Hendon FC P Dulwich Hamlet P

Hendon FC P Dulwich Hamlet P
Ryman League Premier Division
Saturday 9th December 2000

Unsurprisingly last Saturday’s trip to the sodden wasteland that is North London fell prey to a postponement. Hendon’s pitch, now touted as a possible Site of Special Scientific Interest, as a result of the various types of pond life now breeding there, resembled a bog on Saturday morning. Already damaged by rain and poor drainage, further downpours on Friday were to render the pitch unplayable, giving the referee one of the easier tasks of his career in announcing the contest’s postponement. Les Cleevely had hoped to give some of his players some vital match practice in a Suburban League match at home to Met Police, but that too was a victim of the weather as the heavens opened on Saturday morning leaving huge puddles all over the pitch.

Hendon’s groundsman returns from inspecting the pitch

Forthcoming Fixtures:

On Saturday, Champion Hill will be heaving as league leaders Aldershot Town arrive in SE22. The large travelling support of the Shots should ensure a magnificent atmosphere as Dulwich attempt to gain revenge for a narrow 1-0 defeat at the Recreation Ground thanks to Gary Abbott’s debatable penalty. Indeed the redoubtable Abbott certainly enjoys playing against the Hamlet for in the corresponding fixture last season, he popped up to nod in the winner in the third minute of stoppage time after a somewhat anonymous game by his standards. Goals will certainly be on the agenda as the previous five fixtures between the new incarnation of Aldershot and the Hamlet have produced 20 goals, seven of them in a cracker in April 1999, when an Abbott, that man again, brace saw the Shots level the game at 3-3 only for Byron Harper to snatch all three points in stoppage time.
Under manager George Borg, renowned in his time as a player at Champion Hill at the end of the 70’s for his frequent appearances before the committee, the Shots have constantly challenged for the title, though often falling short in the long run. This season however they look well placed to clinch a place in the Conference following a narrow 2-1 win over Heybridge Swifts last Saturday that sent them top. However the likes of near-neighbours and deadly rivals Farnborough Town and FA Cup giant killers Canvey Island may have something to say about that.
Going into Saturday’s game, Borg has the luxury of picking from a full squad with no suspension and the only injury being the long-term knee ligament damage suffered by Grant Payne. His spot was filled by Wayne Andrews from St Albans, a speedy 22-year-old striker who has league experience with Watford and Peterborough United. His pace was instrumental in the concession of that decisive penalty back in September that ended Dulwich’s unbeaten start to the season. Elsewhere the Shots boast a wealth of experience in their line-up, none more than the custodian with the creaking legs, 38 year-old Andy Pape, still keeping the young whippersnappers out of the No 1 jersey.

After the Aldershot game, it is time for the necessary evil that is the Full Members Cup and on Tuesday evening Dulwich welcome Walton & Hersham in the Ryman League’s equivalent to the ZDS Cup. Although the Swans were relegated last season there seems to be some unwritten league rule that the two teams meet every year in some competition to ensure the success of Theo Papitis’s plan to maintain Millwall’s status as top dogs in South London. For the last three years the men from suburbia have thwarted Dulwich hopes of regaining the Surrey Senior Cup. However, the Surrey side is struggling at the wrong end of Division 1 in a pack just above the relegation slots. Player to watch – Phil Smith. On loan from Millwall, the young custodian has already made a name for himself. However not with his keeping but for scoring a goal in a recent match at Stompond Lane.

Suspensions

Missing from the Dulwich line-up on Saturday will be Declan Perkins and Oliver Hunt, both serving the second part of a three-match ban as a result of their sendings-off in the Slough game. Better news comes in the shape of Veli Hakki’s return having served a one-match suspension that saw him miss the defeat by Gravesend.

New Signings

Another new face at Champion Hill in the shape of Barbadian international, Gus Hurdle. The flamboyant and highly skilled midfielder has Football League experience with Plymouth Argyle and Brentford where he made over 100 appearance. Last season he plied his trade in the Premier Division of the Ryman League with Basingstoke where he quickly became a firm favourite with the Camrose fans. Among his other clubs he numbers Crawley Town.
He has represented Barbados in the World Cup, though not with any happy outcomes (yet!). In August of this year he was dismissed in a 7-0 defeat by the United States in a qualifying match.

