Ide Hill 1-4 Peckham Town - We've made a reputation of being a good side, says Alan Jacobs

IDE HILL  1-4  PECKHAM TOWN
Haart of Kent County League Division One West
Saturday 4^th January 2014
Stephen McCartney reports from Borough Green Road

PECKHAM TOWN manager Alan Jacobs says his side have taken their foot off the gas following their title winning campaign last season.

The Dulwich Common based outfit won the Haart of Kent County League Division Two West title last season, finishing 27 points clear of sixth-placed Ide Hill.

Jacobs’ side leapfrogged over AFC Mottingham in to third-place in the Division One West league table with 17 points from 10 games – closing the gap on leaders Holland Sports to seven points – while Ide Hill slipped down one place to eighth with 13 points from 10 games after suffering back-to-back league defeats for the first time this season.

Peckham Town striker Schaveize Williams, 24, grabbed the limelight with four goals to take his tally to ten for the season.

Ide Hill scored the third goal of the game through versatile Callum Heath but an impressive Peckham Town side went home with a deserved victory.

“Really pleased because the last game we played was the 18^th of December – away to Mottingham – where we had a bad result that day and lost 2-1,” said Jacobs, 55, afterwards.

“Where we are position wise our pitch is basically under water and it’s hard to get the training sessions on so it’s been a long lay-off for us. 

“I wasn’t eager in coming over here because Ide Hill are a good side and having not played for such a long time I wasn’t sure how the boys were going to go out there, whether we were going to hit the deck running or whether we were going to be sluggish, but I think within the first fifteen minutes I was pleasantly surprised. We kept the ball well, moved it about well, created a couple of good chances and I thought we dominated most of the possession so I was really, really pleased with that side.”

Ide Hill joint-manager Keith McGinn, 50, who along with his counterpart Wally Paxton have been at the club for 30 years, was disappointed with the outcome.

He said: “On days like this you always want to play football but when you don’t get the result when you play it does get disappointing but you can’t really argue about the result to a certain extent.

“I think a very strong Peckham side came here today. Their football suited our pitch, which was a good 3G playing surface and it suited them as much as it usually suits us.

“First ten minutes they looked very strong, the big lad (Williams) up front was very quick and scared us straight away.  However, after the first 10 minutes, the next fifteen we got a good bit of possession and we had a couple of one-on-one’s and a couple of opportunities.”

Ide Hill pay around £100 per match to play on the 3G pitch at Wrotham School and 37 people braved the rain lashed conditions to watch the game.

McGinn said: “It’s good. Just for a league game that’s a good attendance for us!  For a small club of our standard it’s really pleasing to see people, the groundhoppers who go from grounds to grounds to watch matches at grass roots level. 

“It makes us very proud to think they’re coming to watch Ide Hill Football Club. Shame we couldn’t charge them today because we might have had a few more bob for our clubhouse (redevelopment at our home ground) but we’re very pleased to welcome anybody to come and watch us and makes it a better game.”

There were only three games played on grass today – at Dover Athletic, Thamesmead Town and the Julie Rose Stadium in Ashford, where Kennington lost to Borden Village on penalties in the Weald of Kent Cup Quarter-Final.

Maidstone United welcomed Hendon on their 3G pitch in the Ryman Premier League, whilst Halls AFC (at Dartford FC), Seven Acre & Sidcup Reserves (Thamesmead Town FC) and Little Sharsted (Sittingbourne Community College) also played on all-weather pitches.

Jacobs said: “We’ve actually got the game played. I would say most grounds, pitches must have been off.

“For me, if you’re a good footballing side you should be able to play on any surface – if you’ve got the right footwear there’s no excuses.

“It’s only the second time that we’ve played on a 3G pitch but if you can play the game, got a good touch, it shouldn’t be a problem and it wasn’t for us at all.”

Referee Kelvin Clare kicked the game off ten minutes late at ten past two and Ide Hill started the game on the front foot underneath miserable grey clouds.

Jason Miles-Lomas released lone-striker Tom Wright down the left inside the opening four minutes and he cut the ball back from the by-line and Shaun Boyle slid in at the near post to stab the ball agonisingly wide of the foot of the near post.

Wright then cut the ball back to the edge of the Peckham Town penalty area where Miles-Lomas used the outside of his left boot to curl his shot over the bar from sixteen-yards.

