NINE MAN PECKHAM HANG ON TO BAG THREE POINTS

For the first time in I don’t know how long, Mary Phillip started her second consecutive game with the same ten outfield players. The only change from Saturdays defeat was Nathan Gamester starting between the sticks. Raymond Agyemang and Elton Romaku started at right back and left back respectively with Hassan Omar and Jeremiah Duah Danso in the centre of defence. The midfield consisted of Tidi Barry, Malachi Brissett and captain Nicky Meta sitting behind the front three of Camilo Andres Nieva, Chris Weber and Kieran Dowding. On the bench were Joe Thomas, Ben Whittaker, Adam Carrick, Rashane Wilson and Yeison Arizmendi.

The hosts got the game underway but it didn’t take Peckham long to put them under pressure. Malachi Brissett came close in the 3rd minute but just couldn’t keep his effort down. Raymond Agyemang brought out a decent save from the Stansfeld keeper two minutes late and despite him spilling the ball, there were no Peckham players following it in to tap the ball home.

Seconds later Elton Romaku glanced his header just wide of the far post from a Kieran Dowding corner on 6 minutes. These missed chances for Peckham obviously woke the hosts up as on 11 minutes they took the lead. A long throw on the far side was sent into the Peckham area and the defence failed to deal with it allowing a Stansfeld player to head it home at the far post. Just after the quarter hour mark Raymond Agyemang had another effort saved and again, no Peckham players followed the ball into the area for what could have been another easy tap in on sixteen minutes.

The host were now growing into the game and Peckham endured a great deal of pressure. Thankfully Hassan Omar and Jeremiah Duah Danso were on hand to break down their attacks. Kieran Dowding had a great chance to level on 28 minutes after weaving his way through the hosts defence, but again the Stansfeld keeper made a decent save to deny the Menace winger.

Mary Phillip’s side persevered and after Kieran Dowding took a quick corner the equaliser came. Playing a quick one-two with skipper Nicky Meta the Peckham winger skipped over one challenge and took two touches before firing the ball into the crowded Stansfeld area. Amazingly the ball found its way through and before the keeper had time to think it was in the back of the net.

Peckham however were riding their luck a bit and were it not for the assistants flag, they could have been behind again two minutes later. Hassan Omar went into the officials book in the first added minute and with four additional minutes played the first half was over.

Mary Phillip’s half time team talk wasn’t quite as animated as the last game but she was obviously not happy with the first half performance. With no further changes her team got the second half underway and if the first half was anything to go by in terms of drama then the second half had a lot to live up to, and boy did it!

With barely two minutes played after the restart play was paused after Hassan Omar clashed heads with an opponent. Both physio’s were quickly on the pitch to attend to both players and after they received treatment it was obvious who came out worse. The hosts substituted their injured man but thankfully the Peckham defender was ok to continue and the game resumed on 50 minutes.

Manager Mary Phillip then decided to introduce some pace up front and replaced Chris Weber with Rashane Wilson with Adam Carrick also replacing Elton Romaku. The striker's introduction immediately caused the hosts’ defence problems and the change worked as within ten minutes Peckham were ahead.

It was however Tidi Barry that got the goal, slotting the ball home just inside the Stansfeld keeper's left hand post from ten yards. This after the hosts failed to clear after some great link up play from Raymond Agyemang, Nicky Meta, and Camilo Andres Nieva on 60 minutes.

The goal had an immediate effect on the hosts as they pushed to find an equaliser, but Menace keeper Nathan Gamester was on top form to stop them, picking the ball out of the air with ease from a Stansfeld free kick three minutes later. On 65 minutes Peckham made another change, Joe Thomas replacing Raymond Agyemang, Nicky Meta slotting into the right back position, all whilst Tidi Barry picked up a yellow card!

With just under twenty minutes to play Camilo Andres Nieva went down injured and looked in some discomfort. It was clear he was unable to continue and was replaced by Yeison Arizmendi, with Ben Whittaker also joining the game replacing Jeremiah Duah Danso in the centre of defence.

It was however Nathan Gamester that again denied the hosts with a fine save on 75 minutes, the resulting corner being headed high over the Peckham goal. With ten minutes to play Rashane Wilson went in the official's book as the hosts turned up the pressure. Two minutes later Peckham should have doubled their lead, Rashane Wilson crossed the ball from the right only for Yeison Arizmendi to miss an easy tap in at the back post with eight minutes remaining.

As the light began to fade and the game approached 90 minutes Peckham found themselves down to ten men. Kieran Dowding received a yellow card for dissent and within seconds received a second yellow for the same offence. Quite why the sin bin was not used, and how the offences were recorded by the referee, we'll just have to wait and see.

As the game entered added time, and there would be about ten minutes, it went from bad to worse for Mary Phillip’s team. Peckham were awarded a free kick just inside the Stansfeld half, Hassan Omar waited for the whistle to take the kick, but the official proceeded to book the defender for time wasting, his second yellow of the game, despite there being no clear indication for the match to restart.

The hosts now had the upper hand as Peckham had to dig deep to keep the game level. It was however Peckham that almost scored again in the third added minute but Yeison Arizmendi didn’t take his chance, dragging the ball wide of the Stansfeld goal.

The added time continued and the hosts threw everything forward in an attempt to equalise, but the nine men of Peckham continued to hold firm. With ten added minutes on the clock they lined up a long throw over on the far side. Packing the Peckham area the ball was launched goal wards, Ben Whittaker managed to head it clear but only as far as an incoming Stansfeld player. He headed it back towards the goal and it looked destined to creep under the bar, but Nathan Gamester launched himself toward the ball and managed to get his fingertips to it sending it over the bar. Before the Peckham keeper hit the ground the official blew for full time, earning Peckham their first points of the season.

It was a much improved performance all round from Saturday's defeat against a well organised Stansfeld side. Everyone stepped up and despite the dismissals the players should be proud of their performance. Next up Peckham travel down to Kent to take on newly promoted Cuxton 91 hoping to keep their momentum going.

Peckham Town FC (4-2-3-1). Nathan Gamester; Raymond Agyemang, Hassan Omar, Jeremiah Duah Danso, Elton Romaku; Malachi Brissett, Tidi Barry; Camilo Andres Nieva, Nicky Meta (c), Kieran Dowding; Chris Weber
Subs: Adam Carrick (on for Elton Romaku), Rashane Wilson (on for Chris Weber), Joe Thomas (on for Raymond Agyemang), Ben Whittaker (on for Jeremiah Duah Danso) & Yeison Arizmendi (on for Camilo Andres Nieva).