Five Things We Learned From Peckham’s 4-1 Win Over Bexley

Peckham’s 808 State Is A False Position
Although Peckham Town’s win-draw-loss record in the league so far reads 8-0-8, house has played little part in their season. Just four home league games have been possible as some atrocious weather has played havoc with the fixture list. That said, a 50% winning record both home and away is testament to how Mary Philip’s side have made the best of things. But with (including today’s game) 11 of the 14 outstanding league games set to be played at the Menace Arena, it is to be hoped that strong home form will propel the side up the table.

Today’s visitors Bexley, famous for the third best heath in London starting with “B”, had not travelled well this season, gathering just one win and two draws from ten away games ahead of this encounter. Sitting 15th, three points from safety, they were hoping for a win that could ease their relegation fears.

Peckham made five changes from last week’s 3-1 away win over New Romney. Jefferies replaced Gamester in goal, and ahead of him Raymond Agyemang replaced Yassein in the back four, joining Carrick, Omar and Duah Danso. Joe Thomas came in for Peter Tarrant in midfield, with Tidi Barry and Nicky Meta retaining their places. Kemp and Michael Agyemang also missed out, with Weber and Wilson coming in to join Dowding in attack.

A Patient Response To An Early Setback Brings Reward
Either because they had something to get to afterwards, or they just wanted to get it all over with, Bexley lined up for the walkout early behind an extremely chatty captain. Peckham were not fazed and they started the brighter; Bexley barely had a touch of the ball in the Menace half in the first ten minutes as the home side dominated possession and territory.

So it was against the run of play then when the visitors had the ball in the net twice in quick succession. The first on 11 minutes was chalked off for offside, but despite similar appeals the second stood, as Agyemang failed to track the Bexley 9’s run into the box, allowing him an easy finish from a cross from the Peckham left. 0-1 on 15 minutes, and cue the Bexley keeper shushing the Menace Ultras.

Credit to Peckham, they didn’t take this to heart. Behind against the run of play, finding it tough to create clear chances in very tough conditions against a team playing a low block, heads could have dropped, but they continued to probe for openings and were rewarded with an equalizer ten minutes later.

The morning pitch inspection must have focused to no small degree on the top right corner of the ground, which was very soft underfoot. Rather than attempting a corner into the box from that part of the pitch, Nicky Meta smartly played short to an unmarked Raymond Agyemang who rounded a defender, surged into the box and blasted the ball towards goal. It was heading just wide, but a touch from Chris Weber six yards out directed it home.

The remainder of the half was similar to that first 25 minutes; Peckham bossing ball and territory without creating significant chances and Bexley attacking sporadically but threatening when they did, as when, with half an hour gone, a poor punch from Jefferies ultimately ended up in a missed open goal. Both sides were probably content to go in 1-1 at the break; Bexley for still being in a game they’d been largely dominated in, Peckham for having the advantage of playing downhill to come.

Rashane Wilson’s Decisive Nine Minute Hat Trick Wins The Game
Someone with too much time on their hands should really work out which is the rarer feat, a perfect or a German hat trick. It’s one to debate in the absence of definite proof, but what is certain is that Rashane Wilson’s three goals in nine second half minutes – perhaps making it a candidate for the fastest Menace hat trick of all time? – settled the match in Peckham’s favour.

His first came on 58 minutes; Carrick’s ball across the edge of the box was met by the onrushing Agyemang, whose touch was too heavy for him but perfect for Wilson to control and slot cooly past the keeper from near the penalty spot. His second followed two minutes later as he was sent free on the right of the area, allowing him to fire home across the keeper and into the far corner. Seven minutes later the match ball was secured; Wilson’s initial header from Nicky Meta’s cross ricocheted back off a defender, and the striker was the first to pounce, sliding a low, slow shot under the keeper’s dive. The latter, clearly frustrated at not keeping the shot out, repeatedly beat the ground and screamed in frustration.

Altogether now: “Ssshhhhhhh…”

Mature Game Management Seals The Win
After Wilson was substituted off to a hero’s reception on 70 minutes, Peckham Town got on with the business of seeing the game out. For me, their game management was the most impressive aspect of their performance. Conditions were extremely trying; Mary and Bryan had worked tirelessly all Friday evening to get the pitch playable, but it was still terribly heavy going – getting the kits clean will be more a matter of excavation than washing you’d imagine.

At 1-0 down and even at 1-1 playing uphill against still obdurate opponents, Peckham could have allowed themselves to become frustrated. But instead you felt they knew their time would come in the second half, and that they were prepared to wait for their chance rather than becoming desperate.

Likewise, once Wilson’s out-standing burst had put the result beyond doubt, Peckham were content to manage out the clock. Jefferies in goal had very little to do – the odd through-ball needed closing down but he had no saves of note to make. The back four smothered attacks with a relatively high line denying opponents space, and the full backs offered support on the wings. Thomas and Barry ran the midfield, with Meta and Dowding always offering themselves as outlets. And very little happened in the final 20 minutes to trouble anyone.

Peckham Have Home Comforts To Relish This Spring
The 4-1 win sees Peckham Town move up a place to ninth. Were Peckham to win half of the four and seven games in hand that they have on Kent United and Cuxton, they would move above both, although Minster in tenth have (somehow!) played three fewer than the Menace and are only two points back. A spot in the top four isn’t out of the question, but you suspect it would require a long unbeaten run.

For now then, best to take each game as it comes, enjoy it for what it is and if there is something bigger to play for in the run in, then that’s a nice bonus. It has been immensely frustrating to have had so many postponements in the last few months – not least for all of the staff and volunteers putting in so much effort to get games on – but Menace Life Ain’t Easy…. and there is a silver lining. Normally, at this stage of the season, we’d only have a few home games left to look forward to before finishing in early May but as things stand there are still ten League fixtures to come at the Menace Arena, starting with the visit next week of Fleetdown United, offering the tantalising prospect of several bouts of football in the Spring sunshine, and perhaps even under the fading evening midweek sunlight.

Everyone I spoke to yesterday is relishing the thought of such an end to the season. If you haven’t fallen in love with this club yet, or even if you have, then watch the new Copa90 film here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vB7zEfsZaY4 [warning: can cause a strong and potentially expensive emotional response], and start dreaming of all the time left we have with this side before summer. Up the Menace!

Peckham Town (4-4-2): Jefferies; Omar, Carrick, R.Agyemang, Duah Danso; Dowding, Meta, Thomas, Barry; Weber, Wilson.
Subs: M.Agyemang (for Barry), Suleman (for Wilson), Jimoh (for Weber), Obaguedo (for R.Agyemang).