EAST PECKHAM JUNIORS

27th September 2008 - East Peckham Juniors 4 - 5 The Hilberts

Starting Lineup

				Nichols
	Tom Revell		Meager		Ryder		Miller
	Hayes (1)		Jagelman (1)		Scott		Willett (1)
			Jennings		Lardner (1)

Substitutes Used

Tony Revell > Sam Miller, Brett Howell > Liam Jennings

Report

After a second successive defeat in their previous game, Juniors knew that they had to perform more like last season with The Hilberts the visitors to East Peckham.  The talk in the dressing room was positive and Juniors took those words onto the pitch, dominating the early exchanges, with the ball barely entering Juniors half of the field.

The home side should have taken the lead within 3 minutes as a ball across the box was dummied before reaching Ollie Scott inside the 6 yard box but the midfielder was unable to connect properly and sent the ball back to where it came from.

Juniors continued to pressurise the visiting defence with their goal leading a charmed life as Juniors missed chance after chance with goal line clearances being made on more than one occasion.

By the time Juniors eventually took the lead in the 10th minute, they should have already been 3 or 4 goals to the good.  When the goal did come it was nothing more than the home side had deserved for their dominance as a ball from the left wing was volleyed home brilliantly by Hayes at the far post.

Juniors continued to dominate and had more chances but somehow the Hilberts’ backline and keeper managed to withstand the pressure.

Their inability to convert chances seemed to knock Juniors a bit and had the reverse effect on the visitors as they began to show what they were capable of.  The away side managed to equalise as Juniors tried to usher the ball out of play but the Hilberts’ winger persisted and pulled the ball back leaving the onrushing midfielder an easy finish from around 6 yards at the near post.

This was a real confidence blow for Juniors and heads dropped.  Within 5 minutes the reverse of fortunes was complete as against the run of play Juniors again failed to deal with a long ball forward which was flicked on and the same midfield brushed aside the Juniors defender before coolly finishing when one on one with Nichols.  The game had barely restarted before the Hilberts extended their lead, another flick on falling to the attacker on the edge of the box and he finished well, finding the top corner.

Juniors finally made their dominance count again towards the end of the half as Lardner picked the ball up on the edge of the box before brilliantly curling home past the keeper and in off the post.

At half time the talk was of the amount of pressure had by Juniors and to go out and play how they had started the game, however things couldn’t have started any worse as Juniors played the ball across their defence before losing possession and the striker being played in one on one with Nichols and coolly finishing in the bottom corner.   Juniors then had to replace the injured Miller with Tony Revell at left back.

Straight from the restart, Juniors shot to the other end of the pitch and the ball fell to Jagelman who smashed it home to cut the deficit to one goal again.

Juniors kept pressuring and although the net was found again, the goal was not given as the away linesman had adjudged Jennings to be offside.  Jennings was then replaced by Howells as Juniors pushed for an equaliser.  Eventually it came with Willett finishing at the second attempt.

Having equalised, Juniors sensed a winner however, it was not to be, as a free kick was given away on the edge of Juniors’ box.  As the home side prepared for the shot, the attacker deceived everyone as he rolled the ball across the box, two onrushing attackers had left their markers, and although they failed to connect their presence was enough to put off the home team and the ball eluded everyone, nestling in the bottom corner.

Juniors kept attacking but just couldn’t find a 5th goal.  As the final whistle blew, Juniors couldn’t believe they had lost the game and were left ruing the early missed chances. EPFC!

 

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Top Goalscorers

Player	Goals
Jason Lardner	3
Liam Jennings	3
Dean Hayes	2
Brett Howell	2
Jordan Willett	2
Robert Pearson	2

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