SO CLOSE TO PULLING OFF A BIG CUP UPSET!!!!!
Before the game even the Ref was warning us to how good Peckham Town were, he even compared their football style to be the similar to ARSENAL’S!! We knew when we got drawn against Peckham that we were going to be massive under-dogs, due to the fact that they are sitting three leagues above us.
OUR TEAM TALK BEFORE HAND WAS TO SHOW THEM NO RESPECT AND GIVE 100% INTO EVERY 50 – 50 TACKLE, AND IF WE DO THAT AN UPSET COULD HAVE BEEN ON THE CARDS!!!
Taxi opted again to go back to the 4-5-1 formation, with Ben T stepping back into the centre mid alongside Barry and Stocky, leaving Rooney up top on his own. Little Ben was back between the sticks, with a back four from right to left of Little Dean, Me, Wayne and Bradley. Karl made his starting debut on the left wing with free- scoring Darren on the right midfield.
From kick off, Peckham dominated possession like we thought they would. We did have 9 players behind the ball for the 1st 15 minutes, but easily weathered the storm of Peckham’s attack. Peckham did come close tho when they were awarded a free-kick just on the edge of our 18 yard box. After some time arguing whether or not it was a foul, up stepped the Peckham Beckham and shaved the post with a great effort. I AINT SURE BEN HAD IT COVERED!!!
We weren’t just sitting back absorbing Peckham’s constant offensive play, we were holding our own in centre of the park. We knew from the outset that Ben T was well up for it, when he is in this kind of mood he is not only outstanding on the ball but gives 100% into every challenge to winning the ball back!! Ben was winning the ball, which meant Gary and Barry had the chance to create something going forward.
Within a 10 minute period we created two one on ones for Rooney, one was saved by their keeper and the other rebounded off the post. Normally on a different day we would have been two goals up. Peckham couldn’t handle Rooney in the slightest, every time he won the ball he was skipping past them like they weren’t even there.
HALF TIME!!
The half time team talk should have been constructive as there were loads of good points to reflect on. But as usual arguing between the team happened again. Peckham Towns coach even came over to us and said that “Rooney is causing their defence constant problems, and that our defence were playing outstanding!!!” ATLEAST THERE WAS SOME POSITIVE POINTS SAID DURING THE BREAK!
The 2nd half kicked off and we put Peckham on the back foot which they weren’t used too. We got our chance and Barry put it away with style. Ben T was this time the provider with an outstanding through ball which put Barry one on one, who converted with an excellent lob past the keeper. PECKHAM WERE SHELL SHOCKED BUT WE DESERVED IT!!
The game became a bit of Attack (Peckham) vs Defence (Station) but we were restricting them to shots from distance which Ben in goal easily gathered in. They got their equaliser through a stroke of luck. From Ben’s goal kick their centre midfield headed it back towards our goal which put their striker through on goal. He nearly fluffed his chance with his 1st touch but just managed to scramble it over the line. 1 – 1 GAME BACK ON!!!
Peckham were totally on the front foot after the goal, they had wave after wave of attack and if it wasn’t for Little Ben in goal we could of easily of fell 2 or 3 goals behind. They got their deserved advantage when their outstanding performer on the day (RIGHT SIDED MID-FIELDER) cut in from the left and curled into the far right corner. Ben didn’t stand a chance!! 2 – 1 WE NEEDED TO UP OUR GAME NOW!
We did just that and managed to get back on level terms. Rooney managed to win the ball out on the left and spotted Darren’s run down the right towards the far post. The cross field pass was delightful, leaving Darren to header back across goal for Barry to tap home! GREAT TEAM GOAL!!
2 -2 FULL TIME!! EXACTLY WHAT WE DESERVED!!
Granted, Peckham probably had 65 – 70% of the possession throughout the 90 minutes and we can say Ben was the busier of the two keepers but we gave just as good as we got and could have actually ran out winners!!
WE STILL HAD EXTRA TIME TO WIN THIS CUP TIE…
In the 1st 2 minutes of extra time Barry’s pace once again unravelled the Peckham defence. Barry found himself one on one with the keeper, but the keeper was quick off his line and saved well.
Peckham then upped their game and held the ball well. Their striker found himself out on our left side and just brushed past our covering defenders with a change of pace and crossed well. Their MOTM (the right winger) came running in at the back post to tap home easily! 3 – 2 (THIS IS WHEN THE ARGUING STARTED!!!!!)
With us arguing between each other our heads dropped and people gave up trying!! Peckham had wave after wave of attack and if it weren’t for Little Ben we would have been well and truly out of the tie!!
Taxi changed the formation to 3 – 4 – 3 with Wayne going up top alongside Ben T and Rooney (who never ever gave up). We didn’t create much but the ball stayed up in Peckham’s half a lot longer!!
Typical counter attack football ended our cup dream when they broke at pace down the right, cut inside and slotted past the stranded Ben. By this time our heads were dropped and the arguing had spoilt the whole game!!
4 – 2 TO PECKHAM, BUT there was a lot of positives to take out of the game!!!
NOW ON TO THE LAST 4 GAMES OF THE SEASON!! With results going our way in recent weeks we have realised that if we WIN all FOUR we will be CROWNED CHAMPIONS of the 2nd Division!!!
