After the ‘far from bore draw’ under the floodlights away to Bexley last Monday, Peckham would be looking to build on their performance against a much changed opposition. Their opponents today were Ide Hill, who prior to kick off sat at the foot of the table with only one win to their name. Statistically, this should’ve been a comfortable game for Peckham, with their opponents staring at their worst opening ten games of a season in their history. As we know after Monday’s game, league positions and statistics can be meaningless, and they certainly were today. An early goal against the run of play, a penalty in added time, a frantic goal line clearance, chances galore, great saves, three late goals, one a thunderbolt free kick with a further two in added time!

Nelson Nunes started in goal, and with Adam Carrick unavailable, and after a last minute switch, captain Nicky Meta started at left back. Oreoluwa Majekodunmi started at right back, Michael Desta partnered Jeremiah Duah Danso once again in the centre of defence. Peter Tarrant started in the middle of the midfield in place of the absent Raymond Agyemang with Jacob Kemp and Tidi Barry the two other midfielders either side. Camilo Andres Nieva returned to the starting line up on the right wing, Kieran Dowding on the left wing and Evaristo Mendes was the lone striker. On the bench were James Armes, new signing midfielder Bamory Meite, Alejandro Llumigusin and Whizz Ettinger.

After a beautifully observed minutes silence Mary Phillip’s team got the game underway. Peckham had lost the toss and were made to play towards the low winter sun, although this proved more of a hindrance to the spectators than it did to the players. Peckham started brightly and had the hosts on the back foot for the opening five minutes. Jacob Kemp came close in the second minute but was unable to get the power behind his effort under a challenge and the keeper made a comfortable save from ten yards out. The hosts however took a surprised lead in the 5th minute after a counter attack from a Peckham corner. The hosts keeper punched the ball clear but it soon found its way back into the area via Oreoluwa Majekodunmi. Unchallenged the hosts keeper made an easy catch and immediately launched the ball up field out to the left wing. Peckham were now on the back foot and as the ball was crossed towards the back post no one spotted the run of the Ide Hill number 7 who hit it first time past Nelson Nunes to open the scoring.

Peckham then had two great chances in the space of two minutes to draw level. The first came in the 12th minute after Kieran Dowding sent a ball into the 6 yard box from the left. He had two teammates to pick out but it fell favourable for Tidi Barry, but somehow the midfielder put it wide from 5 yards out, much to his disgust. The second chance came in the 14th minute from a Nicky Meta corner and how Peckham didn’t equalise was anyone’s guess. The Menace skipper sent the ball deep towards the far post and it looked as thought it would miss everyone. Under a challenge though, defender Michael Desta headed it back into the mix where it found Jacob Kemp ten yards from goal. He hit it on the volley but the hosts keeper was equal to it and palmed it away back towards the midfielder who pulled the trigger once again. The keeper envisaged his every move and rushed towards the midfielder to once again block his effort away to safety.

Peckham continued to search for an equaliser but needed to be wary of their opponents tactics once their attacks had broken down. They continued to try and hit Mary Phillip’s side on the counter with long balls out to the wings. The first bookings of the came after an altercation between Kieran Dowding and the hosts number 19. The Peckham winger thought he had been fouled but after both players went in the book on 34 minutes the official gave the free kick the other way. Three minutes later and Captain Nicky Meta went into the book after a minor misunderstanding with the official.

As the half continued it was evident that skipper Nicky Meta was struggling in the left back position and with three minutes of normal time remaining in the first half Mary Phillip made a change, replacing him with Whizz Ettinger. As the clock ticked onto the 45th minute it looked as though Peckham would go in for the break behind, that was until they were awarded a free kick just inside their own half over on the near side. The substitute launched the kick deep into the Ide Hill six yard box only for their keeper to punch it away high into the air. It came down into the path of Camilo Andres Nieva right on the edge of the area and he managed to control the ball well and then opted and nod it passed the Ide Hill number 7 who then preceded to take a high swipe at the ball catching the Peckham winger in the face with his boot. The official had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and in the third added minute Jacob Kemp stepped up to calmly slot the ball home to make it one a piece. Two further added minutes were played before the official brought the half to a close and this was still anyone’s game and although it was only one-one, there could have quite easily been a lot more goals thus far.

