made a series of puzzling decisions all game.

With only Aaron Firth up front battling away gamely the home side recognised the opportunity to grab an equaliser and piled men forward but found the Vickers in resolute mood with Cook and substitute David Hunt both making some great tackles and headers.

Teen prodigy Uche Ibemere was introduced for Firth and performed the lone striker's role to perfection with his pace and strength holding up the ball and winning numerous fouls.

With the home side pushing forward the Vickers looks dangerous on the break and with Hegley back to his unplayable best a mazy dribble pursued by three defenders saw a deep cross to Maskell who headed just over.

Ibemere produced some sublime skill to lose his marker before being fouled right on the edge of the box but Hegley's effort was saved by the keeper.

Ibemere's pace then found himself through on goal with only the keeper to beat but his legs gave up on him at the cruciual time and the ball was cleared to safety.

The remaining minutes were seen off by yet more fine defending by the visitors as the Vickers recorded their second set of 4 points claimed from a side in the top five despite playing with only ten men for over half an hour.

Having beaten East Thurrock with ten men for 35 minutes in a thrilling 4-2 win earlier in the season to go with their recent draw, this fine win away from home may go down as one of the performances of the season.

VCD line up J Tedder, Winchcombe, Barton, Maskell, Cook, Watson (Hunt 58mins), Ward, Hogg (sent off 61mins), Penny, Firth (Ibemere 73mins), Hegley (1 goal) Subs not used Oliver, Rice, J Bradshaw