VCD Athletic 0, Lowestoft Town 2: Lowestoft Town continue to inch towards the Ryman League Division One North title with another excellent three points away to VCD Athletic.

VCD Athletic 0, Lowestoft Town 2

Lowestoft Town continue to inch towards the Ryman League Division One North title with another excellent three points away to VCD Athletic.

After winning four games in the space of just nine hectic days, five more victories out of their remaining nine games would see them crowned as champions.

But despite being “over the moon” about the latest victory, joint manager Micky Chapman is not getting carried away and wants his team to have a clear focus.

“We've got nine games left but we're taking one game at a time,” he said. “All thoughts are on Potters Bar on Tuesday, we're totally concentrating on that.

“We're hoping our boys can continue the run but it's going to be tough. It's on their home patch and they are a good side.

“We know we have got to be right and be at our best,” he stressed.

He said the club's management team was “over the moon with the lads” about the win over VCD.

“A fantastic result for us again - we've won four on the trot, Maldon, Tilbury and Waltham Forest,” he said. “It was always going to be a tough encounter. They are on the verge of the play-off places and the manager had said a lot of things before the game.

“But we played in a professional manner and were a different class - Andy Reynolds didn't have a save to make all game, just plucked a few crosses out of the air.

“We were excellent and broke up any attacks and scored two good goals. Our defending was fantastic.

“They really did do well, another clean sheet and well-deserved three points in a difficult game. Well pleased!” he added.

Jamie Godbold returned to the starting line-up in an otherwise unchanged team.

Lowestoft made the ideal start by moving ahead in the third minute.

Godbold carried the ball forward which was then played inside Kevin Winchcombe by Dale Cockrill for Joe Francis to race clear, only to be brought down in the area by keeper James Tedder.

Matt Nolan stepped up to blast the spot-kick past Tedder to put the Blues ahead.

Looking to add to their advantage, Lowestoft took the game to their hosts.

Godbold picked out Nolan who created space for himself but saw his 20-yard drive saved by Tedder.

A rare VCD attack saw an excellent cross from Callum O'Shea pick out Uche Ibemere but from inside the six-yard box he placed his header wide of the upright.

The first half ended with Gary Holt sending Francis away down the left but his low cross saw Andrew Fisk's flick deflected wide by Kevin Watson.

The second half saw the Blues in almost total control and they should have increased their lead within five minutes.

Cockrill started the move by picking out Nolan whose played a shrewd ball inside Winchcombe to Francis, who took the ball past keeper Tedder but a bobble saw him lift the ball over the bar with the goal gaping.

Ibemere broke quickly down the right and his low cross deflected off Matthew Halliday onto the roof of the Lowestoft net.

However, with Greg Crane outstanding in a solid Lowestoft defence little was seen of the VCD attack and the Blues confirmed their superiority with a second goal in the 62nd minute.

A quick throw-in by Francis found Adam Smith who took a return pass from Cockrill before crossing into the middle where Godbold was on hand to shoot home from six yards.

Francis robbed David Hunt 40 yards out and raced forward before sending a shot flashing across goal but wide of the far post.

Lowestoft continued to create chances and Tedder was in action saving from Godbold's 20-yard drive.

Fisk and Godbold combined to send Francis clear but Tedder again saved VCD.

The final chance of the game saw Smith playing a free-kick into the danger zone where substitute

Jamie Forshaw sent a header into the side netting.

VCD Athletic: Tedder, Winchcombe, Barton, Ward, Watson, Hunt, O'Shea (Sub Firth 59), Hogg, Penny, Ibemere, Hegley (Sub T. Bradshaw 62), subs (not used) Mitchell, Cook, J Bradshaw.

Lowestoft Town: Reynolds, Plaskett, Smith, Holt, Crane, Halliday, Godbold (Sub Bussens 82), Fisk, Nolan (Sub Bloomfield 76), Dale Cockrill, Francis (Sub Forshaw 87), Subs (not used) Darren Cockrill, McGee.

Attendance: 141.