Aldershot Town 1 Dulwich Hamlet 0

Dulwich slipped to their first defeat of the season in controversial circumstances against one of the title favourites last Saturday. The game was a bad tempered affair settled by a controversial penalty after 28 minutes, converted by Gary Abbott, but the game was marred by two red cards for Mark Garland and Veli Hakki and some ugly crowd scenes reminiscent of some of the darkest days of English football. Both teams now seem likely to suffer the wrath of the FA.
This was always going to be a tough game and a chance for Dulwich to measure their progress this season. With four draws behind them, a trip to the Recreation Ground is always a test for even the most seasoned of campaigners. A large vociferous crowd in attendance, a team managed by the tempestuous George Borg, once much feared by committee members at Champion Hill, and in their forward line Gary Abbott, a player who despite, advancing years still knows where the goal is. In addition, the Shots have recruited further experience such as Colin Fielder from Kingstonian and Mark Blake once of Southampton. All this with a budget Dave Garland can only dream of. Today he was deprived of Dean Palmer, whose inch perfect cross had supplied Matt Fowler with his late equaliser at Basingstoke, but that apart the team was unchanged.
Right for the start the abuse of Peter Garland began, but it on the field the players concentrated on their game. Both sides seemed nervous in the opening exchanges, utilising the wide-open spaces but let down by weak finishing. Wayne Andrews was proving to be a handful from the start, but his shooting was more comparable to that of Julie. The ease with which he crumpled under tackles should have been a prescience of things to come. Neither of the two veteran keepers, Les Cleevely and Andy Pape, had much to concern them at the start. Sheldon Brown hammered one good chance wide of the post whilst Abbott’s attempt at a long-range shot was more of a danger to passing traffic. When Dulwich were awarded a free-kick in the seventh minute, fans expected a Peter Garland special that might silence the boo-boys but he curled it just wide.
The game swung from end to end with Andrews snap shot just wide of the angle, but an overlapping Fowler first time effort forced Pape to stretch ageing muscles. Straight on the attack, Aldershot went and when Jason Chewins skipped down the left to deliver a pinpoint cross, Dulwich hearts were in mouths as Abbott rose to meet the ball. Untypically the header was well off the mark.
A fine move that saw Michael Ebanks feed Brown, before the midfielder cheekily nutmegged Owen Coll and slipped the ball across the box, seemed ended when Mark Blake nipped in ahead of Peter Garland. Pape hacked the ball out but only to Gary Hewitt who returned it to sender only for the venerable custodian to punch the ball off the head of Brown.
Aldershot’s defending seemed increasingly desperate as they conceded yet another free-kick just outside the box. Peter Garland blasted the ball into a crudely constructed wall, picking up the rebound. A melee of legs, maybe a foul, maybe a penalty, but instead the referee waved play on. Tony Chin pounced on the ball, only to slam the ball into Pape’s midriff, Fortunately a linesman’s flag spared his blushes.
