DEFEAT DESPITE VAILIANT PERFORMANCE FROM THE MENACE

Peckham travelled down to Sittingbourne to face last seasons champions with only eleven players available. With three on the treatment table and ten unavailable this was surely going to be a difficult afternoon. Elton Romaku stepped in between the sticks with Tidi Barry deputising at right back. Captain Nicky Meta started at left back with late signing Jamie Blunden partnering Jeremiah Duah Danso in the centre of defence. Jacob Kemp sat in front of the back four with the midfield three consisting of Camilo Andres Nieva, Yeison Arizmendi and Kieran Dowding. Rashane Wilson started up front alongside Chris Weber.

Captain Nicky Meta won the coin toss and opted to play with the low sun behind his goal. A wise decision but the hosts were not thwarted as they immediately had the Peckham defence under pressure, the offside flag denying them an opener on 4 minutes. A minute later and the woodwork came to the rescue twice as Borden continued to attack. It took a great defensive block from debutant Jamie Blunden minutes later to deny the hosts again, with Jeremiah Duah Danso defending well and Elton Romaku with a fine save on 14 minutes to deny the hosts again. With Peckham under so much pressure it was only a matter of time before the opening goal came on the quarter hour mark after they failed to clear the ball.

The opening goal awoke the Peckham players as they began to create more and more chances. Nicky Meta brought out a decent save from the Borden keeper after his corner was only half cleared but Peckham’s best chance came after Rashane Wilson was felled just outside the penalty area. With the Borden keeper carrying what appeared to be a groin strain, a low hard free kick could be the best option. Captain Nicky Meta and Kieran Dowding stood over the ball, the latter took the set piece but the Borden wall did its job and it was cleared to safety.

With half time approaching the hosts looked as though they would go in on top, Peckham however had other ideas. The equalising goal came after Peckham won a throw-in over on the far side, Chris Weber nodded the ball on to Yeison Arizmendi before he received the ball back again. The burly striker turned his marker before playing into Yeison Arizmendi who hit it first time towards the goal but Borden defender managed to block his effort before he got a second chance to slot the ball home at the keepers near post with a minute of normal time remaining. It was no more than Mary Phillip’s players deserved having been the better team for last fifteen or so minutes of the first half. Surprisingly the official brought the half to an end with barely 30 additional seconds played, but maybe that was a good thing for the Peckham players.

Peckham got the second half underway and within two minutes received their first booking of the game. Rashane Wilson went in for a fifty-fifty tackle just inside the centre circle, the Borden player had already gone to ground, sliding out of control to win the ball first. The Menace striker had no option than to jump to avoid any contact but caught the Borden player as he landed.

Mary Phillip’s side had definitely started the second half the better team as the hosts looked to be running out of steam. Rashane Wilson then had a great chance to score a minute later after Peckham countered after Elton Romaku punched the ball clear. After some great link up play between Chris Weber and Camilo Andres Nieva the striker turned his man only to hit his effort high and wide. Jacob Kemp shot high over the bar on 50 minutes before Kieran Dowding then had his low shot saved on 51 minutes. Jacob Kemp then hit another shot that sailed just an inch or so over the bar on the hour mark as Peckham continued to threaten their hosts.

Borden however, had the luxury of being able to introduce fresh legs to the game so it wasn’t a surprise when they took the lead five minutes later on 65 minutes. Six minutes later their player manger then completed his hat-trick as the hosts doubled their lead on 71 minutes to make it 3-1.

Mary Phillip’s players could have easily crumbled at this point but they continued to pose a threat, some of them even playing through the pain barrier for the cause. Peckham were handed a lifeline when Jacob Kemp hit a screamer into the top corner with fifteen minutes to play, giving his teammates some hope that they could get something out of the game.

The Menace midfielder then played Kieran Dowding in down the right, the winger took a few touches before cutting inside and unleashing his shot towards the goal only for the Borden keeper to tip his effort over for a corner.

Peckham continued to push for an equaliser which almost came in the 78th minute after Jacob Kemp was pushed in the back as he attempted to head the ball from a Jamie Blunden free kick. The kick was awarded some 20 yards from goal, prime territory for either Nicky Meta or Kieran Dowding to have a go from. It was the captain that stepped up to loop the ball over the defensive wall only for it to beat the keeper but rattle off of the crossbar but the danger was not over yet as Camilo Andres Nieva retrieved the ball out on the far side and proceeded to run at goal, opting to shoot over from an acute angle rather than crossing it into the area.

Time was fast running out for Peckham, Tidi Barry saw yellow for a high challenge in the first added minute, allowing the hosts some respite from Peckham attacks, whilst their player was down injured. Kieran Dowding tried one last attempt to grab an equaliser in the fourth added minute but never really got a hold of the ball and the Borden keeper saved.

Seconds later the official blew for full time and the hosts celebrated like they had won the league all over again. In a way that was a testament to the performance from Mary Phillip’s players. With no substitutes available, these players could have easily buckled and ran out of steam allowing Borden to run riot.

It was however far from that as Peckham were often the better team and could easily have got something from this game. Mary Phillip’s awarded the King of the Match to Jacob Kemp but if I’m honest every Peckham player out there today deserved that award. I could not fault anyone’s performance and I take my hat off to each and everyone of them. Next week Peckham entertain Halls AFC at the Menace Arena, a 2pm kick off. Fingers crossed manager Mary Phillip’s will have a full squad this time.

Peckham Town FC (4-1-3-2): Elton Romaku; Tidi Barry, Jamie Blunden, Jeremiah Duah Danso, Nicky Meta (c); Jacob Kemp; Camilo Andres Nieva, Yeison Arizmendi, Kieran Dowding; Chris Weber, Rashane Wilson.

No subs.