DOWDING DOUBLE AS PECKHAM NICK IT LATE IN SOUTH LONDON DERBY THRILLER

It’s not very often you get midweek games at this level of football, especially in October. Maybe you get a few in August and April when the sun is a late sleeper but there’s not many teams in the Kent League Premier Division that have the luxury of floodlights. Bermondsey Town, however, who play at Fisher's ground are one of the lucky ones. That’s enough on the floodlights situation for now...

So, Tuesday evening and a rare treat of a game of football. Not just any game though, a South London Derby, and after the heartbreak of exiting the London FA Trophy on penalties, Mary Phillip would be hoping for an immediate reaction from her team. Both teams started brightly, both playing attacking football, but there was an early let off for Peckham’s stand in goalkeeper, Elton Romaku, having fouled a Bermondsey player outside his area on 19 minutes. A yellow card was shown and a free kick given in a dangerous position but the Peckham wall did its job and the ball was cleared.

As the half hour mark approached Peckham took a deserved lead on 28 minutes. Kieran Dowding chased a long ball over the top and as the Bermondsey defender miss-timed his clearance he skipped around the advancing keeper and slotted home into the empty net to make it one-nil. Bermondsey continued to play the long ball over the top in the hope of outpacing our defence, but Peckham continued to defend well to thwart their advances. It did however take a goal line clearance on the 36th minute to keep Peckham’s lead intact and they went in at the break in the lead.

With no changes during the break Peckham kicked off the second half. The hosts were struggling with their fitness, their number 5 twice requiring treatment within the space of five minutes. It was no surprise then when Peckham doubled there lead on 56 minutes as captain Nicky Meta sent a ball deep into the Bermondsey area which found debutant Michael Agyemang who fired home at the far post.

So far this had been quite a feisty affair and the official must have been running out of room in his book. With four Yellows in the first half it was inevitable one team may not finish with eleven players on the field. This happened three minutes later as the Bermondsey number seven attempted to tackle Nicky Meta as he ran with the ball along the nearside touchline. The Peckham captain was too quick for him and the Bermondsey man proceeded to take the man and none of the ball. The official had no option than to show a second yellow and the hosts were reduced to ten men for the remaining half hour. You could forgive yourself for thinking that this could’ve been game over for the hosts but it was far from that as with just over ten minutes to play they pulled a goal back after the Peckham defence failed to clear in the 79th minute.

Bermondsey now had a spring in their step as they suddenly realised they could get something from the game. This, however began to cause problems as Peckham began to stretch them over the field. Several of the Bermondsey players began to struggle with their fitness and despite making changes, many were going down with cramp. But they persevered and were gifted an equaliser in the 89th minute. Initially they were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Peckham area which was cleared but the ball fell to a Bermondsey player. He sent a high ball back into the Peckham area with found an unmarked teammate the back post and he headed it past Elton Romaku who had little chance of stopping it.

Peckham’s heads could have easily dropped but with all the stoppages for injuries they knew there was at least another ten minutes or so to play. Their never give up attitude was rewarded with seven additional minutes on the clock. Substitute Rashane Wilson beautifully controlled a high ball on the edge of the Bermondsey area, he tapped it into the path of Kieran Dowding who took a touch before firing it across the goal and into the far bottom corner. Obviously the Menace faithful went ballistic as their players celebrated the winning goal. And it was, as the clock ticked onto twelve additional minutes the official blew for full time.

Tough on the hosts, yes but every Peckham player showed true resilience in order to get the result they really deserved. Disappointing that they let their opponents back in the game but in the end it was the right result. Onto Saturdays game when we entertain New Romney at the Menace Arena.

Peckham Town FC (4-1-3-2): Elton Romaku; Raymond Agyemang, Jeremiah Duah Danso, Omar Hassan, Nicky Meta (c); Joe Thomas; Michael Agyemang, Jacob Kemp, Yacoub Suleman; Chris Weber, Kieran Dowding.
Subs: Jordan James (on for Raymond Agyemang), Camilo Andres Nieva (on for Michael Agyemang), Rashane Wilson (on for Chris Weber) & Peter Tarrant (on for Kieran Dowding)