VCD Athletic 1 v 0 Eastbourne Town

FA Cup Preliminary Round, replay

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A ROUTE one goal was enough to send VCD through to the first round qualifying of the FA Cup.

Stuart Abbott's 47th minute strike overcame a resilient Eastbourne Town in the replay held at Welling United's Park View Road ground.

Martin Ford's men now travel to Bashley, unbeaten leaders of the Southern League South and West Division, on September 16.

VCD were without Mark Greatorex, Lee Coburn and Mark Horan through suspension and holidaymakers Grant Wallis and Gary Ward.

In their place came Alan Hughes in goal for his debut, Terry Barry, Steve Hogg and goalscorer Abbott.

The match was a turgid affair with the ball spending more time in the air than on the ground and tackles coming later than fashionable party guests.

Eastbourne were non-existent for lengthy spells on the first half and belied their status as one of the favourites for the Sussex County League Division One.

The first of the few chances in the half fell to VCD's Stuart Abbot on five minutes but Eastbourne's custodian Mark Oldroyd was equal to his angled drive.

Danny Penny headed across goal and Ashley Probets saw his free-kick from 30 yards flash past the right-hand post.

The VCD dugout were shouting penalty on 33 minutes when Penny appeared to be brought down inside the area but the referee waived appeals away.

On 35 minutes Probets was unlucky to see his crisp shot from the edge of the penalty area clipped the post as it went for a goal kick.

The match livened up on 42 minutes when a mass brawl - instigated by a kick out by the grounded Abbott - triggered all and sundry running the length of the pitch to get involved.

Despite more hands in faces than a wrestling orgy and after chatting with his assistants, the referee kept his cards in his pocket.

Eastbourne rallied with three corners in quick succession but the half ended as it had started, goalless.

The breakthrough came on 48 minutes when Hughes punted a long kick down the middle.

Penny got the flick-on on the edge of the penalty area and Abbott was the grateful recipient, prodding the ball past the advancing Oldroyd for his first goal of the season.

For a team with title ambitions, Eastbourne had conceded the softest of goals.

VCD's Steve Hogg found himself in the referee's book on 50 minutes and from then on, after a number of substitutions and reorganising, Eastbourne laid a virtually uninterrupted siege on the host's goal.

Hughes was at full stretch to turn away Liam Baitupp's low drive and from the corner VCD defenders threw themselves in front of two shots on goal.

A long throw into the penalty area caused more mayhem as Eastbourne's Danny Simmonds' flick on eluded everyone only to bounce off the crossbar and behind.

Steven Dallaway then went close with a shot across goal before more resolute defending cleared another corner.

VCD did break out on 71 minutes and should have increased their lead but Abbott got Kevin Winchcombe's cross stuck under his feet, it squirmed out to Kevin Spriggs but his shot was blocked and as it fell kindly to Penny he missed his kick and the chance was gone.

Spriggs went close with a shot across goal but Eastbourne again reasserted themselves and continued their aerial bombardment of the VCD penalty area.

Andy Ducille volleyed wide with the goal at his mercy and in the 92nd minute VCD Paul Foley conceded a needless foul on the corner on the penalty area to give the visitors a last chance to equalise.

With the VCD faithful praying for the final whistle the free-kick was half-cleared to Eastbourne's Carl Harris who blazed over the crossbar from 25 yards to being the replay to and end.

MATCH FACT:

VCD ATHLETIC: Hughes; Edwards; Hunt; Foley; Barry; Hogg; Winchcombe; Spriggs; Penny; Abbott (Miah, 89), Probets.

SUBS NOT USED: Minshull, Smith, Ramirez.

ATT: 154.