This was a thoroughly disappointing performance from the Under 18’s. Twice drawing against them this season hopes were high for a good result, perhaps a place in the final. But Vista had other ideas and although they slightly shaded it in terms of skill and luck, Dulwich allowed fundamental errors to creep into their game throwing away a gilt edged opportunity to progress. By the end the lack of heart shown by the players made me ashamed.
The game had started brightly enough when Chris Brown was sent through, but a timely tackle ended his run. Chris was one of Dulwich’s more dangerous players in the first half coming close on a number of occasions, but Dulwich had to do the lion’s share of defending. Vista’s goalie saved a Ben Waldegabriel free-kick which he had curled round the wall to the top corner. Chris back-headed a throw into the keeper’s arms and then, shortly afterwards was instrumental in setting up Kevin Ababio, but his shot flew wide.
Vista nearly grabbed the opener on 17 minutes. The ball was chipped across the goal mouth to the far post where it was headed goalwards. Alec James covering, cleared it off the line. Steve Woodgates in goal had to be on his toes to deny Vista. He bravely dived at the onrushing striker’s feet in a one-on-one. Woody could do nothing about Vista’s goal in the 22nd minute. A ball into the box found a Vista striker in space. His shot took an evil deflection off Kevin Veasey, completely wrong-footing Woody. Dulwich went straight back at the opposition from the kick-off. A powerful run from Tony Odoh opened up the defence and the ball was directed to Ben Waldegabriel. The keeper anticipated well and came to claim the ball before Ben could put his mark on it.
28 minutes elapsed and number two for Vista. A fine strike on the run from outside the box beat Woody all ends up. Accordingly to one of the Vista parents, Mr Green-Sweatshirt, the youngster had pleaded to be sub as he reckoned he wasn’t fit. Ha!
The half-time fast approaching, Dulwich applied more pressure. Vista failed to properly clear a corner and it was headed back into the box. It fell to Chris Brown, whose shot from inside the six-yard box was deflected over. From the resultant corner, Chris attempted a bicycle but it went wide of the mark. Vista had time for one more attack. The number 8 set off down the left wing before pulled it back for his striker. A timely tackle from Rob Veasey and any danger was averted. Two down, but at this point you felt that Dulwich could still get back in it. the opening to the second half seemed to confirm this. A neat interchange of passes between Kevin Veasey and Tony Odoh saw the ball find Ben Waldegabriel. He in turn fed Chris Brown. But the defenders held firm and forced him into shooting wide. Chris was then denied by fine saving tackle in the box.
One player on the Vista team is well known to a number of Dulwich supporters. Their number 15, Veli Hakki, plays in the Southern Youth League team. In the first half he had been marked out of the game. Mr Green-Sweatshirt reckoned he should have been substituted - with hindsight so do I. After being caught offside three times in a matter of minutes and seeing Woody save in a one-on-one situation, he claimed Vista’s third goal. Running on to a through ball he beat the offside trap, rounded the keeper and slotted it home. Four minutes later it was four, Hakki again, and in almost identical fashion. A defence splitting pass saw Hakki collect the ball, round the keeper and slot it home from an angle. The Dulwich manager exhorted his charges to show a ‘bit of pride’, but by then they had dug their own graves. Another five minutes gone and Hakki claimed his hat-trick. The offside trap failed miserably again and the Vista player had the easiest of tasks to fire the ball home. Worse was to come with number six. Woody came out attempting to kick clear a hopeful pass behind the defence, but completely missed the ball, giving Vista’s number the simple task of walking it into the net. Dulwich might have gained a consolation late on when Alec James was brought down for a penalty but Rob Veasey’s kick was more reminiscent of Gareth Southgate than Stuart Pearce. The final whistle ended the torment seconds later, the cup dream thoroughly put to the sword. There has to be a certain pride shown when wearing a shirt with all the traditional and history of Dulwich Hamlet FC. There were players out there today who lacked that spirit and you ask yourself why? Could it be that half of them play for Bromley midweek.
Next stop, Beckenham and after a long trek across country, but not quite out of France. I arrived just in time to catch the last few minutes of the Under 15’s game against Kingfisher. These lads played with twice the heart despite starting the game with just nine men and forced to play a forward in goal. They were further reduced in numbers when two players, one understandably aggrieved, considering the nature of the offence, and the other for two bookings. They might have lost the game, but at least they tried. The same could be said of Bill Wyatt’s Under 16’s, gaining a valuable three points despite some eccentric refereeing.
