Au revoir et bienvenue a Peckham

Early season league tables are irrelevant – unless you’re top of them. That was the situation Peckham Town found themselves in as they made their way to the Menace Arena for today’s clash with Fleetdown United. Saturday’s last-gasp winner away at New Romney had preserved their 100% record and put them top of the pile on their own after four games played. Beneath them were three teams on nine points (with three wins from four games) but today’s visitors Fleetdown United were in a not dissimilar position, having six points from three games played thanks to home victories in the most recent two games over Bexley and Ramsgate Athletic.

Fleetdown looked to be in decent form then, and likely to prove a stern test as they have in recent years. In the last three seasons, games between the sides at the menace Arena have resulted in a draw and a victory apiece – albeit that Peckham have had the better of the away fixtures (two wins to one). In the league in general, Fleetdown have been a model of consistency over that time, finishing seventh in 23/24, sixth in 22/23 and seventh in 21/21. (They are also listed as sixth in both of the voided 19/20 and 20/21 seasons – but that’s just the alphabet doing its thing). A solid top half side, historically extremely well organised and disciplined, in good form, with a decent record at the ground – Peckham would need to be on their game to maintain their winning start to the season.

Chasse de forme

With this being Peckham’s second game in 48 hours, many in the crowd were speculating as to whether manager Mary Philip would freshen up the starting XI with a few changes, particularly given the impact from the bench the likes of Jamie Armes have had in the last couple of games – impact that might warrant a starting spot. In the end that was the sole change to the side that began at New Romney, but it came about because of the unavailability of Duah-Danso.

Marsh continued in goal, behind a back four of Meta and Carrick at right and left full back and Omar (moving back from the midfield position he’d occupied against New Romney) and Yassein at centre back. Agyemang, Kemp and Armes were the midfield three ahead of them. Central striker Mendes was supported by attacking width provided by Camilo on the right and Abaker on the left. On the bench were Tarrant, Asamoah, Majekodunmi and Bakkali.

The sides took to the field under warm August sunshine, to the sound of convivial expectant chatter from a crowd of 175, a lively kids’ match on the side pitch behind the away dugout, the barking of an excitable dachshund, and the best dancehall anthem any football side possesses.

Plus ca change…

In a number of ways, the first half of this game was if not an exact replay of Saturday’s first 45 against New Romney, certainly something with many echoes. Initially all to the good, too. Whereas it took five minutes for the menace to take the lead against New Romney, they were ahead after barely two today. And again, Jamie Armes was in the thick of it. Receiving the ball centrally 25 yards out after Fleetdown were robbed on the left attempting to play out he ignored the cries of “shoot” and instead played in Camilo Andres Nieva bursting into the area to his right. The forward slammed a shot low to the keeper’s right and the hosts were ahead.

From there, as with the game at New Romney, Peckham had the best of a breathless half. Neither side was able to exert control and at times the pace was frenetic and end to end. Peckham came close to doubling their lead with just five minutes played, as Armes smashed a volley off the bar following a ball in from Carrick on the left. On fifteen minutes, the Fleetdown keeper made to saves in rapid succession to keep out the hosts, and on 25 minutes Camilo won a free kick that produced a strong header on target that again the Fleetdown keeper was equal to. Carrick also hit the bar with a header, and Agyemang had a shot tipped over.

It hadn’t all been one way however. Fleetdown had created two excellent openings, both exploiting space down the Peckham right. The first saw Marsh recover to smother a rebound off the post after the Fleetdown striker had rounded him but overrun the ball; the second saw visitors’ calls for a penalty waved away as Camilo cleared the danger from another incursion into the area.

So it was that, as with Saturday, half time was approaching with Peckham ahead but the game extremely open.

…plus c’est la même chose

And, as with Saturday, the Menace conceded an equalizer from a set piece. Won 35 yards out on the Peckham left, Fleetdown decided again to probe the right hand of Peckham’s defence. A gently lofted ball to the post could have been turned in by one of three Fleetdown players; one of them obliged and the game was tied up.

The sides went in for half time at 1-1, although Peckham had an excellent chance to regain the lead within seconds of conceding – Camilo fired a cross in from the right which Mendes fizzed on target, but the Fleetdown keeper made a smart reaction save to keep the scores level. Fleetdown also threatened, again from a set piece, and the half ended with Tarrant on for Agyemang in central midfield after the latter took a knock.

The second half kicked off with Agyemang back on, and only five minutes had been played when Fleetdown took the lead with a goal that was almost a carbon copy of their first: a free kick from the left (slightly closer in), an unmarked header at the right hand post, 2-1. Immediately after Marsh, who had been struggling with a thigh problem during the first half, was replaced in goal by Tarrant.

Boeuf a la mode

From here, it was a struggle for Peckham. With a goal advantage Fleetdown were prepared to sit in, stifle the midfield and wait for their opportunity on the break – as, in fairness, any well organized side would when leading away from home. The plan worked as Peckham struggled to create, and then with 22 minutes to go the visitors scored their third. A long ball over the top saw Tarrant rush out to try to clear, but his attempt only hit the onrushing forward who controlled the ricochet and ran clear on goal, slamming the ball into the net.

Peckham tried to conjure up a recovery, but were continually thwarted by a well organized defence, and it was Fleetdown who added a fourth in the final minutes; a decent shot from the left of the area was palmed out centrally by Tarrant, and a Fleetdown attacker pounced to wrap up the points.

In some ways the scoreline was harsh on Peckham – the third and fourth goals are the kinds of things that happen when an outfield player is pressed into service in goal – but the result was probably fair. Fleetdown didn’t let conceding early get to them, they remained organized and composed, and when they identified an area of weakness in Peckham’s defence they exploited it to the full.

After wins today for New Romney and Stansfeld (O&B), Peckham are level on points at the top of the table but third on goal difference. Whether today is looked back on as a turning point for the worse or a bad day at the office in an otherwise successful season may well come down to the extent to which Peckham are able to match in forthcoming fixtures the sort of opponent Fleetdown represent: a shrewd, organized, resilient set-up who while not flashy can be extremely effective, as successive top half finishes have shown.

Peckham Town return to the Menace Arena in five days time, Saturday 31st August, when they host Ramsgate Athletic in the League. Kick off is 245pm.

Peckham Town (4-2-3-1) Marsh; Meta, Carrick, Omar, Yassein; Agyemang, Kemp; Nieva, Abaker, Armes; Mendes. Subs Tarrant (for Agyemang and Marsh), Bakkali (for Nieva). Unused: Asamoah, Majekoundi.

Peckham Town Football Club

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