Dulwich Hamlet Youth 3 Cobham FC Youth 1

Dulwich Hamlet Youth 3 Cobham FC Youth 1

Southern Youth League Cup - 1st Round

Wednesday 2nd December 1998

Ultimate victory was achieved by the Hamlet, mainly due to a late double strike in the final quarter from Steve Shevel, but this was a slightly unsatisfactory result as Dulwich never really moved out of first gear in disposing of a team who had recently occupied top spot in the West Section. How they managed to remain in the game until the final exchanges is a credit to their determination against the odds.
One gentleman in the crowd, later discovered to be one of their players, was of a differing opinion to the majority of the crowd, constantly exhorting Cobham with derisory diatribes directed at the Hamlet. Imagine Richard Watts on speed for the full ninety minutes and you might get close. What was particularly entertaining was the perplexing fact that his observations bore little or no resemblance to the realities on the pitch. More of this gentleman later, but on to the game.
A whitewash looked on the cards when Dulwich scored the opener inside the first minute. Supporters had barely reached their seats when the Hamlet were awarded a free-kick in a central position just outside the box. Rob Hughes and MICHAEL AZZOPARDI shaped behind the ball, perfectly positioned for a strike on target. We were not to be disappointed. Rob ran over the ball and Azza, following through, curled the ball sweetly over the wall and into the top corner, out of the despairing clutches of the visiting custodian.
This early strike should have inspired the Hamlet to run riot, but despite dominating the opening exchanges they could not find a way through to increase their lead. Nana Asante sneaked in front of his marker to fire a shot straight at the keeper and in the ensuring scramble the ball was skewed wide of the target. Michael Babatunde’s powerful were unnerving the opposition and they often felt the need to resort to strong arm tactics to halt the waves of Dulwich attacks.
11 minutes in and another free kick in a dangerous position as a mazy run from Rob Hughes was ended by a crude challenge. Rob took the free-kick himself and it deflected off the wall, forcing the keeper into a full length save to turn the ball past the post.
Dulwich frequently relied on the ‘Relegation Corner’, short one-two’s between Rob and Azza. One such effort save a whipped in cross, which fell tantalisingly wide of the far post.
Nana Asante was having difficulty reacting to the Cobham offside trap and frequently found himself its victim. When he did get away, there was an expectation that he might add to his tally, but good keeping and stout defending denied him.
In the twentieth minute, hesitancy at the back cost Hamlet the lead. Michael Ebanks gave away a free-kick on the edge of the box as he clipped the heels of the Cobham 10. With Dulwich in temporary disarray as they prepared to defend the kick, the ball was laid back to Cobham No 8 who smacked in a low shot, which Billy Waite got his hands to but could not keep out.
A temporary aberration, but one which seemed to dent the confidence of the Hamlet and let Cobham off the hook. One sensed that they might sneak something from this, especially remembering that the game was to be decided on the night, with extra-time and penalties if necessary. Marcus Dussard’s vision from the back is certainly paying dividends and a delightful ball released Michael Azzopardi down the right. His low cross was met by Steve Shevel whose first time effort was blocked for a corner, from which Omari Coleman looped a header over the bar.
There are times when Nana reminds you of Thommo, not for the obvious reasons, but for his determination to battle through defences, often against the odds and possessive of that streak of ‘selfishness’ necessary for a goalscorer, but sometimes frustrating for the spectator. On one occasion he danced through the defence, only to be denied the combined weight of the Cobham rearguard.