Dulwich survived a penalty appeal of their own in the 21st minute when Andrews went down under a challenge from Mark Garland, then Richard Gell forced Cleevely into a full length save to preserve parity. However it was not to last much longer. In the 28th minute, Dulwich found themselves caught out as Andrews latched on to a long ball. Cleevely came out to narrow the angle, but as he pushed the ball away from the striker’s feet, Andrews tumbled over him. Straight away linesman, Steve Tyler, indicated a penalty. Up stepped Abbott and hammered the ball straight down the middle, leaving Cleevely helpless as he dived to his right.
Bolstered by this breakthrough, Aldershot attempted to add to their lead. For a few minutes, it seemed as if they might achieve this. Lee Protheroe’s fine run ended with a wild shot that blazed over the bar, but Andrews forced Cleevely into another sharp save after winning a tussle with Chin on the edge of the box. Protheroe missed another chance on the halftime whistle after he sneaked in behind Ebanks to meet a cross only to direct it straight at Cleevely.
Fired up for the second half Dulwich came out convinced that a positive result was within there grasp. A move that began with Ebanks’ surging run down the wing, saw four players combine before Pape claimed Brown’s deflected shot a nanosecond before Peter Garland could nip in.
Aldershot were hanging on with their only real threat coming from Andrews forced one fine save out of Cleevely and missed another gilt edged opportunity. Sensing a chance Dave Garland sent on Danny Cecil to add pace. Although accustomed to playing in the centre, he slotted in neatly on the right, providing some tempting crosses from the wing.
Then, on 69 minutes, the wheels started falling off, Mark Garland, booked for a heavy challenge 10 minutes earlier received a second yellow, after complaining of a piece of shirt-tugging at a corner that Mr Tingey had chosen to overlook. Particularly galling as moments earlier the man in black had chosen not to book Protheroe for a boot that struck Ebanks in the head.
The pressure cooker was reaching boiling point and, with ten minutes left on the clock, the lid blew off. Gary Bowyer’s crude challenge on Ian Hathaway, on as a substitute for just 8 minutes, seemed worthy of red, but Mr Tingey though otherwise. An ugly confrontation ensued with a number of players squaring up to one another. From the terraces the vitriol spewed, followed by a cascade of stones, coins and coke cans. ‘Wild animals’, was the description used by one Aldershot supporter. Four minutes passed before order was restored. As a result of the melee, Cleevely and Coll’s names were added to those in the box, although it seemed they were trying to calm the situation rather than inflame it. As the unfortunate Hathaway was helped from the field with a suspected broken ankle, a prudent decision was taken to replace Bowyer with Bobby George.
Even with nine men on the field, Dulwich could have come close to snatching a point, both Peter Garland and Fowler going close. In the last minute of normal time, a weaving run from substitute Hakki, saw Peter Garland sweep the ball across the face of goal. In slid George, only to miss connecting with ball by inches for what would surely have been the equaliser. Almost at the death, Hakki became the second Dulwich player to be red carded after a late challenge on Ben Abbey that might normally have merited a mere caution.
On the footballing front, the news is perhaps good, only losing by that ‘dodgy’ penalty. However, this pales into insignificance when both the on-field and off-field incidents are taken into consideration. Many people prefer non-league football because of its perceived safe atmosphere and gentlemanly behaviour. Hopefully the damage can be repaired, before we sink in a mire of our own making.

