Peckham grind out win

Peckham made just the two changes to the team that thrashed Crockenhill on Monday. Joe Thomas started, as he was rotated with Tidian Barry who took his place on the bench. The big news was Ethan Ebanks-Hayes making his first team debut in goal, due to George Legg sitting out the game with a shoulder injury. The replacement goalkeeper, who is just 17, was promoted to first team duties from the Menace U18 team.

The first half was an extremely gritty affair with few chances for either side, with both midfields largely canceling each other out. It was a physical game with David Gabor requiring treatment and Mustafa Hashemi being kicked out the game, with the perpetrator receiving a yellow card. Elton Romaku stepped up from the bench to replace him.

Ebanks-Hayes was called upon to pull off a great save from a free kick low down to his right deep into the extensive injury time. It was a save the youngster can be proud of on his debut. Half time was called shortly afterward on what was a very scrappy first half from both teams, with the Menace probably just edging it on chances.

The home stopper was again called upon early in the second half as he saved a shot that took a tricky deflection. This was to be his last contribution to the match, as in the 49th minute he was taken out by a challenge that shames the Fleetdown number 9. The youngster claimed the ball in the air and was then unnecessarily flattened by the striker, who had absolutely no need to make the challenge once the ball had been claimed. Remarkably the referee did not deem it worthy of any card. The keeper had to be substituted and taken to hospital where he had to have emergency surgery on a broken jaw. Everyone at the Menace wishes him well in his recovery, and he can be proud of his clean sheet in his debut game.

The game restarted with full back Elton Romaku donning the goalkeeper gloves, Adam Carrick shifting to left back, Joe Thomas dropping back to centre back and Tidian Barry stepping off the bench into the middle of the park. The game remained scrappy, but the Menace carved out a couple of opportunities via a long range shot from Kevin Dance and Dabid Gabor headed narrowly wide from a corner.

Peckham were looking more threatening as the match wore on, and if a team was to break the deadlock, it was more likely to be the Menace. The goal finally came in the 85th minute when a long ball was lobbed over the advancing goalkeeper and into the back of the net by the substitute Joshua Montella who was returning from injury following a goal laden pre-season. Peckham had a chance to wrap it up in injury time, but the keeper saved well at the feet of Montella and the rebound was cleared off the line by a retreating defender.

Peckham Town Chairman, Bryan Hall, reflected “[It was a] tough, tough game today. They are well organised, mid-table and they came for us. We were focussed, and I am proud of the guys.” Captain Nicky Meta added “We dug deep, we had to, they were well organised. We stuck together as a team, worked hard and that was the key thing. We took our chance when it came, we grabbed the three points and we are happy”. Peckham are on the road next Saturday away at Ten-Em-Be in Beckenham, and return to the Menace Arena on 18 September versus K Sports Reserves.

Peckham Town (4-4-2): Ethan Ebanks-Hayes; Kevin Dance, Charlie Egleton, Adam Carrick, Mustafa Hashemi; Nicky Meta (c), Joe Thomas, Norman Hong, Kieran Dowding; David Gabor, Herve Mbongue. Subs (all used): Elton Romaku, Tidian Barry,
Attendance - 120