There’s a new bar!

There’s an alternate universe where this match report just consists of a 1,500 word review of the new clubhouse bar. Sadly, that’s not where we are…

Having slipped out of the London Senior Trophy on penalties to today’s senior side, Peckham had extra motivation going into today’s game, albeit that they had been on a bit of a poor run of form. A win in the BMIRCC away to Greenway Aces was scant consolation from taking just one point from four League games, while eleven goals conceded over the five game run was an unwelcome departure from the solidity at the back that had been the hallmark of the promising start to the campaign. Suspensions had undoubtedly hampered the side during that run, but with a more complete squad to choose from the latest and greatest edition to the National Football Museum Hall of Fame would have hoped that today’s fixture could mark an upturn in form.

Sporting Club Thamesmead Reserves (or SCTR as they will henceforth be known) came into the game sitting in 13th place in the table, the last place above the relegation places and six below their hosts. Eight of their 12 league games had been played at home, the four away fixtures yielding just two points. Their last two games though were both victories – away to lower league Equinoccial in the BMIRCC and at home in the league to Snodland Town Reserves (a game in which they finished with nine men) – suggesting that the Menace might face a team playing with an upsurge of form and confidence.

Queues eager to check out the new bar

A number of players returned from injury and suspension to give Peckham’s side a less makeshift appearance than had been the case in last week’s match against Stansfeld,. But with Adam Carrick kicking his injured heels alongside former defensive stalwart Charlie Egleton and the rest of the Menace faithful pitchside, Peckham were missing their regular left back and once again asked Nicky Meta to fill in. Desta at right back and Duah Danso and Doumbia at centre back completed the back four ahead of Nunes in goal. The regular midfield three of Agyemang, Kemp and Barry supported Dowding, Nieva and central striker Gabor up front.

I arrived to the welcome sight of a long queue to get into the ground, and from snippets of overheard conversation it was clear a mix of new and regular fans were eagerly anticipating the clash, with more than a few also keen on checking out the new bar which had been opened in the clubhouse. Everyone involved in fitting out the space should be really proud, and with an expanded range of drinks and three TVs showing the game outside, Menace highlights and the odd cartoon there will be more than a few fans lingering in there as the winter weather worsens.

Meta hits the bar (not that one)

Both sides started the game brightly, with Peckham carving out a few early opportunities. Meta spotted the keeper off his line and almost scored with a sumptuous 35 yard lob, only to see it cannon back off the crossbar. Gabor did excellently to chest down a free kick on the edge of the box, swivel and turn, but his shot was just over. And Meta and Nieva combined well on the left to create space for a ball into the area, but Dowding was just unable to connect.

However, when not yelling at the officials for perceived injustices, SCTR were busy carving out opportunities of their own. Nunes did tremendously well to get down quickly to save a low rasping from just inside the area. He was on hand again on 23 minutes to keep out a free header from point blank range from a dangerous free kick whipped in from the Peckham left. Unfortunately, the rebound fell kindly for the visitors and despite Nunes’ best efforts the ball was bundled home for the opening goal. 0-1 to SCTR.

With a lead established SCTR were content to soak up pressure and kill the game off. Dowding redoubled his already energetic efforts and almost managed an instant response, but was unable to control the ball into the box and had to settle for a corner. A few minutes later he was in the thick of things again, winning the ball on the right and then racing around in a loop of the area to overlap on the left; reaching the byline he cut the ball back invitingly but SCTR cleared the danger. A half chance from the resulting corner went wide.

Having weathered Peckham’s response without their keeper really having to make a save of note, SCTR applied the sucker-punch. Breaking downfield and getting in behind Peckham on their left hand side, a dangerous ball was lofted across to the far post. Any one of three unmarked attackers could have applied the header, and one of them did, the ball directed back across goal and past a stranded, blameless Nunes. 0-2 to SCTR.

A busy half-time bar

Again Peckham tried to respond with attacks of their own, but their cross to the back post saw only Tidi Barry in the company of several visiting defenders, and under pressure he was unable to get much power behind his effort which the keeper saved. And so half-time came, and while the players endured cold weather and warm words from the management’s half time team talk, fans shared cold beers in the warmer surroundings of the new clubhouse bar.

The second half resumed, with SCTR even more determined to stop football from breaking out. They had been generally successful in stopping the cross in the first half, with defenders doubling up on Peckham’s wide players and other defenders offering support when an overlap looked on. This continued in the second half, nullifying the main thrust of Peckham’s attack. On 60 minutes it looked like Peckham might have found a breakthrough; Gabor and substitute Abaker combining on the left, the former feeding Dowding in the middle who slipped the ball through behind the defence, only for Abaker to have strayed offside – the flag was up before the ball nestled in the net.

On 75 minutes the SCTR keeper made his first real save of the match. Peckham had won a corner on their right after Abaker had found space on the left of the area but seen his shot deflected wide from close range. Dowding’s inswinging corner was heading for the goal, only for the SCTR stopper to backpedal, tip the ball acrobatically over the bar, and deposit himself in a heap in the net. The subsequent corner was met with a smart flick at the near post by James Armes, but the attempt was just over.

With ten minutes remaining, it looked like James Armes had done what James Armes does – changes games from the bench. Found on the edge of the box by a ball from the left, we was brought down from behind with the referee awarding the penalty. Agyemang stepped up, but his hard low shot was saved by the SCTR keeper, the rebound being bundled away. The match ended – apart from the obligatory injury time yellow card for time wasting for the SCTR keeper – with two more opportunities for Abaker, but both were flagged for offside before he could shoot.

Fans console themselves in the new bar

And so, the poor run of form continues. Peckham slipped a place to eighth in the table, two points ahead of the visitors who climbed two spots to eleventh. They are a point below next week’s visitors Tenterden Town, although they have played two games fewer. The early season form is in danger of ebbing away as struggles in the build up and in front of goal leave the Menace short on threat. A return of 13 goals in as many games is comfortably the lowest in the league, and only about half of the average of the other 16 sides. It must be said though that this is an unusual problem for Peckham to have, given the side’s historic creativity and conversion in recent years – fans should be confident that the goals will soon be flowing as easily as the drinks in the new club bar (did I mention there was a new bar?).

Next week’s league game at home to Tenterden Town kicks off at 2pm. It is followed by a short away trip to Kidbrooke Playing Fields to play Long Lane in the last 16 of the BMIRCC, which will be a 130pm start. Support will always be welcome!

Peckham Town: Nunes; Desta, Meta, Doumbia, Duah Danso; Agyemang, Kemp, Barry; Dowding, Nieva, Gabor. Subs: Abaker (for Nieva), Ibrahime (for Desta), Mendes (for Gabor), Meite (for Duah Danso), Armes (for Barry)