First XI
Matches
Sat 05 Feb 2022
Hawkinge Town
0
1
Peckham Town Football Club
First XI
D Gabor (51')
Menace Blown Back to the Top

Menace Blown Back to the Top

Duncan Hart6 Feb 2022 - 14:36
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So, this was another "Jolly Boy’s" outing down to the Kent coast, almost. No, not Margate this time, but Hawkinge. Dave Webster reports...

The Menace went into this match with a very depleted match day squad. No George Legg, as he was still ‘sloping’ off. Last weeks loan 'stopper, Morgan Campbell, was unavailable, along with the U18 goalkeeper. Full back / and occassionaly deputy goalkeeper, Elton Romaku, was also absent. So with four potential goalkeepers unavailable, midfielder Joe Thomas donned the goalkeeper gloves! Also absent was the skipper Nicky Meta through suspension, while Stephane Nzimbakay, Samuel Boakye and Joshua Montella were unavailable too.

All was not lost as Charlie Egleton returned from suspension to partner Adam Carrick in central defence - the latter wearing the captain's armband for the first time. Two new signings would make their debuts, Maximim Pouvreau starting at right back, and Hugo Chasseriaux on the bench, along with the returning Hamid Bangura. Both debutants, incidentally having been signed from the French 5th tier. Norman Hong started in midfield and the veteran Marcus Black, but with the pace of a novice, started for the first time since he came out of retirement for a third time.

So the first half kicked off atop the wind swept pitch, and if I’m honest, it was a 45 minutes neither side would be proud of. The wind helping neither team, yes it was end to end but it had nil-nil written all over it. Even an early change for the hosts, their number 4 limping off on 10 minutes failed to make any difference. Gabor had a chance on 16 minutes but hit it high and wide, and Dowding saw his effort sail wide a minute before half hour mark. The Menace had two great counter attacks on the 31st and 34the minute. The second only thwarted by the assistants flag inside the Hawkinge box. Dance was given a harsh yellow on 38 minutes for shirt pulling after what was surely a foul against the Peckham winger. That was the last real action and the referee blew for half time. Both teams left the pitch with neither of the keepers having much to do.

Surely the second half would be better, and an unchanged Peckham certainly came out of the blocks with all cylinders firing. The only goal of the game came on the 51st minute. David Gabor received the ball from the right just inside the 18 yard box. He controlled it well and with some nifty footwork, he managed to lose his marker. With the whole goal to aim for, he struck it low to the keepers right, who had no chance of saving it. A deserved lead for the Menace, just!

The hosts were up for it now, and wanted to keep their unbeaten start to 2022 intact. Peckham, however weren’t going to give up their slender lead without a fight. Tidi Barry went into the book on 59 minutes for a rash challenge, and one can only think that from this moment his card was marked!

It was hearts in mouths time on 67 minutes when Charlie Egleton let the ball through thinking he was the last man and it would end up in the hands of Joe Thomas. Cue the quick thinking Hawkinge striker to latch on to it with the goal at his mercy. Poised to pull the trigger, across came debutant Pouvreau to nick it away and clear.

The game would change on 69 minutes when the host's saw their left back sent to the sin bin. However, this turned out to be their advantage as they kept pushing for the equaliser. It nearly came after Charlie Egleton was adjudged to have fouled the Hawkinge striker as he rose to head the ball clear. The free kick, on the edge of the D was well struck but thankfully skimmed the bar and flew over. A warning sign for the Menace that this game was far from won. The first change for the Menace came 2 minutes later on 74 minutes, Hamid Bangura coming on for the frustrated Kieren Dowding. A wise move from Mary Phillip as the hosts had been winding Dowding up and his fuse had been ignited minutes earlier.

On 85 minutes, the ugly side of the game appeared as a high reckless challenge on Barry by the Hawkinge number 15. The challenge left the Menace midfielder down, clearly visibly and audibly in some distress. To the amazement of the Peckham bench, players and supporters the referee only brandished the yellow card. All the time the protests were ongoing the entire Menace bench and a few players were tending to the injured Barry. At this point the assistant on the far side called the referee over, and after their brief chat, he returned to produce a straight red to the offending player, and rightly so.

There were now calls for a stretcher to carry the stricken midfielder off. Unfortunately there didn’t seem to be one, so Barry was carried off the pitch by his teammates and into the clubhouse. Thankfully, and we commend him for this, one of the Hawkinge coaching staff looked after Tidi. After a five minute delay, Hugo Chasseriaux replaced Barry and the game resumed on the 90 minute mark. The French midfielder played defence splitting ball with his first touch that almost played Marcus Black in on goal, and provided evidence that he could be another astute signing.

There would be at least 7 minutes still to play, and again the 10 man disadvantage for the hosts turned out to be an advantage and worked in their favour. Hawkinge began to take control of the game, but the Menace dug deep and defended well to deny the hosts and see out the game.

A decent performance from Peckham in tricky conditions and more importantly three points that take them back to the Top of the table. Now on 48 points and two clear of Red Velvet, who, however have a massive five games in hand! News today from Tidi is that he has no broken bones - just swelling and bruising - so he hopes to be fit again soon - #MenaceLifeAintEasy.

Peckham Town (4-4-2): Joe Thomas; Maximin Pouvreau, Charlie Egleton, Adam Carrick (c), Mustafa Hashemi; Kevin Dance, Norman Hong, Tidi Barry, Kieran Dowding; David Gabor, Marcus Black. Subs: Hamid Bangura, Hugo Chasseriaux

Match details

Match date

Sat 05 Feb 2022

Kickoff

14:45
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Club sponsor - MJ 200 Sports
Club sponsor - London Economic
Shirt sponsor - UNISON SLaM
Programme sponsor - Plus 5ive
Banner sponsor - Three Kings Tattoo
Beer provider - Brick Brewery
CHARTER STANDARD DEVELOPMENT CLUB MEMBER - LONDON FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
1st Team - Kent County Football League
Club nickname - The Menace
TV channel - Menace TV
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