An Ide Mind is Peckham Workshop

AN IDE MIND IS PECKHAM’S WORKSHOP!
Match report from Dave Webster

After last weeks well earned draw over at Pynners against the now league champions, football returned to the Menace Arena against another tough, third placed opponent in Ide Hill. With the sun shining and temperatures in the 20's another decent crowd of 206 witnessed a Peckham performance more worthy than their league position would suggest. Nathan Gamester returned in goal, with Raymond Agyemang at right back and captain Nicky Meta deputising at left back once again and with Jeremiah Duah Danso suspended, Joe Thomas partnered Fareid Yassein in the centre of defence. Jacob Kemp started alongside Michael Agyemang in the centre of midfield and with Tidi Barry suspended it was down to Peter Tarrant to sit behind the front three of Camilo Andres Nieva, Chris Weber and Rashane Wilson. Available once again were Elton Romaku and Yacoub Suleman and they both started on the bench alongside Sampson Ofori, Lucas Grego and Gbolahan Jimoh.

Peckham got the game underway kicking towards Dulwich Park and immediately put the visitors under pressure and the opening ten minutes were end to end but neither team really threatened either goal. Ide Hill picked up an early yellow with their number 3 going in the book for a late challenge on Peter Tarrant in the middle of the park on 12 minutes. The closest Peckham came to scoring in the opening half an hour fell to Captain Nicky Meta in the 14th minute. Camilo Andres Nieva switched the ball from the right over to Rashane Wilson over on the left, he attempted to shoot before playing it back to the captain just outside the area who then tried to curl his effort towards the goal only to see it go the wrong side of the near post. There was a slight worry on 36 minutes after the skipper took a knock on his ankle just inside the Peckham area but thankfully after some treatment he was ok to continue.

Peckham’s first booking came in the 42nd minute after Peter Tarrant gave the ball away with a wayward pass in the centre circle and upon trying to rectify his mistake, last weeks King of the Match pulled on his opponents shirt leaving the match official no option other than to write his name in the book. The resulting free kick was easily cleared and Peckham played their way forward, eventually finding Camilo Andres Nieva out on the left wing. This attack came to nothing but Peckham kept possession in the centre of the park with Michael Agyemang doing especially well to keep the ball. With the first half seemingly destined to end goalless Peckham suddenly had other ideas and took a deserved lead in the 43rd minute. It was the quick thinking of the Peckham number 6 who spotted Rashane Wilson making a move and played a precision ball over the top for the striker to run on to. He then beat his marker to the ball and struck it first time on the half volley toward the goal. Despite the Ide Hill keeper getting something on it, he couldn’t stop in nestling into the bottom left hand corner on the goal to give Peckham the lead. There is a saying however, that you are always vulnerable after going ahead and that was almost the case a minute later as the visitors looked for an instant reply. Thankfully Nathan Gamester stood his ground as the Ide Hill player ran into the Peckham keeper and he hit his effort just wide. With only two added minutes played the first half was brought to a close with Peckham going in with their slender lead in tact.

The late goal for Peckham wouldn’t have had any major impact on Mary Phillip’s half time team talk, as her players had more than matched their opponents thus far. With no changes during the break Ide Hill got the second half underway and Peckham continued where they had left off in the first half. Ide Hill had to attack in order to get back into the game early on but the Peckham defence stood firm as they had in the first half. They should have doubled their lead in the 54th minute after Rashane Wilson crossed to Jacob Kemp but the midfielder skied his effort from 8 yards. This all came after some calm defending from Faried Yassein who then passed to Michael Agyemang before he played the perfect ball once again to find Rashane Wilson down the right wing.

Nathan Gamester then came to the rescue twice in the space of four minutes as the visitors finally found a way through the Peckham back four. The first came on 53 minutes, the second on 57 minutes when Peckham found themselves outnumbered at the back. The Peckham keeper stood up at his near post to make the save before gathering the ball at the second attempt. The visitors then picked up their second yellow of the game two minutes later, their number 5 going through Jacob Kemp on the edge of the area, getting more of the man than the ball. Raymond Agyemang lined up the free kick but he couldn’t keep his effort down and hit it high over the Ide Hill goal. Peckham looked dangerous every time they attacked now so it was no surprise when they had the ball in the back of the net just after the hour mark. Camilo Andres Nieva ran onto the ball down the left wing before playing it to Jacob Kemp just inside the visitors area. The midfielder then played a beautiful ball over to the back post which found the unmarked Michael Agyemang who tapped it home on 61 minutes only to see the assistant on the near side had already raised his flag for offside. Before the game restarted Peckham made their first change of the game as Yacoub Suleman replaced Rashane Wilson with another change following in the 68th minute as Camilo Andres Nieva made way for Gbolahan Jimoh.

The visitors then picked up another booking on 70 minutes as Gbolahan Jimoh was cynically taken out as he was about to attack down the right wing. Three minutes later and captain Nicky Meta went into the book as he thwarted an Ide Hill attack over on the far side. The free kick was launched into the Peckham six yard box but was an easy take for Nathan Gamester who then preceded to pump the ball up field in the hope that Peckham could counter. The Ide Hill defenders dealt with the threat well and the ball was eventually played back towards the Peckham defence only for captain Nicky Meta to rise like a salmon and head the ball forward and away from danger. Yacoub Suleman spotted an opportunity and immediately went on the hunt down the left wing. Under some pressure he skipped over a challenge from the Ide Hill number 2 and with a bit of luck his trailing leg knocked the ball back into his path allowing him to continue his run towards goal. Peckham now had men flooding forward and as the winger entered the area he crossed the ball into the six yard box which took the Ide Hill keeper by surprise. He managed to adjust his footing to get something on the ball but it only fell to Chris Weber who tapped it home with his right boot on 74 minutes. Gbolahan Jimoh then helped it on its way into the net and the Ide Hill players appealed for offside but the ball was already over the line before the substitute got a touch.

Now two to the good Peckham were firmly in control and before their supporters had barely finished celebrating it was three! Yacoub Suleman chased down a pass back to the Ide Hill keeper who miss hit his clearance which the Peckham winger then pounced on before firing it home into the bottom right hand corner of the goal on 76 minutes to make it 3-0. Peckham then made two further changes, Lucas Grego replaced Chris Weber on 78 minutes before Elton Romaku replaced Nicky Meta with 5 minutes of normal time remaining. Yacoub Suleman then required some treatment in the first added minute but it wasn’t too serious and the match official finally brought the game to an end after an additional six minutes.

This was another decent team performance that reaped the rewards for Peckham and if they continue to take this attitude into their remaining games then they could finish in the top half of the table. Once again every player put in a shift and played their part in a convincing win against a very good opponent and everyone of them should feel extremely proud of the part they played in this game. One outstanding performance came from Michael Agyemang who was everywhere on the pitch, earning himself the King of the Match award. Peckham continue their home run of games next week when we welcome last seasons champions to the Menace Arena, fifth placed Borden Village.

Peckham Town FC (4-3-3): Nathan Gamester; Raymond Agyemang, Fareid Yassein, Joe Thomas, Nicky Meta (c); Jacob Kemp, Peter Tarrant, Michael Agyemang; Camilo Andres Nieva, Chris Weber, Rashane Wilson.
Subs. Yacoub Suleman (on for Rashane Wilson), Gbolahan Jimoh (on for Camilo Andres Nieva), Lucas Grego (on for Chris Weber), Elton Romaku (on for Nicky Meta) & Sampson Ofori (not used).