We Are Family

Peckham fans arrived at the ground for the home match with Stansfeld O&B to the terrible news that Michael Agyemang had lost his partner overnight. A minute’s silence was held in the memory of Yvone Ofori, and everyone at Peckham Town would like to express their sincere condolences to her family and friends for their loss. Our thoughts are especially with Michael, who captained the side on the day. At times like this we’re reminded that football isn’t that important, but sometimes it can be the most important of the unimportant things.

Rest In Peace, Yvone.

Lining Up

Peckham’s injury time loss away to Guru Narak had snapped a run of four games unbeaten, where the Menace had picked up eight points to haul themselves one point clear of the relegation zone. The run had coincided with a change in formation to a 4-4-2, which manager Mary Philip again stuck with. Nelson Nunes continued in goal, behind a back four of centre backs Duah Danso and Doumbia, and the defense-minded Carrick and Majekodumni. The midfield four of Raymond and Michael Agyemang, Tidi Barry and Nicky Meta also appeared to offer solidity, while recent midfield converts to the forward line Jacob Kemp and James Armes were up front. Peckham’s plan appeared to be to keep it tight, and if necessary win it with flare from the bench, with the likes of Evaristo Mendes, Camilo Andres Nieva and Rashane Wilson among the substitutes.

Opponents Stansfeld began the game in fifth, on a high after thrashing Ide Hill 9-0 in the previous week’s fixture. They had beaten Peckham 3-0 in the reverse fixture in November, a miskick, a dubious penalty and a worldie securing the points on that occasion. Peckham would hope to have better luck on home soil.

A Cagey 45+2, Then A Sadly Familiar Suckerpunch

If Peckham hoped to keep things tight, then for much of the first half Stansfeld were happy to oblige, as their game plan appeared to be to stop a game of football breaking out at every opportunity. Peckham grew frustrated at a lack of protection as the half wore on, but kept plugging away trying to create openings while under no real threat themselves. Their best chance of the half came on 34 minutes, when Tidi Barry found a little space on the right. His cross to the near post was met by Jacob Kemp six yards out, but his neat header was deflected out for a corner by the Stansfeld centre back. The referee was probably correct to ignore Peckham appeals for handball.

Just when it looked as though the sides would go into the break level, Stansfeld struck from a corner. Initially cleared, the follow-up shot was deflected into the net past a stranded Nunes off a Peckham defender. Once again, the Menace had conceded from a set-piece deep into stoppage time.

Peckham Can’t Find A Way Back

Peckham began the second half brightly, and Tidi Barry almost equalised three minutes in. Starting with good work from Armes cutting in from the left, his pass found Barry racing through on goal – but a strong right foot shot from 15 yards was well saved. With the visitors regaining reasserting themselves and the game becoming scrappy once more, Mary Philip made her first moves, opting for pace out wide from Nieva and Mendes. While offering a livelier threat, the hosts were still struggling to create real chances, and three bookings (for Armes, Michael Agyemang and Doumbia) in ten second half minutes told its own story of frustration.

On 76 minutes, the game was effectively settled. Doumbia was adjudged to have brought down a Stansfeld attacker racing through. The contact looked slight and not just one but several meals were made of it; more galling still was the missed handball in the build-up of the attack. Adding insult to injury, Doumbia was shown a second yellow card and when the spot kick was converted Peckham found themselves two goals and one man down.

They tried to muster a comeback, but it was not to be. With three minutes to go, Walters did well to win the ball and cross from the left, but Mendes header from six yards out went over the bar, and with it, any chance the Menace had of snatching a point.

The Big Eight

The loss did not see Peckham’s league position change appreciably given result(s) elsewhere (Ransgate lost 3-1 and Bexley didn’t play). Peckham’s remaining eight fixtures have now been scheduled, five of which are at home, with the next two of those against fellow strugglers. The matches against Ide Hill at home on the 22nd March and Bexley at home on 5th April could be real six-pointers, and the club would love to have your support. Following those, the Easter and May Day Bank Holiday weekends offer tempting double-headers of Peckham at home on the Saturdays and away on the Mondays.

Peckham Town: Nunes; Majekodumni, Carrick, Doumbia, Duah Danso; Barry, Meta, R,Agyemang, M.Agyemang; Kemp, Armes. Subs: Nieva (for Meta), Mendes (for Barry), Wilson (for Armes), Walters (for Kemp), Tarrant (not used).

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