EAST PECKHAM JUNIORS

8th December 2008 - Eden Rangers 1 - 1 East Peckham Juniors

 

Starting Lineup

				Nichols
	Tom Revell		Ryder		Scott		Parsons
	Willett		Lardner (1)		Jennings		Tony Revell
			Jagelman		Blundell

Substitutes Used

Brett Howell > Matt Jagelman, Callum Matthews >Martin Parsons

Report

Having had a week off due to the bad weather, Juniors were keen to get back into the swing of things as they travelled to title contenders Eden Rangers.  Pearson, Payne and Hayes were unavailable but Juniors still had a strong squad to chose from, boosted by Jagelman’s return from injury and Parsons’ return from a long term suspension.

Parsons slotted in at left full back, allowing Tony Revell to revert to his more accustomed left midfield position.  Jagelman was preferred to Howell up front due to his physical stature.

From the outset it was clear the game would be scrappy on a pitch that was desperately in need of both a mow and a roll.  The early exchanges were fairly even with both sides struggling to get the ball down and play on the poor pitch, and the conditions should have led to the home side taking the lead around the 10th minute when Nichols’ skewed his goal kick straight to the Eden rangers striker but as the player was closed down by both defender and keeper, he dragged his effort wide.

When Juniors eventually got the ball down and played their football, they were beginning to look good and were causing problems for one defender in particular as he repeatedly took out Willet, Jagelman and Blundell, leaving the ref with no choice but to book the man, however this did not deter him and he should perhaps have been sent from the field.

Around 20 minutes into  the half, the home side took the lead as the Juniors defence failed to clear the ball and the attacker did well to find the far corner of the net through a packed penalty area.

Almost straight from the restart Juniors were level as good build up left Blundell with the ball and he squeezed the ball through the Eden Rangers defence to Lardner, who cut inside before smashing the ball home from a tight angle.

The home side continued pressing and forced a succession of corners and long throws, but Juniors backline were defending resolutely and were winning every ball, giving the home side no time to think with Scott and Ryder hassling the home side into losing the ball.

Juniors closed out the half and the teams went in at the break all square.

The half time talk was positive as Juniors were stopping a good team from being able to play the way they are accustomed to.

As the sides came back out for the second half, the Eden Rangers manager had removed their centre back and moved the captain to fill in to avoid receiving a red card.

The home team came out still wanting to play their football and with Juniors playing towards the setting sun it was difficult for the away side.

Blundell and Jagelman were willing runners as the rest of the team looked to get 2 banks of 4 behind the ball as everyone played their part in defending the away side’s goal with Jennings and Lardner dropping deep to help their back four. 

Around the 60th minute the home side felt they were denied a penalty as the ref awarded Juniors a free kick for a dive.  The home team’s captain remonstrated with the referee and was shown the yellow card.

The home team were awarded a couple of free kicks on the edge of the ball for silly challenges by Juniors, one was hit over the bar, and the second was taken while Nichols was arranging his wall but the keeper was able to gather the lose ball.

With around 20 minutes of the match remaining Eden Rangers were reduced to 10 men after a decision went against them and the striker confronted the ref and was sent from the field. 

Juniors continued battling and very nearly took the lead when a long kick up field from Nichols beat the Eden Rangers defence and Blundell headed the ball past the keeper, only for the home team’s captain to clear the ball off the line.

Matthews came on to replace Parsons with Revell moving back to defence and Howell came on to replace Jagelman who had run himself into the ground.

Rangers felt another decision went against them, this time an offside and had another man booked for his protestations.

The last chance of the game fell to the home side from a corner as a looping header was tipped onto the angle by the Juniors keeper and Tom Revell dealt with the rebound.

Juniors left the game having secured a point against a very good side, one of the favourites for the league, and moving themselves out of the relegation zone.

EPFC!