HOME DEFEAT THE FINAL ACT OF PRE-SEASON

Peckham welcomed Southern Amateur League Division One side Actonians to the Menace Arena for their final game of their preseason campaign. With a stronger squad of players from their last game away at Worthing Utd, hopes were high! Mary Phillip had a match day squad consisting of nine of last season's regulars bolstered by eight trialists. With the rain holding off and the sun making a rare appearance, a decent crowd of 65 watched as Peckham got the game underway.

Their opponents looked a very strong well organised team and Peckham had to endure some early pressure and it took a finger tipped save from Nathan Gamester in the 12th minute to deny them an opening goal.

Peckham did have their moments and should have had a penalty in the 16th minute. Tidi Barry played a defence splitting ball through the middle which found captain Nicky Meta on the edge of the Actonians area. The Peckham skipper took a touch and followed the ball into the area. As he was about to shoot, the Actonians number 3 made his challenge, sending the captain crashing to the ground. Cries for a penalty rang out around the ground but the official insisted the defender got the ball first. On closer inspection of video footage it does suggest the defender only made contact with the Peckham player, and was not even close to the ball. A baffling decision to say the least!

The visitors looked dangerous every time they attacked so it was no surprise when they took the lead on 19 minutes. Peckham were struggling to clear their lines allowing the Actonians winger to fire home through the legs of the Peckham keeper.

It didn’t take long for Mary Phillip’s side to get back into the game, the number 14 trialist heading home a Nicky Meta corner three minutes later. There was cause for concern on the half hour mark as Elton Romaku went down from an elbow to the face. Thankfully after some treatment the Peckham left back was ok to continue.

Mary Phillip was then forced into making a change right on the stroke of half time when Fareid Yassein fell awkwardly in the opponents area. The player looked in some discomfort so it made sense to replace him with another trialist. With an additional five minutes played the official brought the half to an end.

With no further changes by the Peckham manager during the break their opponents got the second half underway. Within seven minutes of the restart the Peckham manager did opt for a double change, Elton Romaku and a trialist replaced by Joe Thomas and another trialist, captain Nicky Meta slotting into the left back position.

With the hour mark approaching the visitors then took the lead from a decent strike from their number 9. Ben Whittaker attempted to block his effort but the power sent the ball flying into the bottom left hand corner of the Peckham goal on 59 minutes.

Mary Phillip then opted for a formation change, Tidi Barry replaced by a trialist wearing the number 9 shirt, with a further change twelve minutes from time, another trialist replacing another trialist. With ten minutes to go Nathan Gamester again pulled off a decent save to deny the Actonians number 9. The Peckham keeper however won’t want to see a replay of the resulting corner, taken from the far side the ball curled high over every player inside the area and into the goal at the back post!

The game entered added time and with two added minutes played Peckham were again denied a penalty. Running towards goal the Peckham number 9 opted to shoot rather than out run his marker. As he struck the ball the retreating defender turned his back on on the strike but in doing so raised his right elbow up into its trajectory. The ball hit is flailing arm taking the sting out of the shot allowing the keeper to gather it with ease. Yes the defender was only a few yards in front of the Peckham striker, but his arm was clearly raised. However, it is only a friendly so we won’t dwell on certain decisions, and within a minute the game was over.

Not a bad performance from Mary Phillip’s side but there is still plenty of room for improvement right across the squad. With only a handful of training sessions left before the season opener on the 12th of August it's time to iron out all those little creases that remain.

Peckham Town FC (4-1-4-1): Nathan Gamester; Fareid Yassein, Ben Whittaker, A Trialist, Elton Romaku; A Trialist; Camilo Andres Nieva, Tidi Barry, Nicky Meta (c), Kieran Dowding; A Trialist. Subs: Joe Thomas & 6 x A Trialist.