EAST PECKHAM JUNIORS

21st March 2009 - Hadlow Harrow 2- 3 East Peckham Juniors

 

Starting Lineup

				Nichols
	Tom Revell		Scott		Ryder (1)		Tony Revell
		Lardner		Jennings		Bungay (1)
		Jagelman		Howell		Blundell (1)

Substitutes Used

Jordan Willett > Brett Howell, Rob Pearson > Tom Revell, Callum Matthews > Matt Bungay

Report

Juniors travelled to play Hadlow Harrow still with an outside chance of runners up or third spot in the league, which given the their poor start would constitute a brilliant turnaround.

Juniors welcomed back Bungay who is ineligible for  the Tunbridge Wells Cup, and Blundell returned to the starting line up at the expense of Willett.

The visitors started brightly, enjoying a lot of possession but a number of moves that began well, broke down with Juniors unable to find the final pass. 

With the slope and the wind in their favour Juniors were hunting for the opening goal but weren’t able to force the home team’s keeper into a save.

It was the home team who took the lead around 15 minutes into the game, a quickly taken free kick led to a cross from the right hand side, as the ball appeared to curl out and back in, Juniors stopped momentarily expecting a whistle, but Hadlow and more importantly the referee continued and the Hadlow captain headed in at the far post.

The goal kicked Juniors back into life and their passing game was beginning to improve, however, 10 minutes later, against the run of  play, Hadlow had the chance to extend their lead further as a shot from the edge of the box took a wicked deflection and Nichols just managed to get a toe to the ball and send it wide of the post.  The home team forced a number of corners in succession and eventually they made it count as the corner was curled in and the defender was left with a free header 3 yards from goal – the easiest of chances.

The visitors found themselves 2 goals behind, with it looking increasingly likely that their fine run of form would be coming to a rather abrupt end.

After the second goal, it seemed to be all Juniors for the remainder of the half, looking very dangerous on the attack, but again it was just the final ball that was lacking.

Half time arrived with the home side 2 goals to the good, but the visitors didn’t panic, and were confident they could get something from the game, they reverted to a 4-4-2 with Jagelman dropping back to the right hand side of midfield.

With the second half barely underway Juniors found their way back into the game, Blundell picked the ball up wide on the right and whipped in a dangerous low cross into the box, which was met by Bungay with a fine diving header back across goal and into the far corner for his first in an East Peckham shirt.

Hadlow had chances to extend their lead but were unable to get any of their chances on target.

With around half an hour of the match to go, the visitors got their deserved equaliser, as they won a throw in on the left hand side, Bungay launched the ball into the box with power, and the onrushing Ryder met the ball at the far post to get Juniors back on terms.

Juniors sensed the win, and replaced the tireless Howell with the fresh legs of Willett with Jagelman moving forward to partner Blundell upfront.

With around 15 minutes remaining, the sucker punch came, as Blundell picked the ball up on the edge of the box, beat his man before drilling a fine shot into the far corner of the net, completing a superb Juniors comeback.

Pearson replaced Tom Revell who felt a twinge, and Matthews came on to replace Bungay who surely would have received a standing ovation for his efforts – had the fans been seated in the first place.

Juniors were looking to close the game out, and could perhaps have extended their lead, but Hadlow very nearly found a late equaliser as they broke away, only to hit the bar with Nichols scrambling. 

The final whistle blew to confirm an excellent comeback as Juniors remarkable run continues.

EPFC!