Dulwich Hamlet Youth 2 Banstead Athletic Youth 1
Southern Youth League - East Division
Wednesday 3rd February 1999
After a month’s layoff, Dulwich got back to winning ways with a battling performance against a physical Banstead XI. Trailing to a penalty early in the second half that also saw the dismissal of Billy Waite, the youngsters drew deep on their reserves of courage and determination to snatch the three points with two fine goals in the last ten minutes of normal time.
The first half promised little in the way of entertainment as Banstead’s physical play attempted to negate Dulwich skills. In the eighth minute Steve Shevel might have given the Hamlet the lead. Michael Azzopardi whipped in a cross from the corner flag, but Steve’s downward header was claimed by the keeper on the bounce. A minute later a stunning crossfield pass from Rob Hughes released Azza down the right. He sent in a low cross that the keeper claimed off the feet of debutant Michael Cane. I resist the attempt to make any of the obvious puns at this early stage, but watch out!!
Rob Hughes fancy footwork was mesmerising the opposition defence and in the 18th minute it nearly brought a reward. Twisting, turning then a pair of stepovers and he’d done his marker. Michael Babatunde picked up the ball feeding Azza, before the favour was returned with a threaded pass back to Baba. A little bobble though and the chance was spooned over the bar.
All the pressure was coming from Dulwich but Banstead stood firm against a repeated battering from the Hamlet. The corner count was well in Dulwich’s favour though I’m not that much of a Statto to give you the exact figures. Maybe Foggy’ll tell you. From one corner Nik Wrightson jinked into the box and drove the ball in hard and low, only for a defender to knock it into touch. From the resulting corner Azza lifted the ball in to Steve Shevel but his header grazed the top of the bar.
Some wonderful footwork from Rob Hughes brought ripples of applause from the appreciative audience twisting first one way then the other then back again as he left his bemused marker for dead, before seeping the ball upfield. Minutes later he tried an audacious effort from long range after a stepover took him past the defender.
Marcus Dussard was first to a loose ball on the edge of the box, spreading the ball out to Azza on the wing. As Dulwich swept out of defence there was Marcus leading the charge as he was first into the box to meet Azza’s cross only for the lineman’s flag to deny him glory. Who was that Dean Palmer anyway?
The Banstead goal seemed to lead a charmed life as their defence tried to deal with a corner in a manner more suited to Billy Smart’s Circus than a football field. A flapping keeper, flying boots as players tried to connect, human pinball, before a relieved defender managed to hack the ball away. In stoppage time good work from Marcus set up Steve Shevel with a chance, but after making space on the edge of the box, the final shot was well wide of the mark.
At half-time, Mark Darko and Derek Pabi replaced Nik and Nana. Not that the manager seemed to notice. As Dulwich won a quick corner Steve shouted from the touchline, ‘Get in there, Nikos!’, only to hear Nik’s protest from behind that he’d already been subbed.
On five minutes disaster befell the Hamlet. A lack of communication between Bill Waite and Michael Ebanks on the edge of the box saw the Banstead centre-forward nick the ball. An almost certain goal until Billy took his feet from under him. A penalty awarded and the referee was left with no option but to show Billy the red card. Dan Mulligan took on the mantle of keeper, and despite a valiant effort his first touch of the ball was to retrieve it from the back of the net as Banstead’s 10 dispatched the penalty.
A goal down. Ten men on the field. Surely victory would slip from the grasp. Banstead took advantage of the extra man to push forward and Mully twice denied the visitors in space of a matter of minutes. First he blocked the 10 with his feet, then as the 9 cut into the box, he made a fine diving save to push the striker’s effort past the post. This seemed to inspire his team-mates and Dulwich regrouped to regain control of the game. Rob Hughes got his head to a cross from the left in front of Steve Shevel, that Steve was probably better positioned to finish off. Bad luck seems in singles as, as the ball was cleared away, Azza collected it full in the face. Worried expressions in the crowd as he was helped from the pitch. Fortunately he returned a few moments later, a little groggy and clutching a tissue to a bloody nose, but ready to resume battle. By this time Evon Casey had joined the fight in place of Alfie? Harry Palmer? Oh god not a lot of people know his name, though that’s true of most players where Kingey’s concerned.