With ½ an hour on the clock, a slip at the back let in Cobham. The ball was hoofed forward, where it was heading back into the path of the No 8. His initial shot was marvellously blocked by Billy Waite, only for the No 9 to slot the rebound in the back of the net. The gentleman mentioned earlier was ecstatic at this. Running all the way along the front of the main stand proclaiming his joy, all the time oblivious to the lino’s raised flag and the taunts of other fans. When he returned to his place on the fence, he revealed the reason for the disallowal to the crowd, “you’ve given the linesman 5 of your cigars”. Most entertaining.
In the stoppage time at the end of the half, Steve Shevel nipped in behind the defence to clip the ball just past the post, but it took a well timed saving tackle from Omari to ensure the scores were still level.
The Cobham custodian must have been shaking in his boots when his defence conceded a needless free-kick in Azzopardi territory ten minutes into the second half but this time the ball was too close to him and he held on to it under the bar. Nana swept the ball out to Steve Shevel running into the right-hand pocket and he picked out Nik Wrightson at the back post with a looping cross. Unfortunately Nik could not direct his effort on target. Moments later, he skipped through a series of tackles as he bore down on the box, only to be blocked in the act of shooting.
As the game became more frenetic, challenges became a little more reckless and a number of players incurred the wrath of the referee. One pearl in this period was a sweeping move out of defence that saw Nana laying a sweet ball into the feet of Steve Shevel, whose cross was slightly wayward, falling behind the inrushing Nik Wrightson. He managed to get a touch to it, stretching back, but could only hook it skywards where the keeper claimed. Omari Coleman swept into the box as the back four parted like the Red Sea. Visions of Bromley ensued, but the ball ran from him and the keeper bravely claimed at his feet.
Dulwich seemed to be gaining the upper hand, but a moment of weakness could prove costly. That moment nearly arrived late on. The Cobham No 8 collapsed like a sack of potatoes under a challenge from Michael Ebanks, about a foot shorter and several pounds lighter. With the referee indicating that the ball was to played out so that Larry might receive attention, Dan Mulligan, until now a rock, dithered and the 10 nicked the ball off his feet. Bill blocked the initial effort, but 9 finished off. Guess the result.? Yes, offside again.
Extra time and penalties were beckoning but still Dulwich pushed for a normal time winner. Very considerate these players - they know one must get to the bar before Paul rings the bell. Azza somehow contrived to spoon a shot out of the ground when well place. In hindsight it would have been easier to hit the target. This must have been playing on his mind for a few seconds later a poor pass let in Cobham No 9, but his shot was wild and wide and Dulwich breathed again.
At 9-24, with 6 minutes left came the moment that would break the visitors' hearts and ensure that the Hamlet Cup filleth over with unrestrained joy. A free-kick lifted into a crowd of players in the six-yard box. One head rose above the rest, who's I cannot tell you, to power the ball towards goal. The custodian stopped the effort, but dropped the ball as if it were a hot potato, right at the feet of STEVE SHEVEL He had the simplest of tasks to slot the ball into the back of the net. Led by substitute Derek Pabi, the players all rushed to inform our friend in paragraph two of the score. They were back within the minute.
A classic end-to-end goal. A Cobham corner seemed to be curling inside the far post when Billy Waite clawed out. It was cleared to Derek Pabi, who advanced before sweeping the ball up to Nana in space in the middle of the field. Outside him was STEVE SHEVEL and as the defenders bore down on Nana, he slipped the ball into the path of Steve, who drilled the ball past the keeper.
In the dying minutes of the game, Dulwich had found an extra gear to put paid to the best of the West. Now they must try to do the same for ninety minutes against the K’s. A classic surely awaits.

