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.
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
