A missed penalty in the last five minutes denied the Vickers a good point away to high flying Concord Rangers.

VCD played the first of their back to back Saturday games against the top of the table Rangers and they will feel disappointed not to at least get a point for their troubles.

On the balance of play the Vickers had the best chances despite some early pressure from Concord.

In the first half alone new signing Meshach Nugent went close twice, Anthony Hogg had a low drive well saved and Danny Penny blazed wide with the goal at his mercy.

However the team from Canvey went ahead but not before taking a penalty that was brilliantly saved by Vickers keeper James Tedder.

Livewire forward Lyle Taylor combined well with Danny Heale and was adjudged to have been tripped after only 5 minutes despite protests from the Vickers defenders that the forward had dived.

Tedder guessed right and saved the penalty and it seemed as though justice had been served but only three minutes later Taylor surged into the box and despite mis-hitting his shot it crept underneath Tedder and was bundled over the line.

Having withstood the early pressure the Vickers grew into the game and with Danny Penny at the heart of most moves they began to carve out good chances to score.

A well worked move with Nugent, Winchcombe and Penny ended with the ball being laid square to Hogg who sent a low drive heading for the corner but the Rangers keeper saved well and as Nugent pounced he somehow managed to smother the debutant's shot.

Another chance fell to the powerful forward from a Hegley cross which the keeper again managed to turn over the crossbar.

The best chance of the half fell to captain Penny who received the ball from Nugent with the keeper stranded having missed the ball in a 50/50 with the forward but Penny's sidefoot effort blazed wide with the goal gaping.

Concord had a glorious chance to score at the end of the half when a low fizzing cross evaded everyone as it flashed in front of Tedder's goal.

The second half was disrupted by continual awards of free-kicks by the referee who struggled to let the game flow for either side.

Another glorious chance fell to Penny from a Winchcombe free kick which just needed a touch to end up in the net but the keeper gathered at the second attempt.

The last five minutes were full of drama as Concord sat deep looking to protect their lead and as the ball was played from side to side and half cleared, midfielder Maskell pounced and played a crisp pass in to Penny, receiving the return ball at pace and was tripped as he strode into the box.

The referee had no choice but to award a penalty and despite regular taker Huggins being on the pitch, captain Danny Penny put the ball on the spot but sent his effort high over the bar without troubling Brightly.

Concord played out the remaining minutes despite some continued pressure from the hard working Vickers who definitely deserved at least a draw from the game.