No doubt there would be more goals in the second half and with no further changes by manager Mary Phillip the hosts got the second half underway. Within two minutes of the restart they thought they had taken the lead. The Ide Hill number 11 ran onto a diagonal ball and as he entered the area he lifted it over the advancing Peckham keeper. It looked destined to settle in the empty Peckham net and as he peeled away to celebrate his goal, Oreoluwa Majekodunmi sprinted in to hook it off the line and away to safety. This was a massive let off for Peckham and a warning that the opposition were still extremely dangerous on the attack!

Peckham continued to search for a second goal and they were certainly creating enough chances but they just couldn’t find the finishing touches in the final third. As the game approached the hour mark Mary Phillip’s was forced into making a change. Whizz Ettinger looked to have gone down with a hamstring issue so Nicky Meta re-joined the game to replace him. At the same time new signing Bamory Meite replaced Peter Tarrant in the centre of midfield. Six minutes later and the hosts keeper came to the rescue once again as Evaristo Mendes connected onto a Kieran Dowding ball at the far post. It was a bullet of a header but the keeper saved well to deny the Peckham striker and to keep the score line level. With just under twenty minutes to play Peckham made another change, James Armes replacing Jacob Kemp on 71 minutes. Two minutes later Evaristo Mendes played in Kieran Dowding who again looked destined to score but his right footed effort was saved by the hosts keeper.

With less than fifteen minutes to go Peckham made another change, Alejandro Llumigusin replacing Camilo Andres Nieva, some fresh legs added to the front three. Into the final ten minutes it went and it was the hosts that made the breakthrough in the 82nd minute. Once again it came from a counter attack down the right wing, a low ball was played across the Peckham area which found the unmarked Ide Hill number 11 who tapped home at the far post to make it 2-1. Time was of the essence now and if Peckham were to get anything from the game it would have to be quickly. Before the game was restarted Jacob Kemp returned to the action to replace Tidi Barry, this would allow James Armes to play more of an attacking role in the hope that Peckham could salvage something from the game.

Into added time we went and in the first minute the hosts won a somewhat fortuitous free kick just outside the Peckham area. Taking away the luck of how the free kick was awarded, the strike was worthy of the goal that came from it. Nelson Nunes, nor any other keeper for that matter, had no chance as the ball rocketed into the top right hand corner of the goal to make it 3-1 and out of reach for Mary Phillip’s team. Despite an instant reply from Kieran Dowding, tapping the ball home from 5 yards in the second added minute to make it 3-2 it wasn’t enough for Peckham to get anything from the game an even with a further 6 minutes to play, the hosts held on for only their second win so far of this campaign.

A disappointing result for Mary Phillip’s and her players who must have felt they deserved something from the game. However with two key players returning next week, the Peckham manager will be looking for an instant reaction against the high flying Cuxton 91 FC at the Menace Arena. Her team will be looking to put the record straight again after their feisty narrow 1-0 defeat only four weeks ago. Hopefully, with a decent crowd behind them they can get the three points.

Peckham Town FC (4-3-3). Nelson Nunes; Oreoluwa Majekodunmi, Michael Desta, Jeremiah Duah Danso, Nicky Meta (c); Jacob Kemp, Peter Tarrant, Tidi Barry; Camilo Andres Nieva, Evaristo Mendes, Kieran Dowding.
Subs. Whizz Ettinger (on for Nicky Meta 42’), Bamory Meite (on for Peter Tarrant 60’), Nicky Meta (back on for Whizz Ettinger 60’), James Armes (on for Jacob Kemp 71’), Alejandro Llumigusi (on for Camilo Andres Nieva 77’) & Jacob Kemp (back on for Tidi Barry 82’).