Team: Billy Waite, Marcus Dussard, Michael Ebanks, Daniel Mulligan, Michael Azzopardi, Omari Coleman, Nik Wrightson (Derek Pabi), Nana Asante, Steve Shevel, Rob Hughes, Michael Babatunde.

Scorers: Michael Azzopardi 1, Steve Shevel 84, 85

Man of the Match: Steve Shevel: A brace and a constant thorn in the side of the opposition

London Youth 4 Essex Youth 3 (FA County Cup)

After the exhilarating atmosphere of the previous day, Champion Hill returned to its usual sedate self as London Youth began their challenge for the FA County Cup. As usual Dulwich were well represented with Billy Waite, Michael Azzopardi, Michael Ebanks and Steve Shevel all in the starting line-up. It was to be no surprise that this contingent was to play a key role in the result with Steve grabbing the opening goal before leaving the field injured and Azza getting a second half brace that provided enough of a cushion to deflect from a late Essex recovery.
London had to endure severe pressure from the Essex lads who seemed to have been on a diet of BabyBio, such was their superior height and body strength. In the opening exchanges Billy Waite was forced to make a smart save from the Essex winger. However after weathering the storm London came back into the game. Steve Griffiths fired wide when he met a cross from Michael Azzopardi. Tommy Tyne had a couple of good chances to open the scoring. First a neat back heel from Steve Shevel let him in, but his shot was poor giving the keeper an easy save. Then he battled through the defence, only to see Rumsey pull off a good save to deny him.
On 22 minutes the deadlock was broken, but not in the desired manner. Defoe, who was to pose problems for London all afternoon, received the ball out on the left. At first there seemed to be no danger, but a glint of space opened up and he curled a glorious effort in the far corner of the net. Billy made a valiant effort to reach it but to no avail.
This was the cue for London to redouble their efforts. Damien Izzard, a rock at the back, produced a neat shimmy on the edge of the box, but a desperate tackle took the weight off his shot and it trickled into the keeper’s hands. Then Tyne flashed a shot wide of the upright.
The Dulwich connection came into play to grab the equaliser in textbook fashion. Michael Azzopardi found space to run down the right wing and whipped in a teasing cross. There on the end was STEVE SHEVEL with a smart flick of the head to divert the ball past the keeper.
Unfortunately Steve was later injured and had to leave the field eight minutes before the break, but not before he had been influential in a number of opportunities. Essex man Machin might have given London the advantage when he sliced a low hard Azzopardi cross goalwards, but a defender was there to clear off the line. London realised the panic Azzopardi’s crosses were causing and he swiftly became the pivot point through which attacks emanated. One was cleared as far as Griffiths who laid it into the path of Tyne, but his shot cannoned off the foot of a post.
Billy Waite was having a quiet period but he was on his toes to hold on to along range from Glasham. At the other end Ellis Kodra hit a screamer from out near the touchline that only just failed to find its intended target. London survived a couple of scares before half time. Defoe was left unmarked on the edge on the box. The ball was laid out to him, with only Billy between him and the sticks. He produced a delightful chip, which Billy could only watch as it loped over him, only to come back off the bar. Pudney (not Fred) arrived to the ball first but could only head the ball wide. On the stroke of half-time, Defoe whipped in a low ball, which ricocheted wildly off Izzard but Palmer missed the chance at the far post.
After the delight of the first 45 the second half started sluggishly. It took eight minutes before any action of real note. However it was a move that was to give London the lead for the first time in the match. A quick release from Billy Waite saw London sweep upfield and TOMMY TYNE ran through a statue-like defence on to the ball. Strangely no-one attempted to relieve him of possession and he advanced on the keeper before calmly slotting it away.
London might have given themselves a comfortable cushion 12 minutes in when Griffiths chested the ball down in the box, before getting to the by-line and dragging the ball back across goal. No-one on the end however to slot it away. London retained possession and Michael Azzopardi attempted a long-range effort that slipped past the post.
London paid for their profligacy when on 65 minutes Essex pulled level in the simplest of fashions. Palmer got on the end of a ball behind the defence and calmly flicked the ball past Billy for the equaliser.
One sensed that from here Essex might go on to take the game and fears were nearly confirmed when Shaw unleashed a thunderous shot from outside the box. It seemed to be heading for the top corner, but Billy Waite leapt like a salmon to palm the ball past the upright. This proved crucial as London recovered their composure and went looking for the winner that would prevent a return trip to Essex. Portents of what was to follow came when Marcus Perona had a good strike well held.
Around the half-hour mark came the goals that were to make the result safe(ish). Two in a minute from MICHAEL AZZOPARDI and London could relax. First Griffiths laid the ball into his path on the edge of the box and, with a neat side-step, swift acceleration and a scorching shot past the bamboozled keeper, he gave London a 3-2 lead. Then just 2 minutes a neat finish to a left wing cross as he met the ball first time, almost passing the ball into the net.
Still there was time for a few jitters and yes a Dulwich player was involved. With about 4 minutes left on Mr Tyler’s Timex, Michael Ebanks, a solid game up until now, rashly dived in on substitute Karyling just inside the box. The rotund grey haired official had no hesitation in awarding the spot-kick and Shaw steeped up to crash an unstoppable effort past our Billy. Essex sensed that the game was still there for the taking and as stoppage time ticked away, they might have drawn level. A minute in and Krayling headed a flicked on corner over the crossbar. Then in the dying embers of the contest, the ball was swept out of defence to Hodges who laid it into the path of Palmer. He moved menacingly into the box, but his progress was to be summarised halted by a combination of keeper and defenders. There was barely a moment to draw breath before the final whistle blew and the next round beckoned.
A short footnote to the players. Last season this competition involved a trip to CORNWALL. The match was playing in a raging gale, the roof blew off the coach, which one player apparently missed having sampled the local talent, and London lost. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Team: Billy Waite (Dulwich Hamlet), Michael Azzopardi (Dulwich Hamlet), Ellis Kodra (Crown & Manor), Damien Izzard (Bromley), Michael Ebanks (Dulwich Hamlet), Martin Driscoll (Slade Green), Steve Shevel (Dulwich Hamlet), Ben Porter (Enfield), Tommy Tyne (Slade Green), Steve Griffiths (??), Marcus Perona (Catford Wanderers)
Subs: Jamie Clements (Brimsdown), Lyndon Tucker (Faversham Town), Steve Hockley (Cheshunt), Leroy Johns (Enfield)

Goals:
London YFA: Steve Shevel 25, Tommy Tyne 53, Michael Azzopardi 72, 74
Essex YFA: Defoe 19, Palmer 65, Shaw (pen) 85

