EAST PECKHAM JUNIORS

17th January 2009 - East Peckham Juniors 4 - 0 Blackham & Ashurst

 

Starting Lineup

				Nichols
	Tom Revell		Ryder		Scott		Tony Revell
	Willett		Lardner		Jennings		Blundell (3)
			Hayes		Howell (1)

Substitutes Used

Rob Pearson > Tom Revell, Matt Jagelman > Brett Howell, Callum Matthews > Liam Jennings

Report

Having not played since the 20th December, Juniors were keen to get back into the swing of things with the visit of Blackham and Ashurst, despite the opposition sitting at the top of the table.  Howell earnt a recall to the starting line up, partnering Hayes up front, meaning Blundell started on the left of a four man midfield.

Juniors came out of the blocks quickly, but so did the league leaders, Blackham looked dangerous through the middle but seemed to favour the through ball which the Juniors back line dealt with excellently.

Around 10 minutes into the game, the first clear cut chance came, and it was for the visitors as a ball made its way across the box and found the Blackham left winger 8 yards from goal, he put his shot back across the goal, but Nichols managed to get back down and get a strong hand on the ball.

5 minutes later, Juniors took the lead, the ball played into the box was collected and despatched by Howell into the bottom corner. 

The first half continued with both sides looking dangerous, but the Juniors backline of Tony Revell, Tom Revell, Ryder and Scott was miserly, and on the rare occasion that the visitors did breakthrough, they were thwarted by Nichols, once when a man was free about 2 yards from goal at the far post and the keeper managed to deflect the shot away from goal with his hip, and once as the ball was laid to the onrushing Blackham striker around the penalty spot and the keeper threw himself at the man’s feet and then collected the rebound.

As the half drew to a close, Tom Revell was on the receiving end of a dangerous tackle, the challenge wasn’t deemed to warrant a card from the referee, however it did end the full back’s participation in the game, and Juniors played out the remaining 5 minutes of the half with Willett covering at right back.

The talk at half time was positive with Juniors knowing that they were controlling the game, and were confident of closing the game out.  Pearson came on at right back.

Barely 5 minutes of the half had passed before Juniors were somewhat gifted an extension to their lead, Blundell picked the ball up just outside the are and hit a shot towards the near post, the keeper seemed to have it covered, with his body behind the ball, but somehow it squirmed through and trickled into the net.

You could see the visitors’ heads drop as they realised they had a real task on their hands.  Juniors midfield quartet of Blundell, Jennings, Lardner and Willett were performing admirably, creating chances in attack as well as breaking up any Blackham attacks before the ball reached the Juniors backline.  Blackham’s left winger looked dangerous, but Pearson kept him quiet with an assured display in an unorthodox position.

As time passed, Juniors were dominating more and more, Matthews replaced Jennings in midfield and Jagelman replaced Howell up front.

With around 20 minutes of the game remaining, Juniors’s domination was further enhanced, as Tony Revell picked the ball up mid way into the Blackham half of the pitch, and fed it through to Blundell who cooly curled the ball into the far bottom corner of the net as the keeper could just stand and watch. 

The home team’s advantaged was stretched further with around 10 minutes remaining, fine work and determination from Hayes down the left flank got him to the byline and his ball back into the box was met by Blundell, who found the back of the net with his head, via a deflection off the post, completing his hat trick.

The Juniors’ goal never really seemed under threat in the second half, and it was only as the game drew to a close that Nichols was called into action again, having to turn the ball round the post from distance.

As the final whistle was blown, Juniors were elated, having taken 4 points from the top two teams in their last 2 meetings with the pace setters.

EPFC!