Five Things we Learned from the Menace’s League Cup Win

1415pm Is The Ideal Kickoff Time To Swerve South London Thunderstorms

My journey to the game today started at 835am. This was the time when, en route to Heathrow with the family for our holiday to Portugal we got a text from BA saying the plane was cancelled due to “the weather conditions around the London Heathrow area”. To which I thought “bollocks”, said some rude thugs about French air traffic control (je suis vraiment désolée, mes amis), and told the cab driver to return us to cloudless Peckham.

I was still fuming at 1330 when the Heavens opened and seemed set to stay that way for all time. But the deluge was over by 1400, enabling a quick dash for the P13 to get us to the game in time for the early kick off. The rain had juiced up the pitch nicely, and although Peckham still (justifiably, given changes and the stage of the season) showed signs of a team getting to know each other, as the game went on passing combinations got better - aided by conditions and a tiring opposition who had been dominated in possession, territory and chances by their hosts. This bodes well for the rest of the season.

Then, half an hour after full time, all the water fell out the sky again.

”Great Touch For A Big Man”; But Weber Is A Double Threat

But it’s so often true isn’t it? And certainly in Chris Weber’s case. I hadn’t seen him in pre-season, but had been intrigued by his write-up as a “goalscoring machine when young”. His pedigree boded well - goals galore in spells at Charlton youth level, Thamesmead Town and Erith Town - and he backed it up with the game’s opener. Some neat control and footwork gave him space to shoot from the edge of the box, and he confidently placed a great effort inside the keeper’s near post.

Overhearing snippets of the opposition team-talk at half-time, he seemed the main topic of conversation. Their idea of playing a higher line to keep his elusive threat away from goal… well, it might solve one problem but it will surely create another, offering space for Peckham’s array of pacy wide forwards to run into. He may not get credited with Opta assists for any ensuing goals but Weber’s contribution, direct or indirect, to Peckham’s attack this season could be huge.

If You Love Something, Set It Free. If It Comes Back, It’s Yours To Slot

From my vantage point in the World’s Smallest Stand, it seemed to me that a couple of the Menace eleven were getting their heads burned out by Camilo in the first half. And maybe, I only say maybe, they had a point - passes could have been made that weren’t attempted. But then, he’s netted twice in last week’s away win over Cuxton 1991, you want your strikers to be a bit selfish, and frankly what the canard do I know anyway.

The second half was different however, and the goal that saw Peckham retake the lead after Parkwood had equalised with a rare attack on the break was the best of the afternoon. Camilo picked it up on the left, drifted inside across the face of the area and you (or I at least) thought “know how this is going, he’ll waste it”. But no. A layoff to Weber on the edge of the area, a dart inside behind the defence, a deft return ball, and Camilo was in to hit the ball first time into the top corner.

Give and you shall receive.

Four Forwards Scoring Shows Depth Of Attacking Options

So often last season Peckham looked like what they were, a hugely creative side lacking a 30 goal a season striker. Hamid Bangura and David Gabor, with 11 apiece, tried to fill the void, but a big task this off-season was trying to find more goals. When substitutes Ben Slade and Yacoub Suleman combined for the home side’s third and fourth goals, it made it the first time four different Peckham forwards had scored in the same game since [subs please check, I’m finally at the beach and the signal’s too weak and the beer too cold to trawl the FA site].

With plenty of other attacking talent unavailable or just not quite getting on the scoresheet, Peckham’s early form - the blank against Hawkinge on the opening day aside - suggests that it could be raining goals at the Menace Arena this season. Fire up the bubble gun!

Dave Is A Magician Or An Octopus Or Both

These match reports are usually done by Dave, who also does the in-match Twitter commentary during all games. As he’s currently letting off steam in the Isle of Wight, I was pressed into last minute service. After a first half trying to reset the password to the Twitter account, I managed to dribble out 15 or so vague missives getting across the score but little else of use (I literally had to rely on a departing Nicky Meta to tell me the subs at one point). And none of your fancy work, no! One picture (of a delinquent six year old about to invade the pitch to get his ball back) was all the colour I managed but in addition to about five times the volume of text output that I mustered, Dave’s coverage includes graphics and videos of key and not-so-key moments - together with some fabulous “HAVE IT” commentary moments.

I’ve no idea how he does it. But I know where to go if I need a juggler in a hurry. Crème de la Menthe!

Peckham are away to Kent United (or Velvet Rouge as they were pre-Brexit) on Bank Holiday Monday, and return to the Menace Arena on Saturday 2nd September when they host Minster in the League.