Moving into the final quarter Dulwich sensed that there might still be something in this game for them. Derek Pabi was battling away up front and the supply from the wings and midfield was plentiful. Mark Darko found space on the right, sending the ball on into the path of Azza. His cross fell neatly for Derek who swivelled on the spot, before sending a low shot fractionally wide of the far post. With a little more luck Derek might have levelled things seconds later as Rob took a quick free-kick, but the ball rolled off his toe into the hands of a relieved keeper. Not to be denied it was that man, DEREK PABI, who brought the team’s all square with just ten minutes left to running a ball played through the defence he kept a cool head before firing the ball home.
Suddenly you forgot the one man deficit and the players too knew that this was there for the taking. Derek again was involved beating the offside trap, he laid the ball back to Michael Babatunde. His cross was nodded on by Rob Hughes. In came MICHAEL AZZOPARDI, outjumping his marker to send the ball goalwards. It seemed a goal all the way, until the keeper stretched out to reach it. It was one of those moments that seems to happen in slow motion. Groans as the keeper reached the ball, grudging applause for a magnificent save, but then the ball looped in to the top corner of the goal. 2-1 to the Hamlet. One could almost feel sympathy for the keeper.
No time to rest as Dulwich ensured the crowd had its hearts in its collective mouths in the dying minutes. First the ball ricocheted wildly in the box before Marcus cleared it. Then 3 Banstead players were left unmarked in the box, only for the 4 to head the cross wide. 11 sneaked behind the defence, but bearing down on goal he lost his head and fired ineffectually into the terrace. With almost the last kick of the game, Steve Shevel and Derek Pabi came close to adding a third. Steve hooked Azza’s cross against the base of the post and, following up, Derek’s shot was blocked. At the final whistle Banstead players crashed to the floor while Dulwich were ecstatic. The only minus point would come when the referee’s report determines the length of Billy’s suspension, but for now let us wallow in a marvellous victory gained against the odds.
The first half promised little in the way of entertainment as Banstead’s physical play attempted to negate Dulwich skills. In the eighth minute Steve Shevel might have given the Hamlet the lead. Michael Azzopardi whipped in a cross from the corner flag, but Steve’s downward header was claimed by the keeper on the bounce. A minute later a stunning crossfield pass from Rob Hughes released Azza down the right. He sent in a low cross that the keeper claimed off the feet of debutant Michael Cane. I resist the attempt to make any of the obvious puns at this early stage, but watch out!!
Rob Hughes fancy footwork was mesmerising the opposition defence and in the 18th minute it nearly brought a reward. Twisting, turning then a pair of stepovers and he’d done his marker. Michael Babatunde picked up the ball feeding Azza, before the favour was returned with a threaded pass back to Baba. A little bobble though and the chance was spooned over the bar.
All the pressure was coming from Dulwich but Banstead stood firm against a repeated battering from the Hamlet. The corner count was well in Dulwich’s favour though I’m not that much of a Statto to give you the exact figures. Maybe Foggy’ll tell you. From one corner Nik Wrightson jinked into the box and drove the ball in hard and low, only for a defender to knock it into touch. From the resulting corner Azza lifted the ball in to Steve Shevel but his header grazed the top of the bar.
Some wonderful footwork from Rob Hughes brought ripples of applause from the appreciative audience twisting first one way then the other then back again as he left his bemused marker for dead, before seeping the ball upfield. Minutes later he tried an audacious effort from long range after a stepover took him past the defender.
Marcus Dussard was first to a loose ball on the edge of the box, spreading the ball out to Azza on the wing. As Dulwich swept out of defence there was Marcus leading the charge as he was first into the box to meet Azza’s cross only for the lineman’s flag to deny him glory. Who was that Dean Palmer anyway?
The Banstead goal seemed to lead a charmed life as their defence tried to deal with a corner in a manner more suited to Billy Smart’s Circus than a football field. A flapping keeper, flying boots as players tried to connect, human pinball, before a relieved defender managed to hack the ball away. In stoppage time good work from Marcus set up Steve Shevel with a chance, but after making space on the edge of the box, the final shot was well wide of the mark.
