16 Sept. 2007 Peckham Town 1 – GroundHoppers 2

In a repeat of last seasons Bill Braisted cup final, both squads entered this game with problems with their squads. With players missing on both sides, this still would always be a high tempo game with neither side wanting to give an inch. Hoppers got into their stride slightly quicker than Peckham, moving the ball well, but not really taking advantage of the possession in the last third.

Hoppers took the lead while in command of the game, a ball reaching Stephen Wright on their left, he took a touch before hooking the ball over his head to his strike partner, who carried the ball to the edge of the box before driving the ball home at he keepers near post.

Peckham Town are a side that cannot be underestimated, their neat passing moves, will always cause problems for any team they play. As the game progress they started to gain control, forcing errors in the Hoppers defence, but their chances went begging.

Half-time, Hoppers spoke about keeping the commitment where it is needed to keep Peckham at bay. A lapse early in the second half, gifted Peckham their opening goal, their forward slotting home neatly, when played through down the center.

With Hoppers tiring play kept moving from end to end, with Peckham pushing the hardest for the winning goal. It was Hoppers who would have the biggest say on the final score. Paul Hooley winning a ball on the left hand side, played David Rose in down the left, his cross carried too far for Andrew Huggins to take advantage, he recovered the ball and crossed for Paul Hooley to strike a cross shot at goal, the Peckham goalkeeper dives to save, the ball springs up in the air, Stephen Wright is the first to react, to nod the ball home, while under pressure from the Peckham defence.

Peckham pushed trying to get the equalizing goal, their center back cracked a strike from 30 yards against the cross bar, with the ball bouncing to safety. Minutes later, the same center back had another 30 yard strike which just cleared the cross bar.

Hoppers held on for a gutsy win.

TEAM: Gadsdon, Hinchion(Burgess), Canfield, Patten, Bateman, Huggins, Hooley, Rose, Brown, Wright(1), Searle(1, Kenneth). Subs: Eames