MIST OPPORTUNITIES AS HAWKS HIT PECKHAM FOR SIX

As we got closer to Folkstone more and more snow began to fill the scenery around us. Driving up the hill into Hawkinge so the hills ahead disappeared into the fog. Approaching the ground we were welcomed to a scene out of a winter wonderland so it came as a surprise that the game would actually go ahead. Despite the light sprinkling of snow on the pitch, it wasn’t frozen and with the visibility just about good enough to see across the pitch the game had been given the go-ahead.

Peckham only had a thirteen man squad for the game with Ross Jefferies returning between the sticks. Jordan James started at right back with captain Nicky Meta deputising at left back once again. Adam Carrick returned from injury to partner Fareid Yassein in central defence with Jeremiah Duah Danso unavailable. Tidi Barry sat behind the same midfield three as last week, Camilo Andres Nieva, Jacob Kemp and Kieran Dowding , with Rashane Wilson and Chris Weber the two front men. Elton Romaku and Yacoub Suleman made up the substitutes.

With temperatures hovering around zero Peckham got the game underway. With five minutes on the clock they found themselves trailing, the hosts attacked down the left and the ball was sent whipping across the surface into the Peckham area. Ross Jefferies dived low in an attempt to intercept the ball but it was tapped home into the empty net. Not the best of starts from Peckham and it took until the 18th minute until they were able to test the host’s keeper, Jacob Kemp seeing his effort comfortably saved.

Hawkinge looked strong every time they went forward which was to be expected from the team second in the league at the start of the game. They almost doubled their lead on the halfway mark in the first half but the effort on goal was easily gathered by the Peckham keeper. A warning sign perhaps, but it was not heeded to as they did get their second just after the half hour. Winning a corner over on the far side, it was difficult to see who or when the corner kick was taken but It was taken however and promptly headed home unchallenged from the 6 yard line on 31 minutes.

Peckham’s heads could have easily dropped but they continued to persevere against a well organised host to win their first corner of the game four minutes later. The ball was easily cleared from the corner and they immediately went on the counter attack. Peckham struggled to get men back and the hosts suddenly found themselves one on one on the edge of Peckham’s area. Fareid Yassein was struggling to keep pace with the Hawkinge forward and he slotted the ball past the advancing Ross Jefferies and into the bottom right hand corner of the goal to make it 3-0.

Again Mary Phillip’s team kept their heads up and had two great chances to pull a goal back within the space of a minute. The first fell to Camilo Andres Nieva in the 39th minute but he never got his body over the ball and hit it high over the goal from 20 yards out. The second was a bit closer from Kieran Dowding who did well to get his shot away under pressure, only to see it go inches wide. As the half entered added time Peckham were denied a spot kick, Kieran Dowding was bundled to the ground but neither the official or his assistant looked interested and play continued despite the stern protest from the Peckham contingent.

Half time came and Peckham were forced into making a change, Jordan James had taken a knock to the head in the closing stages. Feeling dizzy it was clear he should not continue so Elton Romaku slotted into the left back position with Nicky Meta moving to right back for the start of the second half as the mist began to thicken. The hosts kicked off and continued from where they had left off in the first half.

With 52 minutes played again they threatened down the left flank. With a clear run on goal the Hawkinge player entered the penalty area, Adam Carrick had other ideas and slid in to make the tackle. He looked to have won the ball, but as the Hawkinge player tumbled to the ground the official agreed with the shouts for a foul and pointed to the spot. The Peckham defender voiced his innocence and was promptly sent to the sin bin for ten minutes for his troubles. Ross Jefferies guessed the right way but couldn’t prevent the hosts from making it 4-0 on 55 minutes.

Now playing with ten men Peckham really began to struggle to contain their hosts, who almost made it 5 a minute later but their attempt went inches wide. As the hour mark approached Peckham found themselves in an attacking position and Jordan Kemp brought out a decent save from the host’s keeper. The Peckham midfielder hit his effort with his left boot through a crowded penalty area and it looked destined for the bottom left hand corner of the goal before the Hawkinge goalkeeper got a hand to it and put it out for a corner.

Rashane Wilson then found himself with the goal at his mercy as Nicky Meta sent the ball into the penalty area but the forward was leaning backwards and hit the ball over the bar. With just over 25 minutes to play, Adam Carrick re-joined the game but found himself giving away a second penalty seconds after re-entering the field. Thankfully the official saw the spot kick enough punishment and the Peckham defender stayed on the pitch. Ross Jefferies again guessed the right way and despite getting a hand to the ball he couldn’t prevent goal number five.

With twenty minutes to play Mary Phillip made another change, Jacob Kemp making way for Yacoub Suleman. The hosts however, continued to dominate so it was no surprise when they made it 6-0 in the 78th minute. Winning a free kick just outside the Peckham area over on the far side the ball was floated deep into the area and found the unmarked head of a Hawkinge player who couldn’t miss from 5 yards out.

Full time couldn’t come quick enough now but there was still time for one more goal. Merely nothing other than a consolation, Peckham finally found the back of the net with two minutes of normal time to play. The move started deep in the Peckham half, captain Nicky Meta picked up the ball on the edge of his own area before passing the ball to Tidi Barry in the centre circle. The midfielder spotted the run of Rashane Wilson down the right and played an inch perfect pass out to the Peckham striker. He took a couple of touches before crossing the ball along the ground onto the Hawkinge area for Kieran Dowding to slot it home at the keeper’s near post to make it 6-1.

With seven added minutes played the official finally brought the game to a close. This was certainly a result for Peckham to put behind them and move forward as quickly as possible. We can argue about whether the game should’ve gone ahead until the cows come home, but ultimately the hosts were by far the better team so it’s best not to dwell on the result any longer. Next week Peckham are back at home and welcome Welling Park to the Menace Arena.

Peckham Town FC (4-1-3-2): Ross Jefferies; Jordan James, Fareid Yassein, Adam Carrick, Nicky Meta (c); Tidi Barry; Camilo Andres Nieva, Jacob Kemp, Kieran Dowding; Chris Weber, Rashane Wilson. Subs: Elton Romaku (on for Jordan James), Yacoub Suleman (on for Jacob Kemp).