But Ide Hill squandered an excellent chance to deservedly take the lead inside eleven minutes.

Wright – who linked up well with players behind him – played in Heath behind the Peckham defence and as visiting goalkeeper Ifeanyi Agu came rushing off his line the Ide Hill number eight stroked his shot from fifteen-yards across the keeper, only to see the ball bounce agonisingly against the foot of the far post.

McGinn said: “Callum Heath’s at university at the moment. He’s played for us since he was sixteen – he’s now just eighteen.  That’s the good thing really, we had three youngsters out there all at the age of eighteen, two of which started so it’s good for the future.

“Callum is a good player. He usually plays right-back but he’s got the ability. He scored in the second half. He’s a good, young player and he’s got good potential.”

Jacobs added: “The boy smashed one against the post – they’re going to have chances, we’re going to have chances.

“Unfortunately it’s the same old thing – you could have the best pencil in the world, if you haven’t got it sharp enough you’re not going to write anything! Same as scoring goals. If you’re not sharp in front of goal you’re not going to score and you’ve got to do that at this level.”

Ide Hill left-back Romain Duchon controlled the ball before whipping in a precise cross into the penalty area where an unmarked Wright planted his header over.

But Peckham Town rode the early Ide Hill storm and created a couple of openings themselves as the game approached the 20^th minute mark.

Bolaji Olatunde drove in a corner from the right which saw central defender Hiran Laud-Anderson ghost in at the far post to poke his shot straight at Ide Hill goalkeeper Mike McKay, who then caught Ibrahim Abdullahi right-footed curler from 20-yards after fine link up play involving Olatunde and Williams.

Peckham Town right-back Olatunde played the ball into Michael Jeff, who drilled a right-footed shot towards the near post which McKay parried.

Jeff then drilled his right-footed free-kick from 25-yards, which bounced off George Kensell’s head in the wall to see his shot sail narrowly past the left-hand post.

Peckham Town exploited the artificial pitch to their advantage and they were denied by a brave goal-line block by Ide Hill defender Phil Alteriac.

Talented Femi Dada whipped in a cross from the right which found it’s way to Abdullahi at the far post and he set up Williams, whose shot beat McKay, before his team-mate took one in the face to make the block.

But Peckham Town opened the scoring in the 36^th minute with an impressive sweeping move, which wouldn’t have looked out of place at their Ryman Premier League neighbours Dulwich Hamlet.

Dada swept the ball to skipper Lukmon Mojeed, who played Williams in behind the defence and the striker stroked his left-footed shot past the advancing keeper into the bottom far corner to score from 12-yards.

Jacobs was full of praise for Williams, who could so easily stayed at home.

He said: “The boy that played up front for me today has got a cold. We weren’t sure that he was going to be available. We gave him the option not to start the game. He wanted to play. He showed a good bit of passion that way and went out there and scored four goals.”

Jacobs added: “It was a good finish. The only problem Troy’s got is he’s over eager. He strayed off the mark and I told him he’s got to bend his runs a bit more because there was a couple of times when he was caught offside when it was needless really and they were key points in the game but he’s a strong passionate boy, he works hard and he took his goals very well today.”

McGinn added: “He finished the ball well. He had the space and the time and you’ve got to finish it and that’s what they did better than us and he placed it nicely into the corner and it was a good finish.”

Goalscorer Williams nearly turned provider when he swept the ball out to Enobong Idiong, who drilled a speculative right-footed half-volley on the angle from 30-yards, which bounced into McKay’s gloves.

Peckham Town created the last chance of the first half when Olatunde once again whipped in a cross from the right and Williams cut the ball back to the edge of the box where Mojeed sliced his shot over the bar with the outside of his right boot.

Both managers were asked what their thoughts were during the ten minute interval.

McGinn said: “Peckham are a physical side and we’re not the most vocal side. We’re a quiet side sometimes, which goes against us.

“We told the lads basically the only way we beat them today was playing football on the ground and to keep the possession, let the ball do the work instead of trying to beat them with pace and ability.  Sadly, it didn’t work today.

“We had patches where we took control and again we had three or four chances, real good chances.”

Jacobs added: “We’ve got to keep doing what we’re doing. The next goal – it’s a cliché – but the next goal is really going to be important. If we can go 2-0 up then we can take control of the game. If they go one-all, it’s game on. 

