Waltham Forest 0-5 VCD Athletic

After five years on the road for Waltham Forest not only did the sun come out but so did a bumper crowd come back to Wadham Lodge with the first opponents, VCD Ahletic who were coming up from the Kent League.

The game started slowly but on seven minutes the opening shot at Wadham Lodge came from the visitors, however thankfully it went wide of the mark.

Shortly after that the visitors created another opening, this time it was Vences Bola, but again it came to nothing.

However on 17 minutes Ola Rabiu had a shot nicely saved by Charlie Hasler from the left hand side, and within seconds VCD’s Sherwin Stanley scored with an easy half volley into the net to make it 1-0 to the visitors.

Forest did get a free kick on the left hand side, but it came to nothing this came to nothing, and on 24 minutes the visitors made it 2-0.

A long free kick was not dealt with by Forest, and Stanley was there again to double the advntage.

Within 5 minutes a cross into the Forest box finding Stanley looking for his hat trick was well saved by Hasler.

Almost on half time Forest Oyetunji Oyewale had the home side’s first real shot but unfortunately it was saved by the VCD keeper. This was the only real highlight of the half for the home supporters.

As half time came James Dduckworth had another chance but again it was saved by Hasler.

The second half started with more VCD pressure as a free kick taken by number Nick Reeves was deflected off the wall and into the keepers hands.

On the hour mark it was 3-0 with an unfortunate clearance by Hasler as it went straight to the on-rushing Stanley for feet for him to tap in his hat-trick.

Within a few minutes it was 4-0 with a goal from Duckworth firing home after the initial shot was saved.

The day continued to be a long one for The Sags as Jermaine Findlator was shown a yellow card.

The misery was compounded for Forest by Vences Bola who scored his side’s fifth thanks to some more lax Forest defending.

Photo: Alam Zaman