Reaching the parts Cerys cannot reach

“Adran tai a gwarchody cyhoedd, bydd y sawl a benodir yn meddu ar gymwyter!!!!!!!!!!!” The stream of invective which spewed down the phone line in this unintelligible tongue obviously meant that I had started off on the wrong foot in my quest to discover the grass roots of the burgeoning Welsh rock scene. I later discovered that my opening mistake was to ringing from the wrong side of Offa’s Dike. Whilst Catatonia, Manic Street Preachers and their ilk might be sweeping all before them in a new Celtic invasion of the ‘English’ charts, there remains a hard core of Welsh rockers who refuse to succumb to the desire to be successful in an alien country, namely England. Newport, the so-called ‘New Seattle’ is regarded as an anathema, being so close to the border that even its football team plays in a foreign country’s league.
Only after I had convinced her of my Celtic (Cornish) roots, would Ffyon ap Gryffud deign to grant me an audience. Ffyon is lead singer with the fiercely nationalist indie band, Canolfan y Dechnoleg Cymru, who have gained a loyal following in the pubs and clubs of North Wales. Their latest single, loosely translated as ‘Charlie, If You’re Prince Of Wales, Why Does Camilla Look Like A Horse?’, is played almost hourly on both Welsh Language stations and even MacDonald’s is considering using it for its latest advert aimed to the Welsh market.
So it was that I found myself with a very rare invite to the next gig, a true privilege indeed as fans have to produce a birth certificate before they’re allowed in. Llandridnod Wells was the venue for the gig, highlighting another of the band’s nationalist quirks - they will refuse to play any town with an anglicised name. Two L’s good, one L bad. The bouncers on the door brought a whole new meaning to the word thorough as all things English were confiscated. Fortunately, my Japanese tape recorder got through after I pointed out that it had almost certainly been lovingly crafted by fair Welsh maids in Caernarfon.
Once inside the hassle became worth it. After a mediocre warm up set from some obscure Welsh poet who nearly drowned the crowd, producing enough phlegm to put Sid Vicious in his prime to shame, the band bounded on stage to tumultuous applause and Celtic battlecries, proclaiming death to all English invaders. I was nervous, daring not to open my mouth.
The band’s set was reasonable, about what one might expect from an above-average pub band, the punters seemed delighted. All their favourites were played from the debut single, ‘Please Release Me, Let Me Go (You English Bastard!)’ through their attempt to cash in with the overtly commercial ‘All I Want For Christmas is Independence and every English Bastard out of My Country’ and their double figure selling charity effort, ‘Save The Whales, Harpoon an Englishman’. Canolfan y Dechnoleg Cymru have even gone as far as to join the trend for football songs with, ‘Who Wants To Go To The World Cup, Anyway?’. The gig culminated in spectacular fashion with a replica holiday cottage being ritually burnt and Dai Yucont, lead guitarist, apparently buggering a sheep wearing an England football shirt.
Afterwards I asked the band about their stance on all things Welsh. Lead singer Ffyon, the self-proclaimed mouthpiece of the Welsh underground rock movement said she spoke for many Welsh music fans in feeling that the English appropriation of their music had been detrimental to Wales.
‘Many youngsters start off playing the local clubs, but as soon as they’re discovered they’re pissing off over the border in their flash limousines, eating caviar, playing to packed stadia and selling records by the truckload. We’re not like that, we recognise where ours roots lie and who the true fans are. We’ll never sell out - I mean bands like Catatonia might wave the flag but, for JPR Williams’ sake, they sing in ENGLISH, play gigs outside Wales and even let non-Celts through the doors. They’re not Welsh anymore, then again they are from South Wales and that lot have being trying to pretend they’re English for years. It’s like Sting sticking on boot polish and thinking he can sing soul. It ain’t on.
‘We can’t do that to this loyal bunch’ the other band members intoned in agreement before the call of ‘Last Orders’ sent them scurrying off to the bar, scattering the last few remaining mad geriatrics, decidedly dogdy looking yokels and students that seemed to comprise the crowd.
At this point, I decided to take my leave. Thanking my hosts for their hospitality, I turned and waved ‘Cheerio’ to the throng. Suddenly, every eye turned towards me and I realised my cock-up. Hopefully the pigeon gets this article to Eclectic Towers by publishing deadline, all roads back to civilisation are being watched and I’m not coming down from this tree until they’ve forgotten about me. That image of the sheep has got me very worried.

Norm The Celtic Rabbi

READ THIS MESSAGE AND PASS IT ON . . . .

