I would walk five hundred miles….

I’m not saying New Romney is hard to get to, but from a starting point of the Menace Arena the Google Maps public transport journey time of 2hrs 59mins to the Sellindge Sports & Social Club is longer than to the Keepmoat Stadium to the north, Carrow Road to the east, and Rodney Parade to the west. While to the south, in that time you can get to the Falmer Stadium and most of the way back home. Or you could just keep going and get to Lille. There were therefore more than a few bleary eyes and grumpy faces among the travelling Peckham Town faithful assembling at what felt like a very early 9am in London Bridge. The multi-legged journey ahead – comprising one long train, two intermediate buses and a short swim – was not for the faint-hearted…

What you need in times like this is someone to follow blindly to avoid having to think for yourself: step forward “Docent Duncan” Hart with a stupendous itinerary that squeezed in micropubs, local history spots, farmyards, seaside fish and chips, a dip in the Channel and a tour of a local castle all before a ball had been kicked. This made for an away day that on paper showcased the best of this stretch of the Kent coast and proved the old adage that enjoyment comes primarily from the journey not the destination.

Then all of the water fell out the sky and, finding ourselves without an Ark, we just stayed in the pub for several hours instead.{Editor's Note: the less cowardly among us stuck to the plan and went swimming and had a lovely time.]

Two perfect nines – which can wear a twelve?

In truth, three hours of travel is nothing when the game in prospect is one against two in the table. Going into the fixture, Peckham and New Romney boasted identical records of played three, won three with six scored and two conceded. Possibly Peckham’s trio of victories were slightly the more impressive, coming as they did against clubs that finished last season third, fourth and sixth in the table, rather than seventh, eighth and ninth in the case of New Romney’s conquests. Furthermore, when playing those sides last season Peckham lost all three games by a whopping aggregate score of 3-12, whereas New Romney had taken four points from those corresponding games. One thing was certain though, by the end of the match at least one of the last two perfect records in the division would be no more.

Peckham took to the field in the same 4-2-3-1 that had served them so well in last week’s victory over Minster, but with a couple of tweaks to personnel and position. Gamester was unavailable and so Oliver Marsh started in goal. Ahead were an unchanged back four of Faried and Duah-Danso at centre back and Carrick and Meta at left and right full back. Agyemang and Kemp were the central midfield two behind Omar Hassan, with Camilo and Abaker wide right and left supporting Mendes up front.

Happy when it rains

As might be expected given the weather conditions – it absolutely blootered down for six hours before the game and for a good chunk of the opening period – and given the game was first versus second, chances were at a premium in the first half. But this was an odd game to categorise. You could roll out a lot of cliches that were undoubtedly true. Not many clear cut chances, yes. End to end, yes.Scrappy in midfield, yes. Neither keeper really needing to make a telling save, again, yes. The collective impression of those would be a midfield scrap with occasional long ball, and perhaps there was some element of that… But actually this was a gripping game with players on both sides extending themselves and each other and producing excellent passages of play that kept the crowd thoroughly entertained.

Peckham made the early running and in doing so got themselves ahead. A sustained period of pressure and territory down their right didn’t quite create a chance, but just when New Romney thought they had ridden out the danger a long ball from the Peckham defence found its way through to Evaristo Mendes chasing down on goal. He hit a powerful shot to the keeper’s right and although the goalie got a decent hand to it he couldn’t prevent it from crossing the line. Peckham were 1-0 up with five minutes played.

From that excellent start, the Menace managed the game well. Clear cut chances for either side were rare. Peckham could have done better when Mendes was obstructed by his own player. At the other end, Duah-Danso and Faried both made excellent blocks, the former coming from nowhere to stifle an apparent one-on-one chance when the New Romney striker seemed clean through.

Under pressure

And so it seemed that Peckham had, with a huge collective effort of determination and skill, weathered the storm. But sadly, it wasn’t quite to be. On the stroke of half time a corner from the Peckham right was met unmarked at the far post by a New Romney head. The ball nestled in the opposite corner of the net and all the Menace’s hard work was undone by a moment’s slack defending. Peckham tried to regain the initiative but the referee blew for half time before a promising free kick could be taken, and so the sides went to dry off in their dressing rooms at 1-1.

It had stopped raining when the teams emerged for the second half, and the change seemed to suit New Romney who dominated the early exchanges; for most of the first 15 minutes of the second half Peckham’s attack was restricted to hopeful attempts at counter attacking as the hosts enjoyed territorial advantage. However, Peckham largely restricted New Romney to threats from set pieces and eventually rode
out the threat.

….just to be the man who walked a thousand miles to see Mohamed Bah score

Substitutions had made the difference in last weekend’s win against Minster, specifically the introduction of James Armes who scored the kind of goal that frankly Peckham haven’t scored that many of in the last few years – low on artistic merit but high on “I am winning that ball and I’m
putting it in that net with my face even if it costs me a part on Love Island” energy. And again, as Mary Philip began to change things up, so Peckham began to regain control of the ball,and of territory, and of chances. Armes and Mohamed Bah came on for Hassan Omar and Camilo,
and gradually the tide turned. There were fewer moments of potential peril at the back as the game was played further from Peckham’s goal. Free kicks began to go the Menace’s way. The away fans sensed a chance while the home fans thought about settling for a point.

But for all of that, a clear cut chance hadn’t really come and it looked like the game would end in stalemate. Until, in added time, James Armes chased down a ball in the right channel and just absolutely wanted it more. Wanted it more than a dog wants a bone, than a kid wants Christmas, than the Ev want a cry, than Joan Jett wants rock n roll. And somehow he dug it out, and it didn’t go for a goal kick, and he’d left his marker in the mud, and he worked it to Meta, and Meta crossed superbly, and at the back post Mohamed Bah rose to meet it and it went in the net and six fans and two dogs and ten players went absolutely mad somewhere in a very damp corner of a field in Kent… and that was it.

And we’ll all do it again tomorrow yeah?

Peckham (4-2-3-1): Marsh; Meta, Carrick, Faried, Duah-Danso; Agyemang, Kemp; Abaker, Omar, Andres-Nieva; Mendes. Subs Armes (for Omar), Bah (for Andres-Nieva). Unused subs: Majekodunmi, Llumigusin, Asamoah

Peckham's next game is on Bank Holiday Monday 26th August at home to Fleetwood United, kick off 245pm.