With the goal drought finally over, Peckham picked up a well deserved three points against fellow strugglers Borden Village. Nathan Gamester kept his place between the sticks and with Ismaila Doumbia unavailable, Michael Desta reverted to centre back alongside captain Jeremiah Duah Danso. Whizz Ettinger started at right back with Joe Thomas deputising once again at left back. The Agyemang brothers were once again the two central midfielders which saw Tidi Barry on the right and Camilo Andres Nieva on the left. Up top were James Armes and Evaristo Mendes with Peter Tarrant, Oreoluwa Majekodunmi and Rashane Wilson on the bench.

Peckham won the toss and opted to kick uphill and into a soft breeze with the hosts getting the game underway. With seconds on the clock Mary Phillip’s team had a great chance to open the scoring, but Camilo Andres Nieva’s long range effort went agonisingly over the bar. Borden heeded the early warning and as they pushed forward Jeremiah Duah Danso was adjudged to have blocked his man and was duly given a yellow card by the match official.

Four minutes later and it was honours even as the Borden number three went in the book after he took out Joe Thomas over on the far side with a high challenge after the ball had gone. Peckham persevered and took the lead on 13 minutes after James Armes did well to chase down a poor back pass. With the keeper in no man’s land, the makeshift striker squared the ball to Camilo Andres Nieva who tapped home at the far post to make it one nil to Peckham. Five minutes later and Joe Thomas was on the end of another late challenge over on the far side, this time it was the Borden number 8 who went into the official’s book.

With the risk that the game was turning ugly, Camilo Andres Nieva and Tidi Barry went in the book on 20 and 37 minutes respectively. Both teams would now have to be careful as there was every chance the first half wouldn’t finish with 22 players on the pitch. With half time approaching Peckham probably should have doubled there lead on 38 minutes. Michael Agyemang played a defence splitting ball from inside his own half and with only one man to beat Evaristo Mendes was through on goal but he snatched at his shot putting the ball wide of the far post. A minute later the hosts were level, albeit a dubious offside in the build going unpunished.

This was probably the wake up call that Peckham needed, the first half eventually ending 1 a piece. Mary Phillip opted for no changes during the break, unlike their hosts who opted to withdraw their kung-fu warriors from the first half. Peckham got the second half underway and did have the ball in the net two minutes after the restart, but James Armes was a good yard off when he received the ball, so the flag went up and the goal was chalked off. Mary Phillip’s first change came just after the hour mark, a clever tactical change that would prove vital later in the game. James Armes was withdrawn with Rashane Wilson joining the action on 61 minutes.

Within two minutes of entering the game the substitute had a great chance to double Peckham’s tally but as the striker went to shoot the ball took a nasty bobble and he hit his effort high and wide from 8 years out. Eight minutes later however, Rashane Wilson made amends for his earlier miss as he headed the ball home on the line. Whizz Ettinger came over from the far side to send his long throw-in deep into the Borden six yard box. Evaristo Mendes rose to head the ball high into the air before Rashane Wilson nodded home to make it 2-1 on 69 minutes.

The hosts, needing to win keep their hopes of staying in the division alive began to push forward at every opportunity. Peckham however, stood their ground and continued to frustrate their hosts. With time running out Peckham opted to run the clock down with another change. Oreoluwa Majekodunmi replaced Camilo Andres Nieva, who once again had ran himself into the ground for the cause. The game entered added time, with five additional minutes the call from the match official. With the first added minute played Peter Tarrant joined the game, replacing Tidi Barry. The hosts continued to pump the ball forward, leaving themselves short at the back, and as Peckham countered they won a corner over on the far side in the second added minute.

Whizz Ettinger made the run for the short corner but as Michael Agyemang delayed, that option was soon off the cards. The midfielder sent the ball into the six yard box, Evaristo Mendes rose to head it home but his effort was blocked by a Borden defender. The ball fell kindly for the Peckham striker who powered it home to make it 3-1 from barely a yard out, sealing their hosts fate. A minute later Joe Thomas was withdrawn with James Armes returning to the game.

With the clock ticking away, a further three additional minutes were added but after a total of nine additional minutes the game was over. A vital win for Mary Phillip’s team that sees them leapfrog Tenterden and move out of the bottom four although they now have a game in hand over Peckham and are only 1 point behind. Another great team performance and one that this time finally reaped the rewards due, earning the entire squad the King of the Match accolade.

Peckham now only have three games remaining to get out of trouble, the next two are at home against New Romney on the 26th April and Hawkinge on the 3rd May. Their final game being away at Metrogas on the May Bank Holiday. As always, your support at all three games will be greatly appreciated.

Peckham Town FC (4-4-2). Nathan Gamester; Whizz Ettinger, Michael Desta, Jeremiah Duah Danso (c), Joe Thomas; Tidi Barry, Michael Agyemang, Raymond Agyemang, Camilo Andres Nieva; James Armes, Evaristo Mendes.

Subs. Rashane Wilson (on for James Armes 61’), Oreoluwa Majekodunmi (on for Camilo Andres Nieva (89’), Peter Tarrant (on for Tidi Barry 90’+1), James Armes (back on for Joe Thomas 90’+3).