At half-time, Mark Darko and Derek Pabi replaced Nik and Nana. Not that the manager seemed to notice. As Dulwich won a quick corner Steve shouted from the touchline, ‘Get in there, Nikos!’, only to hear Nik’s protest from behind that he’d already been subbed.
On five minutes disaster befell the Hamlet. A lack of communication between Bill Waite and Michael Ebanks on the edge of the box saw the Banstead centre-forward nick the ball. An almost certain goal until Billy took his feet from under him. A penalty awarded and the referee was left with no option but to show Billy the red card. Dan Mulligan took on the mantle of keeper, and despite a valiant effort his first touch of the ball was to retrieve it from the back of the net as Banstead’s 10 dispatched the penalty.
A goal down. Ten men on the field. Surely victory would slip from the grasp. Banstead took advantage of the extra man to push forward and Mully twice denied the visitors in space of a matter of minutes. First he blocked the 10 with his feet, then as the 9 cut into the box, he made a fine diving save to push the striker’s effort past the post. This seemed to inspire his team-mates and Dulwich regrouped to regain control of the game. Rob Hughes got his head to a cross from the left in front of Steve Shevel, that Steve was probably better positioned to finish off. Bad luck seems in singles as, as the ball was cleared away, Azza collected it full in the face. Worried expressions in the crowd as he was helped from the pitch. Fortunately he returned a few moments later, a little groggy and clutching a tissue to a bloody nose, but ready to resume battle. By this time Evon Casey had joined the fight in place of Alfie? Harry Palmer? Oh god not a lot of people know his name, though that’s true of most players where Kingey’s concerned.
Moving into the final quarter Dulwich sensed that there might still be something in this game for them. Derek Pabi was battling away up front and the supply from the wings and midfield was plentiful. Mark Darko found space on the right, sending the ball on into the path of Azza. His cross fell neatly for Derek who swivelled on the spot, before sending a low shot fractionally wide of the far post. With a little more luck Derek might have levelled things seconds later as Rob took a quick free-kick, but the ball rolled off his toe into the hands of a relieved keeper. Not to be denied it was that man, DEREK PABI, who brought the team’s all square with just ten minutes left to running a ball played through the defence he kept a cool head before firing the ball home.
Suddenly you forgot the one man deficit and the players too knew that this was there for the taking. Derek again was involved beating the offside trap, he laid the ball back to Michael Babatunde. His cross was nodded on by Rob Hughes. In came MICHAEL AZZOPARDI, outjumping his marker to send the ball goalwards. It seemed a goal all the way, until the keeper stretched out to reach it. It was one of those moments that seems to happen in slow motion. Groans as the keeper reached the ball, grudging applause for a magnificent save, but then the ball looped in to the top corner of the goal. 2-1 to the Hamlet. One could almost feel sympathy for the keeper.
No time to rest as Dulwich ensured the crowd had its hearts in its collective mouths in the dying minutes. First the ball ricocheted wildly in the box before Marcus cleared it. Then 3 Banstead players were left unmarked in the box, only for the 4 to head the cross wide. 11 sneaked behind the defence, but bearing down on goal he lost his head and fired ineffectually into the terrace. With almost the last kick of the game, Steve Shevel and Derek Pabi came close to adding a third. Steve hooked Azza’s cross against the base of the post and, following up, Derek’s shot was blocked. At the final whistle Banstead players crashed to the floor while Dulwich were ecstatic. The only minus point would come when the referee’s report determines the length of Billy’s suspension, but for now let us wallow in a marvellous victory gained against the odds.
Team: Billy Waite, Marcus Dussard, Michael Ebanks, Dan Mulligan, Michael Babatunde, Nik Wrightson (Mark Darko 45), Michael Azzopardi, Nana Asante (Derek Pabi 45), Michael Cane (Evon Casey 51), Rob Hughes, Steve Shevel.
Goal: Derek Pabi 80, Michael Azzopardi 82
Man of the Match: Dan Mulligan - calm at the back as usual and a couple of magnificent saves as stand-in keeper which kept Hamlet in the game.
