First XI
Matches
Sat 12 Feb 2022
Peckham Town Football Club
First XI
A Carrick (79')
1
0
Borden Village
The Menace still tugging at the heartstrings

The Menace still tugging at the heartstrings

Duncan Hart13 Feb 2022 - 20:57
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If you hadn’t already fallen in love with this football club, then this Valentine's weekend fixture surely must have made you fall in love with them by now!? Dave Webster reports...

Peckham welcomed back key players to face an unbeaten Borden Village team this side of the New Year. The most notable return was the Menace stopper George Legg, back after a two week absence. Also returning to the starting XI was striker Joshua Montella, unavailable in last week's win. Norman Hong started in midfield with the injured Tidian Barry missing out, alongside Joe Thomas, who was back in his more familiar role after last week's sojourn between the sticks. Adam Carrick kept the captain's armband for the suspended Nicky Meta. Last week's French debutant at right back dropped to the bench, only to be replaced by another French debutant, Enzo Barreira in the same role. Marcus Black also started on the bench as did the returning Elton Romaku, along with Hamid Bangura and Hugo Chasseriaux.

This would be no easy game, the visitors having been 7-0 victors last week and on a four game winning streak, and they certainly started on the front foot. The opening seven minutes saw pretty much one way traffic and Peckham needed to defend well, and defend well they did, both centre backs doing the jobs asked of them. Eventually the tables were turned and the visitors would need now to defend.

The first real chance for the Menace came in the 12th minute. Montella cut in from the right hand corner of the 18 yard box and losing his marker he managed to shoot on his favoured left foot. Unfortunately for him his shot sailed high over the bar. Within a minute Dance had a great chance, a high headed clearance seemed to take for ever to come down. As it did, Dance set himself on the edge of the box only to volley the ball inches wide of the left hand post.

Both teams were now beginning to settle in to the game after a somewhat frantic opening 20 minutes. The visitors even had the ball in the back of the Menace net, only to be ruled out by the assistant for offside. An early yellow in a game is a sign that the referee would take no nonsense and this was the case for the Borden number 6. A late tackle on 23 minutes, and in to the book he went.

The visitors had another chance to take the lead three minutes later. A looping ball over the advancing George Legg look destined to creep in at the far post. Captain Carrick was having none of that, and with an outstretched leg he managed to clear the ball inches from the goal line.
This only spurred the visitors on, their confidence growing stronger by the minute.

Debutant Barreira was the next to go into the referee's book after jostling the Borden winger to the ground. He would need to be careful now as Peckham would have more defending to do. A corner for the visitors on 44 minutes saw Legg struggle to punch the ball clear, but fortunately a goal kick was the result after a brief melee ensued in the 6 yard box. With the half time whistle Blown, it was clear this could be either team's game.

Mary’s half time talk needed to fire the Menace up, and fire them up it did. Within seconds of the restart Gabor had a great chance to score. However he just couldn’t adjust his feet in time to get a decent shot away and the ball fell comfortably into the Borden keeper's hands. Peckham kept pushing and the visitors were on the back foot again. Dance saw his effort from 20 yard go inches wide of the near post.

If any team were to score, it was looking more and more likely it would be Peckham. Time for a tactical change, as Marcus Black replaced the debutant Enzo Barreira. Initially Black slotted in at right back, but eventually he would swap with Dance, and play on the right wing.
Montella again had a great chance to open the scoring, but he never really took a hold of the ball and it was an easy take for the keeper.

The signs were all there for the Menace and it was surely only a matter of when, and not if, they would find the back of the net. Bangura replaced Gabor on 61 minutes and he made an immediate impact. Within two minutes of entering the field of play he was bundled to the floor inside the Borden penalty area. Shouts went out from the players and supporters for a penalty, but the referee thought otherwise and waved away their appeals.

The Menace were in full control now and the breakthrough would finally come ten minutes from time. A beautifully taken corner found its way through a crowded 6 yard box and onto the head of the incoming Adam Carrick. Cue the celebrations from the players and supporters, it was no more that Peckham had deserved. The visitors were now rattled, and this was evident in their sloppiness, with two more bookings from ill timed tackles.

Carrick again had another chance from a free kick in the 87th minute. The ball set at 25 yards out, he opted for power rather than floating the ball in. Unluckily for him his shot found the head of a retreating defender and was deflected wide for a corner. Into added time we went, and there was still time for more drama. Twice the Menace gave away silly free kicks just inside the Borden half. Both times their keeper opted to take them, and his teammates piled forward into the Menace area hoping to snatch a late equaliser. On both occasions the Menace defended well, and even with the late yellow for Bangura, they managed to hold out for the victory.

Peckham’s great run continues, now unbeaten in 8 games and this win keeps them top, 5 points clear of second place. The pressure is now on their main rivals, Red Velvet, who have a whopping six games in hand. They has been occupied with Cup matches over the last two weeks, but they lost them both, so will now have the time to focus on their backlog of league fixtures.

A tough choice for the King of the Match between the two centre halves. Egleton slightly edging it with some great defending. Well done!!

Peckham Town (442): George Legg; Enzo Barreira, Charlie Egleton, Adam Carrick (C), Mustafa Hashemi; Kevin Dance, Norman Hong, Joe Thomas, Kieran Dowdling; Joshua Montella, David Gabor. Subs: Marcus Black (on for Barreira), Hamid Bangura (on for Gabor), Elton Romaku, Maximin Pouvreau, Hugo Chasseriaux

Attendance 177

Match details

Match date

Sat 12 Feb 2022

Kickoff

14:45

Attendance

177
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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