Defence of the Kent Senior Cup ended for Welling United with defeat at VCD Athletic in an entertaining local derby.

It was a second successive step three scalp for the step four Vickers who knocked Folkestone Invicta out in the first round.

Less than seven minutes were on the clock when they went ahead. Ollie Freeman cipped in a far post cross, and Harry Sargent, who was still up as a corner hadn’t been cleared, rose to head inside the far post.

Bethel Gboda scuffed a shot wide for VCD before Welling’s John Ufuah cut in and shot low and Andy Walker got down to save inside the near post.

Freeman hit a long range shot well wide before Welling’s Ruben Shakpoke turned and made space for himself but failed to hit the target.

Another VCD corner appeared to have been cleared but sloppy play on the edge of the penalty area gave Freeman a further opportunity and, this time, he made no mistake with a clean strike from the edge of the area into the bottom corner.

In first half stoppage time, Welling gave themselves a lifeline when Corey Adjetey-Brew delivered a low corner and Scott Simmons met it and diverted it home.

On the hour mark, VCD’s Freddie Cowan got down the wing before bringing down a high pass and cutting in. He played a one-two with Sam Hards before shooting just wide. Ezra Ikebuasi then struck an effort narrowly past the post for the Vickers.

At the other end, Luke O’Neill delivered a deep free kick that was stabbed wide by Ruben Shakpoke, and that miss proved costly when the hosts increased their lead soon after. Courtney Barrington drove low into the six yard box and Harry Lawrence tucked it home.

Two minutes later, Welling again gave themselves hope when John Ufuah curled a twenty yard shot beyond Walker and inside the far post.

Jack Paxman fired over from the edge of the penalty area, then Ufuah went the wrong side of the post from a similar distance. Eze Ebuzoeme and O’Neill had shots blocked in a bout of penalty area bagatelle that ended when Greg Cundle fired over.

Gael Kaleba might have made the game safe for the hosts with a fierce near post drive that was saved by Freddie Norman before Welling had one last chance when they moved it out to Cundle. However, his shot was blocked bravely by Cowin.

Two wins against higher level clubs will give the Vickers a lot of confidence and they will fear nobody as they await the third round draw.

VCD Athletic: Walker; Christie, Sargent, Cowin; Evans, Bryon (Ozobia 64); Lawrence, Ikebuasi (Kaleba 78), Gboda (Vaughan 90+1), Barrington (Boissere 89), Freeman (Hards 58). Subs not used: None.

Goals: Sargent (9), Freeman (34), Lawrence (75)

Yellow cards: Walker (delay of restart 90+3), Cowin (delay of restart 90+7)

Welling United: Norman; Bushell-Williams, Majoyegbe, Simmons, Adjetey-Brew; Scott; Cundle, Ebuzoeme, Paxman, Ufuah; Shakpoke. Subs not used: McKenzie-Lyle, Rayner, Clay.

Goals: Simmons (45+2), Ufuah (77)

Yellow cards: None

Referee: Steve Goldup

Assistant Referees: Paul Agyei-Tabi and Tom Sansom

Attendance: 210

Images courtesy of Kieran North