A man takes the day off work and decides to go out golfing. He is on the second hole when he notices a frog sitting next to the green. He thinks nothing of it and is about to shoot when he hears, "Ribbit. 9 Iron." The man looks around and doesn't see anyone. "Ribbit. 9 Iron." He looks at the frog and decides to prove the frog wrong, puts his other club away, and grabs a 9 iron. Boom! he hits it 10 inches from the cup.

He is shocked. He says to the frog, "Wow that's amazing. You must be a lucky frog, eh?" The frog reply's "Ribbit. Lucky frog."

The man decides to take the frog with him to the next hole. "What do you think frog?" the man asks. "Ribbit. 3 wood." The guy takes out a 3 wood and Boom! Hole in one. The man is befuddled and doesn't know what to say. By the end of the day, the man golfed the best game of golf in his life and asks the frog, "OK where to next?" The frog replied, "Ribbit. Las Vegas."

They go to Las Vegas and the guy says, "OK frog, now what?" The frog says, "Ribbit Roulette." Upon approaching the roulette table, the man asks, “What do you think I should bet?" The frog replies, "Ribbit. $3000,black 6." Now, this is a million-to-one shot to win, but after the golf game, the man figures what the heck. Boom! Tons of cash comes sliding back across the table.

The man takes his winnings and buys the best room in the hotel. He sits the frog down and says, "Frog, I don't know how to repay you. You've won me all this money and I am forever grateful."

The frog replies, "Ribbit, Kiss Me." He figures why not, since after all the frog did for him he deserves it.

With a kiss, the frog turns into a gorgeous 15-year-old girl.

And that, your honour, is how the girl ended up in my room.

Chesham Supporters 3 Dulwich Supporters 4

Trailing to an early Rickerby own goal, Dulwich fought level thanks to a Tom Whitton header. Rickerby then made amends for his earlier mistake, firing home from outside the box. Chesham equalised when the defence allowed a free header from a corner and fell behind early in the second half, after errors at the back. Lawrence Marsh capitalised on defensive hesitation to slam in an equaliser, before Tom Whitton hooked home another magnificent Jack McInroy corner. In the last minute, Chesham made desperate appeals for a penalty as Paul Griffin made a late saving tackle, but they fell on deaf ears.

Team: Matt Hammond, Paul Griffin, Roger Deason, Dave Blythe, Steve Rickerby, Ian Wright, Jack McInroy, Larry Marsh, Tom Whitton, Ben Miller, McGeown, Mishi Morath

Dulwich Supporters ‘B’ 8 Hitchin Supporters ‘B’ 2

The ‘B’ team made it a double day of celebration for the Supporters as they cruised to victory over a young Hitchin side. Peter Panayi led the way with FOUR goals and it could have been twice that if he hadn’t insisted on trying to dribble round the entire Hitchin defence twice before slotting the ball home. Mario Panayi weighed in with a goal, but it was his rock solid performance at the back which ensured Paul Griffin in goal had little to do in goal, apart from a fine save in the first half. Dulwich’s other goals came from Marcus Dyal, the first a fine strike from outside the box, and Ben Miller, surely a star of the future, nodding home from close range after Peter’s shot had been saved. Hopefully this will be the first of many goals in Hamlet colours.

Team: Paul Griffin, Steve Bennett, Ron Searle, Steve Rickerby, Ben Miller, Bill Andrews, Lawrence Marsh, Edgar Kail, Marcus Dyal, Mario Panayi, Peter Panayi

Dulwich Supporters ‘A’ 6 Hitchin Supporters ‘A’ 1

Dulwich cruised to a convincing victory over their Hertfordshire rivals. Danny King led the way with two goals, ably abetted by strikes from his brother Andy, Dean Branson, Jamie Wyatt and Nick Quilter. The supporters took the lead in the first half when Jamie smashed home the ball following a 1-2 with Dean on the edge of the box. The lead was doubled before half-time as Andy King fired home a 35 yard screamer. In the second half the opposition were comprehensively finished off. First Danny finished off a loose ball as Hitchin failed to clear their lines, then he lobbed the keeper from the edge of the box for number four. Nick got his name on the scoresheet as he steamed in to smash the ball from the edge of the box, following a neat interchange of between Dean and Mark Eldridge on the right. Substitute Lawrence Marsh was unlucky not to find the net when, after a storming run down the wing, his lob over the keeper’s despairing grasp came back of the crossbar. Fortunately Dean was on hand to knock it home. Hitchin gained a late consolation when Dulwich failed to clear a corner, but the result means the Canary Cup must remain in SE22.

Team: Matt Hammond, Danny King, Andy King, Dean Branson, Jack McInroy, Mark Eldridge, Ian Wright, Steve Rickerby, Steve Bennett, Russell Levy, Lawrence Marsh, Jamie Wyatt, Nick Quilter.