UNLUCKY PECKHAM AS UNITED COME FROM BEHIND TO TAKE THE THREE POINTS

Looking to go unbeaten in November (erm, so perhaps with just one match played), Peckham welcomed Kent United to the Menace Arena. With temperatures in single figures a crowd of 160 were treated to a game of two halves. With a full squad of sixteen, Mary Phillip started Nathan Gamester in goal, with a makeshift back four due to injuries of Jordan James at right back, Fareid Yassein and Jeremiah Duah Danso in central defence and captain Nicky Meta at left back. Tidi Barry sat behind the midfield three of Camilo Andres Nieva, Jacob Kemp and Yacoub Suleman, with Chris Weber and Kieran Dowding the front two. On the bench were Raymond Agyemang, Joe Thomas, Peter Tarrant, Rashane Wilson and Gbolahan Jimoh.

Peckham got the game underway and should’ve been two up within the first five minutes. Kieran Dowding did well to shake off his marker and as the keeper came out he looked destined to slot the ball home at the far post, only to see it go inches wide with four minutes on the clock. Less than a minute later Kieran Dowding nodded down the ball to Jacob Kemp just outside the 6 yard box. With the goal at his mercy he never got any power behind his shot and hit it straight at the keeper. The game was end to end with both teams creating chances but neither side could find a way to put the ball in the back of the net.

Kieran Dowding came close again in the 19th minute but he snatched at the ball and again hit it inches wide. Nathan Gamester then made a great save as the visitors broke through the Peckham back four but the assistant on the far side had already raised his flag for offside despite the protests from the away bench. As the game reached the half hour mark the visitors should have taken the lead. Having won a free kick on the halfway line the ball was pumped into the Peckham 18 yard box. It found its way through to a Kent United player who squared the ball to his unmarked counterpart on the penalty spot. Luckily for Peckham he hit his effort high over Nathan Gamester’s goal.

From the goal kick Peckham countered and Camilo Andres Nieva found himself in a great position after Tidi Barry played him in from the centre of the pitch. The Peckham winger switched the ball onto his left boot before attempting to curl it into the top left hand corner of the goal but he got too much on it and sent it high and wide.

There was definitely a goal coming but it wasn’t going to be from open play. With 35 minutes on the clock Kieran Dowding went down in the box but the official, who was only yards away wasn’t having any of it. Then as Camilo Andres Nieva came in to pick up the loose ball he was sent crashing to the ground and the official pointed to the spot. The kick was delayed for three minutes whilst a Kent United player received treatment but the wait had no effect on the Peckham winger who had already claimed the spot kick for himself. Up he stepped to slot the ball home, the keeper guessed the right way but the ball crept under his body and into the bottom left hand corner of the goal on 38 minutes.

Two minutes later and Peckham thought they had doubled their lead with Kieran Dowding slotting home from close range. Unfortunately the official had seen the ball hit the striker's arm as it rebounded off a defender and the goal was disallowed. Mary Phillip’s side had definitely been the better team so far and should have gone in at the break with more than just the one goal.

With no changes during the break the visitors got the second half underway. With 52 minutes played Peckham should have doubled their lead. Captain Nicky Meta did well to win the ball back some 25 yards from his own goal and played a quick pass to Jeremiah Duah Danso. The central defender gave it to Tidi Barry who turned and spotted a run from Chris Weber and played a long ball over the top into the strikers path. Despite the striker having three defenders around him the Kent United keeper opted to come out of his area in an attempt to get to the ball first but in doing so he slipped and found himself on the floor in Nomansland. With the goal at his mercy the Peckham striker had to hit it first time but his effort trickled wide of the empty net.

This close call was the catalyst that sparked the opposition into life as within 60 seconds they were level. The Peckham defence switched off and Nathan Gamester could only watch as the ball flew into his goal. Peckham then made two changes, Rashane Wilson replacing Chris Weber in the 56th minute and Gbolahan Jimoh replacing Yacoub Suleman on the hour mark. Despite the fresh attacking options for Peckham it was the visitors that struck next. Winning a corner on the near side, the ball was whipped into the near post and the visitors number 5 out jumped his marker to nod the ball home making it 2-1 in their favour. Peckham were then dealt another blow when Camilo Andres Nieva went down after a late challenge. The winger stayed down and eventually required treatment for an ankle injury, and was then replaced by Raymond Agyemang with just under 15 minutes to play.

Time was now running out for Peckham and frustration was beginning to show as Kieran Dowding went into the book on 80 minutes. He was followed by Raymond Agyemang two minutes from time for diving, that coming a few minutes after the substitute found himself with a great opportunity to equalise but he hit it straight at the visitor’s keeper. Peckham began to throw everything forward to try and get something from the game but the visitors defended in numbers. Raymond Agyemang had another great chance in the first added minute but could only find the side netting. Gbolahan Jimoh went into the book in the fourth added minute and with seven added minutes played the official blew for full time.

Another disappointing result but not a disappointing performance from Peckham. Having had no games for the last three weeks this was always going to be a difficult game, no matter who the opposition were. A draw would have been a fair result, but as we have seen many times in football, a fair result isn’t always the outcome. Next week Peckham travel to the Kent coast as they face Hawkinge Town who are currently second in the table.

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