NO LOVE LOST AS PECKHAM DO THE DOUBLE OVER UTD

You will have to cast your mind back to the 23rd November last year at the Menace Arena when Peckham last picked up three points in the league. With the curse finally broken today that feeling of euphoria and relief finally returned to Mary Phillip’s team. It took another ‘worldy’ strike from captain Nicky Meta and a rare headed goal from Michael Desta in a deserved win for Peckham in front of a crowd of 167.

With a change in formation, Nelson Nunes started in goal with Michael Desta at right back and Hassan Omar at left back. Ismaila Doumbia and Jeremiah Duah Danso were the two central defenders. The midfield four were Camilo Andres Nieva on the right, captain Nicky Meta on the left, and brothers Raymond and Michael Agyemang in the middle. Up front Evaristo Mendes was partnered by new signing Reece Walters. On the bench were Tidi Barry, another new signing in Lukas Chitanua, Oreoluwa Majekodunmi and James Armes.

It was the visitors that got the game underway and for the opening ten minutes or so there was nothing between the two teams. New signing Reece Walters looked eager to open his Peckham account but couldn’t find a way through the Kent Utd defence on 7 minutes. With neither keeper really being tested so far it looked as though it would take something special to open the scoring. That was almost the case in the 12th minute, but it took a fantastic save to keep the game level.

So far it was Peckham that looked the more likely of the two teams to break the deadlock, but it was the visitors that almost took the lead in the 12th minute. Their number 12 picked up the ball 30 yards out with his back to goal but in a split second he turned, took a touch and launched the ball goal wards. It looked destined for the top left hand corner of Nelson Nunes’ goal, but the Peckham keeper pulled off a great save to deny the visitors the opener. He was on hand to deny the visitors again in the 19th minute as he parried the ball away, the rebound then being hit just wide of his far post.

The visitors now had a spring in their step having come close on two occasions but Peckham were still looking dangerous going forward especially down the right hand flank, with Michael Desta and Camilo Andres Nieva linking up well. It was the latter who thought he’d won a penalty just after the half hour mark. Beating his defender they both entered the area but the defender won the ball and knocked it away. As Camilo Andres Nieva went to go past the Kent Utd player his outstretched leg caught the winger sending him tumbling to the ground. The appeals went out but the official waved them away and the game continued.

As I mentioned earlier it looked as though it would take something special to break the deadlock, and boy was it. Captain Nicky Meta will be the first to admit he doesn’t score as often as he would like but when he does, nine times out of ten they are pretty impressive strikes, and this was certainly one of those. The move started from a Michael Desta throw-in just inside his own half which found it way to Reece Walters. Riding out one challenge the forward squared it to Michael Agyemang in the centre who ran towards goal. As the midfielder entered the area he played it forward towards Evaristo Mendes and with the striker having nowhere to go he passed it to the skipper out on the corner of the penalty area. Taking a touch, Nicky Meta hit it with aplomb and the ball soared into the top right hand corner of the goal to make it 1-0 to Peckham on 37 minutes. This strike was yet another contender for goal of the season from the captain for sure.

Peckham then probably should have doubled their lead three minutes before the end of the first half. Under pressure from Nicky Meta, the Kent Utd keeper fluffed his clearance and the captain pounced to collect the ball near to the far corner. He sent it deep into the area towards Evaristo Mendes on the edge of the 6 yard box but he miss-timed his header and put it inches wide of the goal. After two added minutes the official brought the first half to a close and Peckham went into the break with their slender lead in tact.

Mary Phillip made no changes during the break and Peckham got the second half underway. The game was still anybody’s and it would be a case of which team would get the next goal, and that team was Peckham. The goal came from a Peckham free kick over on the far side as Michael Desta was bundled off the ball. Nick Meta dinked the set piece towards Hassan Omar at the near post. He rose to head it on but it found the head of Kent Utd player sending it over the crowded six yard box and into the path of Michael Desta at the back post. The defender stooped down low and headed the ball back across the goal and into the far corner to make it 2-0 to Peckham on 56 minutes.

As the hour mark approached manager Mary Phillip made her first two of six changes. James Armes and Tidi Barry replaced Reece Walters and Michael Agyemang respectively before new signing Lukas Chitanua was introduced for Camilo Andres Nieva on 69 minutes. Four minutes later Oreoluwa Majekodunmi came on for Ismaila Doumbia on 73 minutes. Two minutes later, and having used all four substitutes Reece Walters came back on as a make shift left back after Hassan Omar limped off with an injury. Seeing an opportunity the visitors upped their game in an attempt to break down Peckham’s resilience. Nelson Nunes again saved well in the 79th minute as Kent Utd looked for a way back into the game.

Into the final ten minutes and Peckham almost bagged a third, again from another set piece. Raymond Agyemang’s free kick fell short but James Armes played it back to the midfielder for a second attempt and planting the ball into the area. Hitting it with his left boot it found the head of Tidy Barry but the midfielder headed it wide from 6 yards out on 85 minutes. Two minutes later and Camilo Andres Nieva returned to the game as Raymond Agyemang was forced off after taking a knock. As the game entered added time the visitors pushed for one final onslaught on the Peckham goal but there was no way through a rock solid defence. With an additional 6 minutes played the official ended the game and the players celebrated their much deserved win with their supporters, with Evaristo Mendes taking the King of the Match award.

A much needed win and clean sheet and with four points from their last two games, things are looking more positive for Mary Phillip’s team, but they are not out of the woods yet. Despite the win, they still sit third from bottom on 24 points. One win, however could take them back up to tenth, and with games in hand over all but one of the six teams above them things are looking favourable for Peckham. Next week Mary Phillip’s team face another ‘six-pointer’ as they travel down to Kent for the rescheduled game against Snodland Town Reserves. So, let’s get behind our team and get as many of the Menace faithful supporting them on their travels next week. Kick off is 2.45pm, and as always please keep an eye on our socials for all the details.

Peckham (4-4-2). Nelson Nunes; Michael Desta, Ismaila Doumbia, Jeremiah Duah Danso, Hassan Omar (Booked 51’); Camilo Andres Nieva, Raymond Agyemang, Michael Agyemang, Nicky Meta (c); Reece Walters, Evaristo Mendes.
Subs. James Armes (on for Reece Walters 60’), Tidi Barry (on for Michael Agyemang 60’), Lukas Chitanua (on for Camilo Andres Nieva 69’), Oreoluwa Majekodunmi (on for Ismaila Doumbia 73’), Reece Walters (back on for Hassan Omar 75’) & Camilo Andres Nieva (back on for Raymond Agyemang 87’).