1st November 2008 - East Peckham Juniors 4 - 0 Brenchley

 

Starting Lineup

Nichols
Tom Revell
Ryder
Scott
Tony Revell
Willett
Lardner
Jennings (1)
Payne
Pearson (1)
Heath (1)

Substitutes Used

None

Report

After an unlucky result in their previous game, Juniors were desperate to get back to winning ways with the visit of Brenchley.  Juniors went into the game with a majorly depleted squad due to injury and illness and scraped together a bare eleven, including emergency signing Tom Heath and an under the weather Robert Pearson who formed Juniors’ strike force.

The weather had let up for the start of the game and the pitch was in good condition given the deluge of rain.  Juniors started brightly with Willett in particular in fine form, drawing numerous fouls from the Brenchley left back, eventually leading to him being booked.  Within the first 10 minutes the home side took the lead, and a ball driven into the box by Ryder, hit one of the Brenchley defenders and ended up in his own net for an own goal.

Brenchley began to fight back with the dangerous winger finding himself through one on one but he was unable to find the finish that was required and dragged his shot inches wide of the Juniors’ goal.

The rain began to get heavier, but Juniors were beginning to look more and more like they believed they could win the game, and they eventually doubled their lead with around 15 minutes of the half to go, as the ball was played into the Brenchley area it was headed goal bound by the visiting defender, his keeper could only parry the ball, and Pearson nipped in to convert the rebound for his second goal in three games for Juniors.

Willett’s trickery down the right hand side almost led to a further goal for the home side and the ball was fed in towards Pearson, this time however the keeper managed to block the ball as the striker tried to lift it over him.

As half time came, so did the rain, and after a positive chat at the break the teams were back out for the second half.  Brenchley began brightly and had a few early chances but were unable to find the finishes required.

Around the 60 minute mark, the away side should have found a way back into the game as the attacker found himself through on goal, but Nichols was able to divert the ball away with his knee.

10 minutes later they away side almost got a lucky goal as the same player horribly skewed his cross in the ever deteriorating weather and the ball was looping towards the top corner but Nichols managed to claw the ball away.

Juniors were dominating the middle of the field with Jennings and Lardner combining in midfield and Payne battling on the left.  Ryder and Scott holding were firm at the back with both Tony and Tom Revell putting in important challenges.

With 15 minutes to go Juniors extended their lead further, as Pearson chased the ball down the left, before laying it through to Heath who chipped the ball over the advancing goalkeeper.

To give credit to Brenchley they continued to look for a consolation and it almost came with 10 minutes remaining as the ball found its way to their left winger who was in space with the ball around 8 yards out but the Juniors keeper spread himself and blocked the ball with his foot.

As the game was drawing to a close and both sides were thinking about the warmth of the changing room the final gloss was put on the performance as man of the match Willett again bamboozled the away side’s defence and drew the foul which allowed Liam Jennings to step up and convert the resultant spot kick.

A brilliant return to form for the home side who will look to take this into their next game.

EPFC!