EAST PECKHAM JUNIORS

11th April 2009 - East Peckham Juniors 2 - 4 Tunbridge Wells United

 

Starting Lineup

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

Substitutes Used

Matt Jagelman > Brett Howell, Rob Pearson > Tom Revell, Martin Parsons > Matt Bungay

Report

Juniors got back into action after a number of weeks without a game, facing the tricky opposition of Tunbridge Wells.  Juniors were looking to extend their unbeaten run, knowing that keeping Rob Harman quiet would be vital.  As everyone in the local league knows, if Harman plays well, invariably Tunbridge Wells win, if he doesn’t quite fire then they are a completely different opposition.

Juniors started brightly and had a lot of early possession but without any end product.  The closest the home team came to breaking the deadlock was a stinging effort from Bungay that the keeper could only push over the bar.

On the 20 minute mark, against the run of play, Tunbridge Wells took the lead, Juniors gave the ball away in defence, and the cross from the Tunbridge Wells left found their right winger who took a touch and coolly finished via a deflection.  Juniors were rattled but went straight up the other end and equalised, a deep corner to the far post was met in the air by Jennings, one of the smallest players on the pitch out jumping the Tunbridge Wells defence.

Chances were at a premium in the first half but Tunbridge Wells almost regained the lead when a fine ball from Harman was met at the far post by Stuart Morris, but his header went narrowly wide, and to be fair, had the ball ended up in the net, Morris would have ended up in A & E as he barely avoided he post with his head.

Half time came and Juniors were told to stop arguing amongst themselves and just play their football.

Juniors came out strongly, playing some nice football but were once again unable to find the finishing touch, a long throw from Bungay was launched into the box and met by the head of Ryder but the Wells keeper made a fine one handed save.  He had also come to their rescue minutes earlier when Blundell found himself through on goal and the keeper had saved with his leg.

Jagleman replaced Howell upfront.

It was almost as if this was the boost that Tunbridge Wells needed as they were coming back into the game again and beginning to play well. 

Pearson replaced Tom Revell at right back.

Out of nothing the away side found themselves in front as a long ball was played over the Juniors backline and Harman ran through on goal, unbeknown to him Pearson is ridiculously quick and got himself back between Harman and the ball, only to find himself nudged to the ground, there was no whistle forthcoming from the ref, and as both the Robs hit the deck, it was the Tunbridge Wells man who got to his feet slightly quicker and finished well, squeezing the ball past the despairing dive of Nichols.

Bungay made way for Parsons.

Despite the visitors now being more dominant, Juniors thought that they were level again after Willett finished a flowing move, only for the ref to change his mind after consulting with his linesman.  Juniors soon fell further behind, having half cleared a corner Juniors didn’t track their men, and as the ball was swung back in Ralph Loveridge was left with the simplest of headers yards from goal. 

Juniors barely had time to try and find a second goal before more poor defending from allowed Harman to score his second, Tunbridge Wells fourth, and best goal of the game, as he won the ball on the edge of Juniors box, and out muscled 3 or 4 defenders before curling the ball home into the far corner of the net.

Juniors did eventually find a second goal to make the score line look slightly more respectable and Blundell hit a first time shot into the bottom corner. 

The final whistle blew, and the better team had won, with Juniors showing the effects of not having played for 2 or 3 weeks.  The result leaves Juniors in 4th place in the league, a point at Roselands should be enough, but a win would guarantee 4th.

Next up, the Tun Wells Intermediate Cup Final.

EPFC!