VCD Athletic boss Martin Ford has described as sour grapes the heavy criticism his team received following their victory at Arundel in the FA Vase.

After the match the home team's weekly newspaper, the Littlehampton Gazette, ran the headline: Vicous, Callous, Dirty: we're VCD.

VCD had two men dismissed but won the match thanks to a late Martin Driscoll strike leading the paper's reporter to write: "If the visitors' win-at-all-costs approach is typical of the opposition at this stage of the competition, then if it wasn't for the money Arundel are better out of it."

It continued: "As studs flew and flesh slapped against flesh, spectators grimaced except for the small band of VCD followers whose vocals merely added to the intimidatory atmosphere."

Ford said: "It sounds like sour grapes to me. We did take a lot of supporters down there and they are vocal but it is what we want and I would not discourage it.

"The circumstances in which we won probably accounts for the sour grapes. We were winning 1-0, went down to nine men, they equalised and were looking to go on and win the game.

"When we scored with a couple of minutes to go I don't think they could handle it to be honest."

The Gazette goes on to say: "Incident followed incident. Two VCD players with legs like tree trunks were sent on the long walk back to the dressing room.

It continues: "Tackling became more ferocious than before. Dads covered the eyes and ears of children. It was x-certificate stuff."

Ford said: "Yes, we were strong and physical but it is how you have to be in these types of competitions.

"If we had shown we were not up for the battle we would have been beaten quite comfortably but we went and did what we had to do and when you go down to nine men, it is not going to be pretty anyway."

VCD which stands for Vickers, Crayford and Dartford are appealing against one of the sendings off.

Lee Coburn was dismissed for dissent and it is hoped an appeal will allow him to face Broxbourne Borough of the Spartans South Midlands Premier Division in round four on January 21 at Meadowside.

Ford said: "We are happy with the draw although we would have preferred an away game.

"We seem to travel well and have been away from home in all the previous Vase rounds."

VCD are unbeaten on the road in all competitions since losing away to Beckenham on September 10.

Ford added: "The fans love the away days too as they enjoy the coach trips.

"We took nearly 90 people in two coaches down to Arundel which, for a club our size, is amazing."