VCD fielded a side containing three 17-year-olds and four 19-year-olds, yet still recorded a fine 1-0 win away to Tilbury.

With Danny Penny, Lee Maskell, Anthony Hogg, James Tedder, Gary Cook, Chris Tedder, Aaron Firth and Kane Rice all missing the chance to impress was handed to VCD's talented youngsters and they seized the opportunity.

With teenager Jack Bradshaw in goal behind seventeen year old George Mitchell and 19-year-old Jack Asbury in the back four, the defence held firm against an attack minded Tilbury.

Nineteen year old Callum O'Shea started his second game for the Vickers with seventeen year old Uche Ibemere up front for the injured Aaron Firth.

The hosts started at a frantic pace and tested the young side but some excellent defending by Mitchell, David Hunt and keeper Bradshaw saw off the danger.

Senior centre half Hunt was forced to leave the field injured on 15 minutes with Jack Asbury taking to the field at right back giving the right side a combined age of 38.

The Vickers saw off the early threat and began to create chances of their own with Hegley, O'Shea and Winchcombe all sending in good crosses.

The only goal of the game came on 24 minutes following some fine work by full back Jason Barton who passed to Leroy Huggins who beat his marker and crossed to the far post where teenage winger O'Shea guided his header home with an assured finish.

The hosts rallied to find an equaliser and left themselves exposed at the back to the counter attack with the Vickers looking dangerous with Ibemere, Huggins and Hegley all threatening.

The most blatant penalty seen all season was not awarded when Huggins had his standing leg pulled by the keeper as he turned to slot the ball home on 70 minutes.

With fifteen minutes to go Ibemere was released by Huggins and as he bore down on goal he looked to square the ball to O'Shea who was unmarked but his cross was intercepted by the Tilbury keeper.

Teenagers Ryan Cole and Tom Bradshaw were introduced for Ibemere and O'Shea as the Vickers defended to see out the remaining minutes.

With the last kick of the game the ball bounced in the Vickers box but the Tilbury forward managed to blaze over from six yards out much to the relief of the Vickers.

VCD: J Bradshaw, Watson, Barton, Ward, Mitchell, Hunt (Asbury 15), O'Shea (Bradshaw 88), Winchcombe, Huggins, Ibemere (Cole 80), Hegley.