Man of the match: Dave Richards: kept a cool head in defence and was instrumental in restricting the Aldershot attack to sporadic, mainly unsuccessful raids.

Team:
1. Les Cleevely
2. Gary Hewitt (12: Danny Cecil 55 minutes)
3. Michael Ebanks
4. Dave Richards
5. Mark Garland
6. Tony Chin
7. Sheldon Brown
8. Peter Garland
9. Matt Fowler
10. Gary Bowyer (14: Bobby George 88 minutes)
11. Phil Barber (15: Veli Hakki 69 minutes)

Dulwich Hamlet 1 Enfield 1

Dulwich Hamlet 1 Enfield 1
Ryman Premier Division
Saturday 26th August 2000

Still unbeaten but still without a win - so stand Dulwich three games into the new season. As against Purfleet, a point against homeless Enfield was secured thanks to a determined second half fightback, which could have ultimately ensured a first victory. However that would have been unfair on Enfield who dominated for large periods of the match, only for Matt Fowler's stunning header 11 minutes from the death to cancel out Kevin Rattray's 20th minute opener.
The only change from the Purfleet game saw Dave Richards replace the impressive Danny Cecil in the heart of defence, after the youngster suffered a thigh strain. Striker Konye Amaechi who had made a promising debut, kept his place although Fowler had responded to treatment enough to claim a seat on the bench.
It was to be Dulwich's defence that was to be first tested with the Hamlet struggling to cope with Enfield's pacy forward line, ever probing, ever testing. A number of times they went close early on but shoddy shooting and competent keeping kept the scoresheet blank. In contrast Declan Perkins was getting little change out of the E's defence although he would have hoped to have done better when meeting a delightful cross from Dean Palmer only to plop a weak header into the hands of a grateful Jerome John in the away goal.
On the quarter hour Amaechi refused to give up on a ball out of midfield, battling Adam Gant to reclaim the ball and set up Perkins. He sent in a fine shot but it lacked the power and speed to trouble John.
As so often in the past it was to be a corner that was to prove Hamlet's downfall, as Enfield took the lead in the 20th minute. A simple goal out of the textbook, but one that will have the Dulwich management pulling their hair out in frustration. A short corner from the left by Jay Devereux was delivered into the heart of the Dulwich box where Rattray met it with a thumping header that gave Les Cleevely no chance.
Within a couple of minutes E's threatened to double their lead as the impressive John Morgan sliced through futile Dulwich resistance, leaving a string of players trailing in his wake only to overrun the ball at the death, allowing Cleevely to claim at his feet. Still there was enough in that moment of genius to understand why he has been watched by a number of league scouts.
How Dulwich were still in this game was a mystery but Enfield would rue a number of missed chances that could have put this game beyond the Hamlet's before half time. Chief culprit was James Bunn who despite running the Dulwich defence ragged had clearly left his shooting boots in North London. Finding a space on the right, he unleashed a rasping shot from 20 yards out that flashed across the face of Cleevely's goal but skimmed the wrong side of the post. Three minutes before half-time he was guilty of a similar lack of bearings went a well worked freekick saw him drag the ball wide of the post.
Dulwich frustration came to a head in the closing minutes, as Tony Chin became the fourth Hamlet player to be booked by an over officious referee. The Dulwich defender was apoplectic when his header from a corner was blatantly deflected wide only for the Frimley official to award a goal kick. Bang on the whistle Chin was joined by Sheldon Brown after his heavy tackle was deemed worthy of a caution.
Changes were called for if Dulwich were to gain anything from this match and, at the start of the second half; Dave Garland replaced Amaechi with Fowler and brought on the evergreen Gary Hewitt in place of Brown. This brought an immediate turnaround in Dulwich fortunes as they started to come more into the game. Fowler had an instant effect, setting up Dulwich captain, Peter Garland only for the midfield general to balloon the ball over the bar with only John to beat. Dulwich stepped up a gear and the pressure on the visitors' goal intensified but somehow they could not fashion a breakthrough.
Mark Garland went close with a thumping header from a freekick that was deflected wide, only for a linesman's flag to negate the effort, but with brother Peter leading the charge from midfield and the ever dangerous Dean Palmer and Michael Ebanks constantly threatening down the flanks surely the equaliser was not far away. Fortune wads certainly favouring the hamlet as Bunn contrived to waste two glorious chances, first blasting wide from a clear scoring position, then being denied by a fine save from Cleevely.
On 72 minutes, Palmer unleashed a blazing shot on the run over the bar, but it was to be his last contribution to the game, hobbling off shortly afterwards to be replaced by Bobby George. Five minutes later and Richards could only hold his head in his hands as a gilt-edged chance went begging. The centre-half was unmarked as he met Peter Garland's corner only to misdirect his free header an eternity wide of the mark. Still this was but a brief reprieve for the E's for two minutes later the scores were level. Ebanks collected a ball down the left-hand channel, pulling the ball back to Peter Garland. He lofted in a deep cross the back post where it found the head of Fowler, who put a stunning bullet header past the powerless John. Ecstasy reigned on the pitch and on the terraces as the ball hit the back of the net. With 11 minutes still on the clock could a victory be on the cards?
On the Hamlet battled and they came close to clinching the game, most notably when John was just too alert, meeting Ebanks inviting ball, nanoseconds before the onrushing Peter Garland. However there was to be no further scoring.
Truly a game of two halves, the Hamlet were probably the happier at the final whistle, their second half performance punishing an Enfield side that had had enough chances to wrap the game up in the first 45 minutes. Still credit to the visitors - for a club with no home and whose wages are paid by a loyal bunch of supporters, there was no quarter given. The only black point on the day was Mr Melin, whose lavish distribution of yellow cards must surely ensure promotion to a higher level, the sooner the better.

