EAST PECKHAM JUNIORS

Juniors faced Hadlow at home knowing that a victory over the team one place below them could lift them as high as 5th in the league as long as Brenchley didn’t record a win away to high flying Blackham and Ashurst.

Juniors had almost a full squad to choose from, missing only one or two players due to work commitments and injury.

The home side came into the game full of confidence having beaten two of the top teams in recent weeks and began much the brighter of the two sides.

The early exchanges were dominated by Juniors and after already going close on a couple of occasions, the home team deservedly took the lead around 6 minutes into the game, after good work from Blundell as he pulled the ball back into the box and Jagelman, starting up front with Blundell, smashed the ball into the top corner of the net.  The goal seemed to encourage Juniors and the home side began pressing more and more, and their lead was doubled by the 10th minute of the game.  Debutant Bungay launched a long throw into the box, which the keeper could only parry and Ryder was on hand to bundle the ball home with his knee.

The home team were dominating more and more, and should perhaps have extended the lead in the 15th minute, but Blundell’s shot was well blocked.

The Juniors backline was untested in the opening stages of the game and if anything it looked like Juniors would extend their lead, with Bungay and Willett a constant threat to the Hadlow full backs, on one such occasion Willett worked his way free of the defence but saw his shot well blocked by the keeper.

Rather than extend their lead, in the space of 2 minutes, Juniors found themselves pegged back to 2-2.  Hadlow hadn’t had any real chances of note before their midfielder broke down the left and produced a fine cross which was headed home at the far post, in of the bar.  Barely a minute had passed before Hadlow found themselves all square, a long ball over the top taking out the Juniors defence, leaving the striker one on one with Nichols and as the keeper rushed out, the striker neatly lifted the ball into the far corner of the net.

Having dominated, Juniors were lucky not to find themselves behind 5 minutes later as the dangerous Hadlow striker found himself clear of the defence again but this time was unable to beat Nichols as the keeper got his fingertips to the ball, deflecting it wide for a corner.

As half time came, the talk was positive, with Juniors having played incredibly well but going in level.  Although Juniors had been the better team and Hadlow had only had 3 real chances, it was worth noting how dangerous the Hadlow forward line were, having scored 2 very good goals.

Juniors began the second half confident that they would be able to find the winning goal, with the Juniors backline holding firm, and both Lardner and Jennings clearing up any loose ends in the middle of the field.

10 minutes into the half, Matthews replaced Bungay and was involved straight away.

With the scores still level Juniors were outranged by one refereeing decision, as a fine ball found Willett through on goal, the Juniors man rounded the keeper and with the goal at his mercy had his legs taken from behind him by the defender, a professional foul by the last man, but rather than awarding a penalty and rightly producing the red card, somehow the referee only saw fit to award a corner to Juniors.

Juniors corners almost paid off when on 2 occasions Ryder came close to doubling his tally but putting both chances over the bar.

Finally with around 20 minutes to go, Juniors regained the lead with a neat flick from Blundell finding Lardner who sprinted through from midfield to coolly lift the ball over the keeper.

Payne replaced Willett and Howell entered the fray for Jennings.

Juniors tried to close the game out, but Hadlow’s front line still looked dangerous, on one occasion Ryder and Pearson combined to tackle and clear the ball.

With around 10 minutes to go, Hadlow thought that they had found their equaliser as a header from a corner seemed destined for the bottom corner of the net, but Nichols managed to flick the ball away at full stretch.

To their credit, Hadlow didn’t give up and kept attacking but Juniors were able to soak up the pressure and ensure victory, a result that leaves them with a chance of moving as high as 3rd next week.

EPFC!