EAST PECKHAM JUNIORS

28th February 2009 - Blackham and Ashurst 1 - 2 EPJFC

 

Starting Lineup

				Nichols
	Pearson		Ryder		Tom Revell		Tony Revell
	Hayes		Lardner		Bungay		Willett
			Jagelman		Howell

Substitutes Used

Callum Matthews > Dean Hayes, Liam Payne > Tom Revell

Report

Juniors made the trip to Crowborough looking for a double over the league’s second placed team, knowing that they would move up to 3rd if they could get the result they were looking for.  With three players missing for various reasons, the away side started with Tom Revell filling in for the missing Scott at centre back and welcomed Hayes back to the right hand side of midfield.  Howell was given a starting berth upfront due to his performance from the bench last week.

The pitch was very bobbly, and tricky to string together too many passes on, but to their credit both teams came out wanting to play football. 

The early exchanges were pretty frenetic and were fairly even , but perhaps Juniors just shaded things in terms of possession.  With around 15 minutes on the clock, it was the league’s form side who took to the lead, as Hayes chased the ball down the right hand side, reaching it just before the touchline and lifting a fine ball into the box, the Blackham keeper called but was unable to reach the ball, leaving Howell to head home into the empty net, his third goal in two games.

Despite this, the home side almost equalised, as their striker Gosnell had a ball lifted in to him, but Nichols dived bravely at his feet, with both men feeling the effects of the collision.

As the half progressed, both sides were playing good football , and creating chances, but on two of three occasions, Juniors were denied by the home side’s keeper when really they should’ve given him no chance, and equally the Juniors defence were able to break up the Blackham attacks before they became too dangerous.

Juniors were guilty of some heavy challenges and Blackham were rightly awarded a number of free kicks on the edge of the Juniors box but none of these came to anything.

Juniors had the lead but knew that their opponents we dangerous in attack so were desperate for a second goal, and it finally came in fine style around half an hour into the match as Jagelman dropped deep and collected the ball in midfield, sprinting past two men before unleashing an unstoppable shot into the top corner.

The half time whistle was blown with Juniors being fairly content with their first half performance but knowing that Blackham would come at them with all guns blazing in the second half.

The second half began with the home side playing well with much of their good play going through Gosnell. 

Matthews came on to replace Hayes in midfield. 

With around 10 minutes of the half gone, everyone was left wondering how the home side weren’t back in the game, as a fine ball into the box cut out the entire Juniors defence leaving the striker with only Nichols to beat from 2 yard out, but the keeper managed to get a leg to the shot, and as the rebound ricocheted of the striker the keeper managed to get his other leg to the rebound before gathering the loose ball.

Blackham were throwing everything at Juniors but the away team were still creating chances, many of which were coming about through the tireless chasing of Howell and Jagelman who were impeccable  upfront all game.  Jagelman had a shot blocked by the defence and Matthews twice had chances from Bungay’s long throw.

With around 25 minutes still to play Blackham found a way back into the match after Juniors failed to clear the ball and Gosnell scored with a fine turn and finish into the top corner of the net.

As the second half progressed, both teams had more chances, with one goal bound effort cleared of the Blackham goal line. 

Juniors had to reshuffle with 10 minutes to go, with Tom Revell picking up a knock and being replaced by Payne, with Lardner moving to centre back, Jagelman to midfield and Willett joining Howell in attack.

Juniors spent much of the final 10 minutes of the game camped in their own area, but were able to hold out for a vital win to continue their recent excellent run, moving themselves up to third in the process, only two points behind their hosts who face the league leaders next week.

EPFC!