After last weeks eight goal thriller in the League Cup, Peckham returned to league action with the hope that they could keep that momentum going. Their opponent today, a short trip across Southeast London to New Eltham, were Stansfeld O&B. Manager Mary Phillip started with the same eleven than bagged five goals on the road last week. Nelson Nunes started in goal with a back four of Michael Agyemang, Michael Desta, Bamory Meite and Oreoluwa Majekodunmi. The midfield three were Jacob Kemp, Raymond Agyemang and Tidi Barry with Camilo Andres Nieva, James Armes and captain Nicky Meta the front three. On the bench were David Gabor, Peter Tarrant, Mohamed Bah and new signing Traore Ibrahime. Hassan Omar withdrew after aggravating a foot injury in the warm up.

After both teams and spectators observed a two minute silence for Armistice Day, Peckham got the game underway and started brightly. Captain Nicky Meta almost capitalised on a mistake in the Stansfeld defence but hit his effort straight at the keeper on 7 minutes. Peckham continued to dominate the early stages but couldn’t find their way through a well organised Stansfeld defence. With 12 minutes on the clock the hosts took the lead against the run of play as Peckham struggled to clear their lines. The Stansfeld number 8 crossed the ball from the right wing into the Peckham area which posed no real threat but Michael Agyemang’s attempted clearance only sent the ball back across the Peckham area towards Oreoluwa Majekodunmi. The Peckham left back then attempted to head the ball clear but could only send it high into the air. Still it posed no threat and as the ball came down Bamory Meite attempted to clear but miss-hit the ball and it found its way to the Stansfeld number 10 just outside the Peckham area. He took a touch before hitting it with his left boot leaving Nelson Nunes rooted to the spot as it headed into the top left hand corner of his goal to make it 1-0 to the hosts.

Peckham almost replied straight after the restart as Jacob Kemp unleashed his effort from 40 yards out only to see it go inches wide of the keepers far post. Sometimes when you have been playing well with no reward you need a bit of luck, but that was quite the opposite as the hosts were given a very soft penalty on 18 minutes. With another ball over the top the hosts number 9 looked through on goal but as it came down he failed to get the ball under control, Bamory Meite attempted to clear the ball only for it to ricochet off the Stanfeld number 10 out to their number 11 out on the right. He cut it back to their goal scorer who then nut-megged the defender and then proceeded to run into him before falling to the ground. Bamory Meite had nowhere to go and was turning away from the Stansfeld man as he fell over him, but the official blew his whistle and pointed to the spot. Needless to say the Stansfeld number 9 stepped up to send Nelson Nunes the wrong way doubling their lead.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse for Mary Phillip’s side, Oreoluwa Majekodunmi came out second best from a 50-50 challenge on 23 minutes. The defender really looked in some pain and required some lengthy treatment from the Peckham physio. The game resumed three minutes later but within a minute of the restart it was evident the defender would take no further part and he was replaced by the new signing, Traore Ibrahime. The hosts were now in control and looked dangerous every time they attacked. It took a fantastic last second left handed save from Nelson Nunes to deny them a third as their number 8 let fly from 25 yards out on 31 minutes. Both teams continued to create chances, the best for Peckham falling to Camilo Andres Nieva in the 2nd minute of added time but he hit his effort straight at the Stansfeld keeper. After five additional minutes the official blew for half time leaving Peckham a mountain to climb in the second half.

Peckham were in a similar position last week so hopefully Mary Phillip’s half time team talk would have the same reaction from her players in the second half just as it had then. With no further changes from the Peckham manager the hosts got the second half underway. Peckham looked to exploit any weaknesses down the wings with both Nicky Meta and Camilo Andres Nieva looking dangerous but they still couldn’t find a way through the Stansfeld defence. The first booking of the game came in the 52nd minute as Jacob Kemp was deliberately tripped by the hosts number 7 as he was about to break free just inside the centre circle. From the resulting free kick Peckham were denied a certain penalty as the Stansfeld number 3 climbed on the back of James Armes missing the ball completely and sending the Peckham striker crashing to the ground. Despite appeals from the Peckham players, bench and supporters a goal kick was awarded.

Three minutes later Mary Phillip made her first tactical change, striker David Gabor coming on for James Armes on 55 minutes. With the introduction of the proven striker, hopefully now Peckham could find a way back into the game. Just after the hour mark they thought they had done just that as Camilo Andres Nieva tucked the ball passed the Stansfeld keeper. The Peckham winger delayed his run before Michael Agyemang played a diagonal ball through the Stansfeld defence and out to the left wing. Running into the area he took a touch before slotting it under the keeper and in on 61 minutes. The assistant's flag went up immediately for offside despite the Peckham winger being behind a Stansfeld defender in the “D”, and the goal was chalked off!

The hosts thought they had scored a third five minutes later as their number ten headed the ball home, but the flag had already gone up for an offside. It then took a great tackle from Michael Desta on the edge of the six yard box to deny the Stanfeld number 11 a certain goal on 74 minutes. Two minutes later and the hosts should’ve bagged their third as their number 15 took the ball passed Nelson Nunes but his shot went wide of the empty Peckham goal from 18 yards. Mary Phillip then made two changes, the first saw Mohamed Bah replace Camilo Andres Nieva in the 75th minute before Peter Tarrant replaced Tidi Barry two minutes later.

Time was running out for Peckham and with two minutes of normal time the hosts got their third goal putting the game to bed. Before the restart the official booked Peter Tarrant for a late tackle and the Stansfeld number 11 for his retaliation. After an additional five minutes the game was over.

Another disappointing result for Peckham, but had decisions gone their way in the second half then this may have been a very different result, but that is something that Peckham are all too used to. Next week we face SC Thamesmead Reserves back at the Menace Arena and welcome back several key players to the squad too. Kick off is 2pm and we will be hoping for a big crowd to cheer the Menace on to a much needed victory. As always please keep an eye on our socials for all the details.

Peckham Town FC (4-3-3). Nelson Nunes; Michael Agyemang, Michael Desta, Bamory Meite, Oreoluwa Majekodunmi; Jacob Kemp, Raymond Agyemang, Tidi Barry; Camilo Andres Nieva, James Armes, Nicky Meta (c).
Subs. Traore Ibrahime (on for Oreoluwa Majekodunmi 27’), David Gabor (on for James Armes 55’), Mohamed Bah (on for Camilo Andres Nieva 75’) & Peter Tarrant (on for Tidi Barry 77’). Hassan Omar - Withdrawn.