Vedra went into the new season missing a number of players, both new and old, but went into the game with Cleadon Park full of hope for a different outcome to last years difficult season.
They started well in the game creating a couple of chances for Jamie Coates and winning corners before Cleadon started to impose themselves on the game. They had already hit the bar, had a header from a corner brilliantly cleared off the line by Anthony Spedding and been denied by a couple of Tom Chapman saves before they took the lead with a goal that had more than a suspicion of off side.
Cleadon were definitely on top at this point and Vedra started to look a bit ragged. A further shot against the post almost saw Cleadon extend their lead before Vedra got back into the game again from pressing a couple of corners. From the second one Mick Graham's cross was met by a diving header from Kev Philliskirk that was deflected in off a Cleadon defender. 1-1 at half-time.
The second half saw a lot of Cleadon territorial pressure though very few clear cut chances. This was down to good pressing from the Vedra players and good command of his box from Chapman. Cleadon did go back in front midway through the half after a defence splitting pass saw them run forward and score to make it 2.1.
Cleadon had further pressure but gradually Vedra got themselves back into the game. Some calm passing between the midfield and defence saw the ball passed to Mick Graham. Mick turned and fed his strike partner Jamie Coates who beat the keeper and slid the ball in to equalise with 10 mintues to go.
It was to get even better for Vedra as a Jamie Williams corner was headed back across goal by Kev Philliskirk, Jonny Stone challenged the keeper who pushed it out to Ton Spedding, his shot was blocked but the ball fell to Kev Philliskirk who hit it into the bottom corner to make it 3.2 in the 87th minute. Cleadon Pushed but Vedra were able to see the game out. There is no denying it was a back to the wall victory but it was still well deserved. There were great performances throughout the team most notably right-back Marouf Sultan and new centre-back Louie Bradley-Godfrey. Star player from Cleadon was given to Vedra boss Kevin Philliskirk but it could have gone to a number of players.