EAST PECKHAM JUNIORS

20th December 2008 - Aylesford 3 - 6 East Peckham Juniors

 

Starting Lineup

				Nichols
	Tom Revell		Ryder		Scott		Tony Revell
	Pearson (1)		Lardner		Jennings (1)		Willett (1)
			Hayes (2)		Blundell (1)

Substitutes Used

Brett Howell > Dave Blundell, Matt Jagelman > Liam Jennings, Liam Payne > Jordan Willett

Report

In a week with no league games, Juniors travelled to face Aylesford in the quarter final of the Tunbridge Wells Intermediate Cup.  The East Peckham outfit travelled with a strong squad, only missing Parsons and Matthews due to illness.  Tony Revell reverted to the left back role with Pearson coming in on the right wing with Willett moving to left midfield.  Hayes started up front, with Jagelman starting on the bench after recovering from a week long illness.

The game started fairly evenly with neither side particularly dominating play, but Juniors began to find their feet and were passing the ball around well on a difficult pitch. 

Around the 10 minute mark, Juniors, who won the Junior cup last year, took a deserved lead as Willett fed the ball to Hayes who raced through, just beating the keeper to the ball and sliding it into the empty net.  Juniors and Hayes doubled their tally barely 5 minutes later as this time Blundell fed Hayes who scored almost an exact copy of the first goal, but this time from the other side of the pitch.

Juniors were looking well in control of the game were passing the ball well when somehow Aylesford found a way back into the match.  A long through was launched into the box and eluded everyone crossing the line before being headed by the attacker. All of the Juniors played unanimously protested at once that the ball was not touched before crossing the line, but the referee ruled against Juniors and awarded the home side the goal.

The goal momentarily knocked Juniors confidence, but it was not long before the away side began to find their feet again passing the ball well and a neat one two between Pearson and Hayes, with the former just failing to reach the cross with his head almost extended Juniors’ lead.  They didn’t have to wait long to restore their 2 goal advantage as good work from Willett down the left hand side left Blundell with the ball on the edge of the box, and his first time shot beat the keeper and found the net via the inside of the post.

As the half was drawing to a close the gap was almost narrowed again as the home team were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box.  As the ball was curled round the wall Nichols could not hold the shot and it squirmed free, but the Juniors keeper atoned for his error with a fine save from the rebound, diving forward to flick the ball off the advancing striker’s foot yards from goal.

Juniors came out for the start of the second half confident of finishing off the game, and were once again playing some good football, but on too many occasions the home side were afforded space to cross the ball, and on more than one occasion, their striker really should have done better with his head.

Hayes was having a fine game up front and earnt Juniors their 4th goal, holding the ball up in the box and having his legs clipped by the keeper while turning away from goal.  Jennings stepped up to take the penalty and made no mistake, sending the keeper the wrong way.

Jennings made way for Jagelman, with Howell replacing Blundell.

Aylesford were soon back in the game again, in bizarre circumstances, as a short corner was crossed into the box and met unconvincingly by the attacker, but the spin as the ball pitched on the 6 yard line deceived Tony Revell and Scott on the goal line as both players missed the ball.

With around 20 minutes to go Juniors extended their lead again as Willett picked the ball up on the left hand side of the box, evading a couple of challenges before hitting a fine shot into the top corner of the net.

Willett was rested for the final 15 minutes, being replaced by Payne.

5 minutes later Juniors went further ahead, again in fine style as a mishit shot from Ryder found it’s way to Pearson on the edge of the box on the right hand side, and the midfielder hit a first time shot into the far corner of the goal.

The game looked dead and buried, but again Juniors switched off and a missed header at the back lead to the final goal of the game with the Aylesford midfielder clean through on goal and he made no mistake, lifting the ball into the far corner.

A fine attacking performance that leaves Juniors in the semi final for the second year running.

EPFC!