DOUBLE PENALTY HEARTBREAK FOR PECKHAM

A late penalty for ten man Snodland Town Reserves sent Peckham crashing out of the League Cup. It was however a double penalty heartbreak as Peckham’s Chris Weber saw his first half penalty saved in the 43rd minute.

A crowd of 145 came to the Menace Arena today including an old Menace favourite, last season's supporter's player of the season and goalkeeper, George Legg. Peckham got the game underway and had a great chance to open the scoring with barely two minutes on the clock. Chris Weber did well to hold the ball up just inside his own half before playing a defence splitting ball out to Kieran Dowding on the left. The winger-cum-striker probably took one touch too many and the keeper saved at his feet. The visitors then came close to scoring in the fourth minute after a long ball over the top beat the Menace back line. Luckily for Peckham the resulting effort on goal was hit into the side netting.

As the first half progressed neither team really looked like scoring until the visitors again got behind the Menace back line in the 38th minute. Ross Jefferies was quick off of his line to deny the visitors with his legs. The first half looked destined to end goalless so it was a godsend when Peckham were awarded a penalty with five minutes to play. Raymond Agyemang sent a ball into the Snodland area which Jacob Kemp sent high into the air with his head. As the ball came down Chris Weber stood his ground and was sent crashing to the floor as defender went through his back. The striker immediately claimed the ball and sent it low to the keepers left who guessed the right way and palmed the it onto the post.

The Snodland keeper was the hero again as he saved well, this time to deny Camilo Andres Nieva deep into added time. And so the first half ended goalless, hopefully the second half wouldn’t end the same way.

Mary Phillip decided the same eleven would start the second half and Peckham got the game underway. Jacob Kemp almost broke the deadlock on 50 minutes in almost an identical move to his goal last week. Picking up a quick Nicky Meta throw he weaved his way through the defence before curling the ball towards the far post. Again the visitor's keeper saved well but no Peckham players followed the ball in and a defender cleared it to safety.

Nicky Meta then had his shot saved at the near post from the resulting corner seconds later as the Snodland keeper denied Peckham once again. Peckham continued to push forward and had their opponents on the back foot for a good ten minute spell, but they just could take their chances and break the deadlock. Chris Weber came closest after the Snodland keeper spilled Kieran Dowding’s 20 yard effort but he fired the ball into the side netting from an acute angle 2 yards out.

A minute later however the visitors were ahead after the ball ricocheted around the Peckham area. Ross Jefferies did well to parry a low cross on his 6 yard line but the ball fell in front of two unmarked Snodland players. Jeremiah Duah Danso did well to block the first shot but it fell kindly to the Snodland striker who fired home despite Raymond Agyemang frantically trying to block his effort on the goal line. The visitors were then reduced to ten men after their last man clipped Kieran Dowding’s feet as he broke free. Peckham’s extra man for the remaining twenty minutes or so should have been an advantage but Snodland began to defend with ten men.

With just over fifteen minutes to play Tidy Barry was introduced to the game with Jacob Kemp making way. Two minutes later Rashane Wilson then came on for Chris Weber, and what an important change that proved to be. As Peckham piled men forward in search of an equaliser the visitors jeered at every chance that was missed. As the game entered added time it looked as though there would be no way back for Peckham, well not until the fourth added minute. Joe Thomas collected the ball near the centre circle and played it through the middle of the Snodland defence to the unmarked Rashane Wilson. Incorrect calls for offside came from the Snodland contingent but the Peckham striker kept his composure and slotted the ball home at the keepers near post from 15 yards. With the game now deep into added time it looked destined for penalties but both teams went in search for a winner. It was however the visitors that gained the advantage with nine added minutes on the clock.

Elton Romaku found himself under pressure just inside the Peckham penalty area. As the Snodland forward tried to turn the Peckham defender, Elton Romaku caught his trailing leg sending him crashing to the ground. The official had no option and pointed to the spot. Up stepped the Snodland number nine to calmly slot the ball home in the bottom right hand corner to win the game despite Ross Jefferies guessing the right way. The official finally called time with 12 added minutes played, and despite it being a cruel way for Peckham to exit the League Cup, they can really have no complaints. Time now to regroup and really concentrate on the league, as next week we travel down to last season League Champions, Borden Village.

Peckham Town FC (4-1-3-2): Ross Jefferies; Raymond Agyemang, Jeremiah Duah Danso, Elton Romaku, Nicky Meta (c); Joe Thomas; Camilo Andres Nieva, Jacob Kemp, Yacoub Suleman; Chris Weber, Kieran Dowding.
Subs. Tidi Barry (on for Jacob Kemp), Rashane Wilson (on for Chris Weber), Not used, Fareid Yassein, Jordan James, Peter Tarrant.