Team: Les Cleevely; Dean Palmer (Bobby George); Michael Ebanks; Dave Richards; Mark Garland; Tony Chin; Sheldon Brown (Gary Hewitt); Peter Garland; Konye Amaechi (Matt Fowler); Declan Perkins; Phil Barber

CORINTHIAN CASUALS 0 DULWICH HAMLET 1 (FRIENDLY)

These two former giants of the amateur game met at Tolworth on Tuesday night. In a hard fought match, Casuals came out of it with a lot of credit, especially when you consider that five first team regulars were absent.
Dulwich, despite being a Premier Division side could not, for nearly an hour find a way through some determined Casuals defending, and only won thanks to a penalty.
Casuals started well and could have taken the lead after two minutes, but Mark Webb's low drive was well saved by the Hamlet keeper. Both sides were lively at this stage; Dulwich more creative with the ball while Casuals battled hard and prevented their opponents from threatening.
Iain Waghorn was next to try his luck for Casuals on 21 minutes, but his shot flew well wide. Moments later John Hotchkiss was forced into a reflex save at the other end when he blocked with his feet.
The half continued to be a good battle, but ended goal less. The second half saw Casuals continue to dig in. Eventually Dulwich finally broke through and John Russell-Smith conceded a penalty. Declan Perkins made no mistake with the spot kick on 55 minutes.
As the half continued Dulwich were slowly building up the momentum, but it has to be said that they rarely penetrated the Casuals back line until tiredness crept in with 15 minutes remaining. Even then they failed to add to their lead.

CCFC Players: John Hotchkiss, Dave Roberts, Mark Pope, John Reddin, John Russell-Smith, Bruce Martin, Micky Owen, Mark Webb (Leon Raishbrook), Iain Waghorn, Jamie Goodwin (Jamie White), Simon Sobihy (Chris Watney)

Taken from the Corinthian-Casuals Website

Preview of the Season 2000-2001

On Saturday 19th August, Dulwich start what is potentially one of the most important seasons in their long and illustrious history. With doubts concerning their long-term future while they await news of their planned redevelopment, supporters are looking forward to the 2000-2001 season with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation. Add to this the planned realignment of the non-league pyramid that could see the Ryman Isthmian League reduced to level of a feeder league to the Southern League and you can understand the enormity of the task facing Dave Garland’s men over the next 8 months.
In the early part of last season Dulwich were challenging eventual winners Dagenham and Redbridge until the loss of strikeforce Dave Stevens and Dave McEwen to Hayes and Spurs respectively. However, the final position of 10th was not too disappointing. This season a similar position would be equally welcome.
When it comes to winning the league, there is only one team in the frame – Aldershot. Dulwich get an early test against the big spenders from Hampshire when they travel there on 2nd September. Aldershot have invested heavily during the close season, bringing in the likes of Mark Blake from Southampton. With the deadly Grant Payne due to return from surgery to partner Gary Abbott (40 goals last season), the Reds must be one of the shortest priced favourites for the title in years. Champions 2 years ago, then relegated straight back from the Conference last season, Sutton United have suffered the loss of a number of key players and look unlikely to challenge for honours. The main challenges are expected to be Chesham United, Canvey Island and St Albans. Canvey in particular should be noted as their chairman has already made the proud boast that his side would be in the Conference or Division 3 within 2 years. He put his money where his mouth is with the purchase of Dulwich nemesis, Steve Clark from St Albans. Elsewhere Purfleet have always surprised people with high places in recent years, mainly thanks to the goals of George Georgiou.
Farnborough Town, like their Hampshire neighbours, have invested heavily in players but last season their failed to click on the field. Despite their financial clout, I do not see them as a challenge, although a cup or two might head their way.
With Aldershot possibly winning the title at a stroll, the real battle is going to be at the bottom with a number of clubs striving to avoid the trapdoor into Division 1. Carshalton Athletic just missed the drop last season, and with backroom turmoil and the loss of a number of key players, they will find it difficult to escape this time. Homeless Enfield will be playing all their games at Boreham Wood as they search for a new permanent home and that will surely have a strain on resources. Both Gravesend and Northfleet and Harrow look set to struggle this season. Harrow in particular were lucky to escape the drop last year. Add to this Hendon who’ve seen main hitman Paul Whitmarsh move to Welling and you’ll understand the importance of Dulwich taking points off all these potential strugglers. Of the promoted clubs, Grays Athletic, Croydon FC and Maidenhead, none look likely to set the Premier Division alight. Dulwich will certainly relish a chance to gain revenge Croydon who dumped them out of the Ryman League Cup last season, especially in light of the high number of ex-Dulwich players in their line-up, including Eben Allen who bagged 18 goals in the league.
All in all, it promises to be an interesting season and my prediction is a respectable midtable position for the Hamlet. The Cup competitions could bring some relief with the FA Trophy sending Dave Garland’s men deep into the Forest of Dean to meet Cinderford Town on 4th November. I have a feeling though that, despite everything a good run in the FA Cup is due, despite the potential for a hiccup in the 2nd Qualifying Round (Eastbourne Town or Selsey or Reading Town or Lancing away).