“We were 1-0 up and we got the second goal and I thought we was able to relax a bit more.  We held onto the ball into the areas a little bit too long and we should have moved the ball a lot quicker.”

The floodlights came on during the half-time interval, which was vital because without them the game would have been abandoned due to poor light towards the end of the game.

McGinn said: “I don’t know how the floodlights came on actually because we didn’t put them on! I don’t know if they came on automatic?”

Ide Hill went close to equalising within the opening five minutes of the second half when Grant’s dipping free-kick curled just over the crossbar.

Peckham Town attacker Jeff showed skill when he danced his way past three Ide Hill defenders outside the box before cutting into the area and McKay tipped his low shot around the near post, just eight-yards from goal.

Ide Hill twice went close on the hour-mark when Grant was released down the left before unleashing a left-footed angled drive from 20-yards, which flashed wide of the far post, before Boyle released Kensell down the right and the skipper sliced his powerful drive past the near post.

Those missed chances were to prove costly for Ide Hill as Peckham Town doubled their lead in the 64^th minute.

Jeff showed a bag of tricks to confuse the black-and-white striped defenders in front of him before he slid the ball through to Williams, who brought the ball under his spell before drilling his right-footed shot into the bottom near corner, low to the goalkeeper’s left.

Jacobs said: “It’s good because with the people standing on the line, we don’t have many people come and watch our games so it’s nice to hear a bit of applause on the line because there’s some people there who appreciate good football.”

McGinn added: “It bobbled about a bit on the edge of the box and it fell kindly to the big, tall lad and he finished it well.  Unfortunately we had the opportunity to clear it on the edge of the box and it bobbled and came off someone’s leg and fell nicely for him and it was a good finish again.”

Ide Hill were to strike the woodwork for the second time when Grant drilled a left-footed drive from a tight angle towards the top near corner, but looked on in agony when the ball crashed against the angle of near post and crossbar, just 81 seconds after his side went two goals behind.

McGinn said: “Columb Grant has got one of the sweetest left-foot. He can beat a player easily and he’s got a terrific shot. He has scored some tremendous goals already this season from the edge of the box and when he gets in that location you do expect him to hit the target.

“Unfortunately it was a little bit too high. It hit the corner of the bar and came whizzing back out again. He had a shot a bit later which just went wide of the post. It was a shame.”

Jacobs added: “You need that (luck) in a game. They’re not a bad side. They kept pressing on and they didn’t put their heads down. It’s a dreadful day, you’re 2-0 down and you can think what’s the point? But I’ve got to give them their due, they drove on and they made a game of it.”

Ide Hill keeper McKay dived low to his right to hold Christopher Lock’s right-footed drive from 30-yards.

Peckham Town keeper Agu made a brave save with his legs after Heath bulldozed his way towards the edge of the six-yard box after cutting in from the left hand side.

Ide Hill, however, gradually got back into the game and pulled a goal back thanks to a gift from Agu with thirteen minutes left.

Central-defender Lock played the ball back to the Peckham Town goalkeeper, who lost his composure and made a hash of a clearance which went straight to Heath, who clipped a right-footed shot into the empty net from the edge of the box.

McGinn said: “The goalkeeper made a bit of an error.  There was a bit of confusion between him and the defender. The ball bobbled off and came out free to Callum just inside the box. He saw his face and he just curled it into the open net really.

“It was good to get back in and at that stage, obviously it was 2-1. We did have a good spell and I thought that was the time.

“We laugh and joke when we play here on 3G because I always tell them we’ve got the hill and the wind in the second half but that’s because their fitness at this level is quite good and that usually comes into play.

“I thought once we got the goal we might kick on. We did kick on a little bit but again we just didn’t take the chances.”

Jacobs wasn’t happy with the calamitous goal.

He said: “Unfortunately the keeper’s made a complete cock-up all round!

“At a time like that, it’s 2-0 and I said to Bryan (Hall) my assistant about a minute before if they nick one here it’s squeaky bum time. I don’t want my keeper coming out and making a mish-match of things like that. He should come out and put his boot through that and clear it. End of story.”

The impressive Heath could have snatched a draw inside the final ten minutes but he scuffed his right-footed shot, which aided Agu to dive to his left to make a comfortable save.

But Peckham Town wrapped up the game with two goals in 121 seconds, which killed off their hosts.

Tobi Ijaola set up Williams to drill the ball past McKay into the bottom far corner from 12-yards in the 82^nd minute.

