PECKHAM WELL IDE OF THE MARK

After what has seemed like an eternity, Mary Phillip’s Peckham finally returned to action at The Longmead Stadium, Tonbridge, high flying Ide Hill their opponents. At her disposal was a full squad of 16 with Nathan Gamester starting in goal, Hassan Omar at right back, Adam Carrick at left back and Fareid Yassein partnering Jeremiah Duah Danso in the centre of defence. Tidi Barry and Jacob Kemp were the midfield duo with captain Nicky Meta sitting just in front of them. The front three consisted of Saul Dodds, Chris Weber and Rashane Wilson. On the bench were Joe Thomas, Gbolahan Jimoh, Peter Tarrant, Yacoub Suleman and new signing Nosa Obaguedo.

For some, the experience of playing in a National South League stadium could be a little overwhelming but Peckham started the game brightly, and for the first ten minutes were probably the better side. Jacob Kemp came close in the 9th minute before Nathan Gamester denied the hosts with a fingertip save a minute later. It was however the hosts that took the lead on 13 minutes albeit from the shin of Fareid Yassein. As the ball came in from the far side the Peckham defender could only direct the ball away from Nathan Gamester and into his own goal as he made an attempt to block the cross. The hosts would certainly feel somewhat fortunate at taking the lead at this point in the game, especially as it was against the run of play.

The hosts then doubled their lead on 20 minutes after Peckham attempted to clear their lines. A wayward pass found and Ide Hill man who played their number ten in to slot the ball home in the bottom left hand corner of the Peckham goal. Nicky Meta hit his effort straight at the hosts keeper four minutes later as Peckham searched for a quick reply. Just after the half hour mark Saul Dodds was adjudged to have fouled the hosts keeper and went into the official's book on 33 minutes.

Peckham were on the front foot and the hosts were struggling to get out of their own half. The ball came out wide on the left to Nicky Meta who turned his marker and sent an in-swinger deep into the Ide Hill 6 yard box. As their keeper rose to collect the ball another Ide Hill defender turned his back into the Peckham man who was already off the ground in an attempt to head the ball home. The impact of the defender sent him tumbling into the keeper and into the book, a soft foul and an extremely harsh yellow!

As the game approached half time there was a worry for Peckham when captain Nicky Meta went down off the ball and looked in some discomfort. It looked like he had turned his ankle but after some treatment he was able to re-join the game. As the clocked ticked onto 45 minutes Nathan Gamester again was on hand to deny the hosts a third goal, but it was from the resulting corner that Mary Phillip’s side were dealt a massive double blow. Jeremiah Duah Danso was clattered to the ground and although play continued Adam Carrick went down over on the far by-line in an attempt to clear the ball. Both players required treatment and it soon became evident that neither could continue. Jeremiah Duah Danso left the field with a possible concussion and it looked as though Adam Carrick had suffered a recurrence of the ankle injury that kept him out of action at the end of last year. Peckham were now forced into bringing on Joe Thomas in the centre of defence and Peter Tarrant to slot in at left back for the remainder of the first half.

Play continued into added time and again Nathan Gamester made a decent save from an Ide Hill free kick 30 yards from goal in the 6th added minute. A further two minutes were played until the official blew for half time. Mary Phillip’s team hadn’t played that badly to warrant being behind by two goals and whatever she said to her players at half time had an immediate effect when the game restarted for the second half. Ide Hill got the second half underway and within a minute Peckham had a goal back. Captain Nicky Meta crossed from deep over on the far side and Jacob Kemp headed in from an acute angle at the back post.

Peckham’s resurgence only lasted three minutes as the hosts restored their two goal advantage on 50 minutes. Peckham had won a free kick 25 yards from goal which was easily cleared by the Ide Hill defence. With numbers forward the hosts saw and opportunity to counter and soon outnumbered the Peckham players frantically trying to get back to defend. The ball found it’s way between two Peckham players to the feet of the Ide Hill number ten who fired the ball past Nathan Gamester and into the net.

Peckham made two changes either side of a Fareid Yassein yellow card for a late challenge on 58 minutes. Yacoub Suleman replaced Saul Dodds two minutes earlier before new signing Nosa Obaguedo replaced Chris Weber in the 69 th minute. The winger looked quick, his experience obviously an advantage and it didn’t take long before he was causing the Ide Hill defence problems as he attacked down the left flank. But they dug deep and managed to get a fourth goal despite there being a hint of offside from the number 10 as he tapped the ball home from 5 yards for his hat-trick to make it 4-1. Despite all the protests from the Peckham contingent the goal stood. Peckham continued to push forward in the hope of getting back into the game but they just could find a way through a resilient Ide Hill defence. As the game entered the final ten minutes the hosts wrapped the game up as their number ten bagged a fourth goal to make it 5-1.

Peckham were then awarded a penalty after a clear handball in the 6 yard box which Nicky Meta tucked away in the 86 th minute to make it 5-2 but it was nothing more than a consolation goal. Hassan Omar was then replaced a minute later by Gbolahan Jimoh before Nathan Gamester was wiped out after coming out if his area to clear the ball. The official surprisingly only awarded a free kick when maybe a card would have been more appropriate, thankfully after some treatment the Menace stopper was fine to continue. The game then entered added time and Chris Weber returned to the action in the 94th added minute as Tidi Barry limped off the field. The official finally brought the game to a close with seven added minutes played.

The score line flattered the hosts as again Peckham had dominated the game on several occasions. It was the hosts that did however take their chances, maybe the lack of game time for the Peckham players took its toll. One thing is sure, they must now start to pick up some points, starting at home next week when the entertain Borden Village at the Menace Arena.

Peckham Town FC (4-3-3): Nathan Gamester, Hassan Omar, Fareid Yassein, Jeremiah Duah Danso, Adam Carrick; Tidi Barry, Nicky Meta (c), Jacob Kemp; Saul Dodds, Chris Weber, Rashane Wilson.
Subs. Joe Thomas (on for Jeremiah Duah Danso), Peter Tarrant (on for Adam Carrick), Yacoub Suleman (on for Saul Dodds), Nosa Obaguedo (on for Chris Weber), Gbolahan Jimoh (on for Hassan Omar); Chris Weber (back on for Tidi Barry).