Seven Peckham Army

Peckham are clearly enjoying the first round of the Cups this year having scored fourteen goals in just two first round games this season. Town were clinical in dispatching a youthful AFC Croydon Athletic Development side, who had their preparations disrupted by their goalkeeper being called up to the first team at the last minute leaving them bereft of a recognised goalkeeper for the match. Ahead of the game, both captains held up a Non League 4 Grenfell banner in solidarity with those who lost their lives in June 2017 and following the publishing of the enquiry report at the end of last month. A minute’s silence was also impeccably observed by all in attendance at the game, as the nearest game to 11 November.

Town had much of the possession in the opening exchanges, but the visitor’s defence held firm and Peckham were not able to test the goalkeeper with anything meaningful. Indeed, it was George Legg, the home ‘stopper who had to pull off the first save of note, as he palmed a fierce shot wide of his near post on 15 minutes. It took a moment of individual skill to break the deadlock, Youssef Bouimane embarked on one of his trademark overlapping runs from right back and broke into the box, he then pulled the ball back from the byline jinking inside his marker and smashing an unstoppable shot into the far left corner. It was 2-0 on the half-hour mark, as Marcus Black beat the offside trap and rolled the ball past the advancing ‘keeper. Peckham were in confident mood now, and earned a free kick on the edge of the box. Herve Mbongue did well to curl it over the wall and into the corner with the visiting stand-in ‘keeper unable to scramble across and stop it.

The game was firmly put to bed around the hour mark, as Jay Virgo bagged himself a ten-minute hat-trick. First, he converted a cross from the left with a simple finish into the top corner, Virgo was then alert to head home following a shot from Mbongue that hit the bar. Virgo completed his hat-trick with a lob into an empty net from the edge of the box with the second visiting goalkeeper of the game woefully out of position.

The visitors’ head had now firmly dropped and Mbongue picked up his brace with a shot from the edge of the box that went through the AFC Croydon Athletic ‘keeper. The visitors were then reduced to ten-men when substitute Ridy Ngimbi was through on goal, but was cynically brought down on the edge of the box. The referee had no other option, but to show a red card for a professional foul. The visitors were then reduced to eight-men shortly afterwards following an off-the ball incident on the half-way line as the afternoon’s frustrations started getting to the visitors. A red card was shown to the offender and the visiting goalkeeper was also sin-binned for running the length of the pitch to protest. These latest events required a third ‘keeper of the afternoon who confirmed that he had “never played in goal” before in his life. He managed to keep a clean sheet though in the final few minutes of the game!

Mary Phillip, Town’s Manager, said “I thought It was a controlled, disciplined performance by us today against tricky youthful opponents. They where full of energy as expected from a full time U23s side, but the Kent County League Premier is a good level and we really showed what we are capable of. Our immediate focus is now on Southern Counties East Football League side Kent Football United who await us in the next round in two-weeks time.”

You can keep updated on all the goings on at Peckham Town by following @PeckhamTownFC on Twitter and Instagram.

Peckham Town (4-4-2): George Legg; Youssef Bouimane, Hady Traore, Marco Almeida, Johnny Akoto; Kevin Dance (c), Herve Mbongue, Charlie Egleton, Valentine Tyrell; Jay Virgo, Marcus Black. Substitutes: Ridy Ngimbi, Osawemwengie Imadiyi and Norman Hong

Referee: Emmanuel Makola; Assistant Referees: Darren Kempson and Alexander Singhgolden