Jacobs was pleased with the contribution from his goalscoring hero – who on this performance can play at a higher level of football.

He said: “He’s done his job for us, that’s what he’s there to do. He was still working hard. He’s taken a knock, he’s suffering from a bit of a dig in his back and he’s got a crack on the knee. He’s got a bit of a cold but he goes out there and he wants to play football and that’s what it’s all about and I need people like that.”

McGinn admitted: “When they got the third that hit us hard and heads went down a little bit after that.

“We lost the ball higher up the field when we shouldn’t have done but they’ve got pace up front, they’re quick, they’ve got good feet and he took the ball well and he hit it sweet.  Mikey closed down his post but when he’s hit it that hard and that sweet it’s difficult to stop those sort of shots.”

But man-of-the-match Williams saved his best for last when Agu pumped a long ball forward and the striker timed his run to perfection to leave defender Phil Alteriac in his wake before dinking the ball over the advancing McKay into the empty net to score a quality goal.

Jacobs said: “It was a great finish – at this level as well – because the conditions were hard. I spoke to him at half-time and said all he needs to do is time his runs.

“The dink was a quality goal at any standard.”

It was a shame that McGinn missed the best goal of the game.

“Callum was injured at the top and Tom had also taken a knock up front and I think I was more concerned about them at that stage and I only glanced back just as the ball was looping back into an empty net so I didn’t see much about that one!

“At that stage three or four one didn’t make much of a difference but I think once we got the goal which I must say was in slightly fortunate circumstances but overall I thought we deserved a goal in the game.

“But once we got the goal I hoped we’d kick on and get ourselves back in a better position but to lose a couple of quick goals like that was the end of the game for us really.”

The game was now over as a contest and the rain soaked spectators wishing for the final whistle, Agu made a comfortable catch to thwart Grant at the death.

Despite losing 4-3 at home to Bexlians, Halls AFC leapfrog over Ide Hill into seventh-place in the table, leaving McGinn’s side in the bottom five.

“In all honesty, we’re middle of the table. If we get a couple of wins and we move back up towards the top again hopefully,” said McGinn, whose club were playing in the Sevenoaks & District League only three years ago.

“We’re more than happy with the situation of our club and the standard of football we’re playing at and we’re proud to be playing in the Kent County League to be honest. It’s a pleasure for us.”

Jacobs wants his side to replicate their successful campaign at the higher level of football.

“We had a good season last season in our first season in the Kent County League,” he reflected with a hint of pride.

“People didn’t think we would do well. We actually won it!

“We’ve come up this season and I’ve tried to explain to these players that they’ve made a little bit of a rod off your own back because you’re there to be beaten unless you go out week after week and give that challenge and take it.

“If teams raise their game 25% and we drop ours by 25% all the time you’re in a dog-fight and sometimes we don’t appreciate that.”

When asked his aspirations for the rest of the season, the Peckham Town boss replied: “If I’m honest, I think there’s a chance we can challenge for the championship. If I’m realistic I’d say we’re looking for runners-up unless somebody’s wheels come off.

“As I said to the players, sides know us from last season. We’ve made that reputation of being a good side. We went through the division last year, played some good football and deserved to be where we was, which was champions.

“This season I think certain players have taken their feet of the gas. They think they can just have to put a shirt on and go out there and we’re Peckham Town.  I’m disappointed with some of the football that we’ve played this season.”

Ide Hill:  Mike McKay, Charlie James, Romain Duchon (Ian Nye 46), Craig Holder, Shaun Boyle (Shamil Dani 66), George Kensell, Jason Miles-Lomas, Callum Heath (Shaun Boyle 85), Tom Wright (Shamil Dani 85), Phil Alteriac, Columb Grant.

Goal: Callum Heath 77

Booked: Columb Grant 43

Peckham Town: Ifeanyi Agu, Tobi Ijadola, Christopher Lock, Hiram Laud-Anderson, Bolaji Olatunde, Enobong Idiong (Kamil Koltan 90), Ibrahim Adbullahi, Lukmon Mojeed, Femi Dada (Nelson Ogbonnaya 68), Michael Jeff, Schaveize Williams (Ryan Minott 85).

Goals: Schaveize Williams 36, 64, 82, 84

Attendance: 37
Referee: Mr Kelvin Clare (Aylesford)