The game had started brightly enough when Chris Brown was sent through, but a timely tackle ended his run. Chris was one of Dulwich’s more dangerous players in the first half coming close on a number of occasions, but Dulwich had to do the lion’s share of defending. Vista’s goalie saved a Ben Waldegabriel free-kick which he had curled round the wall to the top corner. Chris back-headed a throw into the keeper’s arms and then, shortly afterwards was instrumental in setting up Kevin Ababio, but his shot flew wide.
Vista nearly grabbed the opener on 17 minutes. The ball was chipped across the goal mouth to the far post where it was headed goalwards. Alec James covering, cleared it off the line. Steve Woodgates in goal had to be on his toes to deny Vista. He bravely dived at the onrushing striker’s feet in a one-on-one. Woody could do nothing about Vista’s goal in the 22nd minute. A ball into the box found a Vista striker in space. His shot took an evil deflection off Kevin Veasey, completely wrong-footing Woody. Dulwich went straight back at the opposition from the kick-off. A powerful run from Tony Odoh opened up the defence and the ball was directed to Ben Waldegabriel. The keeper anticipated well and came to claim the ball before Ben could put his mark on it.
28 minutes elapsed and number two for Vista. A fine strike on the run from outside the box beat Woody all ends up. Accordingly to one of the Vista parents, Mr Green-Sweatshirt, the youngster had pleaded to be sub as he reckoned he wasn’t fit. Ha!
The half-time fast approaching, Dulwich applied more pressure. Vista failed to properly clear a corner and it was headed back into the box. It fell to Chris Brown, whose shot from inside the six-yard box was deflected over. From the resultant corner, Chris attempted a bicycle but it went wide of the mark. Vista had time for one more attack. The number 8 set off down the left wing before pulled it back for his striker. A timely tackle from Rob Veasey and any danger was averted. Two down, but at this point you felt that Dulwich could still get back in it. the opening to the second half seemed to confirm this. A neat interchange of passes between Kevin Veasey and Tony Odoh saw the ball find Ben Waldegabriel. He in turn fed Chris Brown. But the defenders held firm and forced him into shooting wide. Chris was then denied by fine saving tackle in the box.
One player on the Vista team is well known to a number of Dulwich supporters. Their number 15, Veli Hakki, plays in the Southern Youth League team. In the first half he had been marked out of the game. Mr Green-Sweatshirt reckoned he should have been substituted - with hindsight so do I. After being caught offside three times in a matter of minutes and seeing Woody save in a one-on-one situation, he claimed Vista’s third goal. Running on to a through ball he beat the offside trap, rounded the keeper and slotted it home. Four minutes later it was four, Hakki again, and in almost identical fashion. A defence splitting pass saw Hakki collect the ball, round the keeper and slot it home from an angle. The Dulwich manager exhorted his charges to show a ‘bit of pride’, but by then they had dug their own graves. Another five minutes gone and Hakki claimed his hat-trick. The offside trap failed miserably again and the Vista player had the easiest of tasks to fire the ball home. Worse was to come with number six. Woody came out attempting to kick clear a hopeful pass behind the defence, but completely missed the ball, giving Vista’s number the simple task of walking it into the net. Dulwich might have gained a consolation late on when Alec James was brought down for a penalty but Rob Veasey’s kick was more reminiscent of Gareth Southgate than Stuart Pearce. The final whistle ended the torment seconds later, the cup dream thoroughly put to the sword. There has to be a certain pride shown when wearing a shirt with all the traditional and history of Dulwich Hamlet FC. There were players out there today who lacked that spirit and you ask yourself why? Could it be that half of them play for Bromley midweek.
Next stop, Beckenham and after a long trek across country, but not quite out of France. I arrived just in time to catch the last few minutes of the Under 15’s game against Kingfisher. These lads played with twice the heart despite starting the game with just nine men and forced to play a forward in goal. They were further reduced in numbers when two players, one understandably aggrieved, considering the nature of the offence, and the other for two bookings. They might have lost the game, but at least they tried. The same could be said of Bill Wyatt’s Under 16’s, gaining a valuable three points despite some eccentric refereeing.
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