Paul Muir Memorial Cup

On Thursday 10th August, Dulwich Hamlet will be the guests of Croydon Athletic in a pre-season friendly, kick-off 7-30 p.m. Although only a friendly, this game will have a slightly different approach to it as both clubs will be playing for the Paul Muir Memorial Cup in memory of Croydon Athletic’s Paul Muir who died in tragic circumstances at the turn of the year. The cup has been put up by the club’s board of directors and it is hoped that that it will be played for each year against a local club in memory of a popular young man, untimely taken from his friends and family.
It was in January of this year that Paul Muir lost a 19-week battle for life. He had been in and out of a coma at Croydon’s Mayday University Hospital since being attacked as he left a nightclub in Croydon in the early hours of August 22nd 1999. He suffered serious brain injuries in the cowardly attack that left him barely able to write his own name. Despite the best efforts of medical staff both at the Mayday Hospital and at the specialist head injuries unit at the Atkinson Morley Hospital, doctors could only tell his parents that the brain injuries were so severe that it would only be a matter of time before the inevitable happened.
At the time of his death, the club’s director told the local paper that ‘the death of Paul Muir has cast a shadow over the club. There are no words to describe neither the depth of our sadness nor the extent of our sympathy for his family’.
Paul Muir joined Croydon Athletic in 1994 after a long career with famed giant killers Yeovil Town who he had joined as a schoolboy. At the age of 35 and nearing the end of his playing career at the time of his death, he had been preparing for a new role at Mayfields coaching youngsters.
If you only make it to one preseason friendly, you should ensure that it is this, not only for the esteemed hospitality that Croydon Athletic always provide, but to pay a personal tribute to Paul Muir. Bill Shankly's oft quoted phrase about life, death and football seems extremely misguided in this instance.

Youth Team returns

After a year’s hiatus, Youth Team football returns to Champion Hill with Dulwich Hamlet resuming playing membership of the Southern Youth League. Who can forget the unprecedented success of recent years when Dulwich twice won their division and went on from there to achieve even greater success clinching the overall Championship in the end of season playoffs in 1998 and 1999? In 1998, Dulwich also reached the final of the League Cup, but were defeated by Chipstead in a stormy final at Kingstonian.

Those teams have also seen the likes of Veli Hakki, Dean Palmer, Michael Azzopardi, Michael Ebanks and Marcus Dussard step up into the First Team. Previous to them the Youth Team had also featured the likes of Steve Watts, now with Leyton Orient, Carl Cort and Tommy Tyne, plying their trade at The Den, and Marlon King, recently signed by Gillingham for £250,000 from Barnet.

Attempting to emulate the success of Micky Read and latterly Steve King, John Kasapi will be steeping into some very big shoes as he takes charge of Dulwich Hamlet Youth in the Southern Youth League. He comes to us via Welling United, where his under 16’s achieved much success in the Kent Youth League. Obviously the first season will be a learning experience as the intention is start with primarily an Under 17 side, but in re-establishing the team, the hope it that more success will follow. As proved in the past the opportunity is there for players to progress through the ranks.

This season Dulwich will be competing in the Central Division alongside Banstead Athletic, Carshalton Athletic, Chipstead, Croydon FC, Kingstonian, Sutton United, Tooting & Mitcham, Walton & Hersham, Whyteleafe and Woking. Home games are on Wednesdays at Champion Hill usually with a 7-30 p.m. kick off and admission costs a mere £2 (£1 concessions), extremely good value for money since this also includes a programme. You may even gain bragging rights when you can state to your chums, ‘I saw so-and-so in the Youth Team before he made the First Team’.

Before the season starts there are a number of friendlies – brief details below:

Sunday 13th August: Thamesmead Town (A)
Wednesday 17th August: Holmesdale (A)
Sunday 20th August: Swanley Furness (A)

At the moment I am lacking the full details re kick-offs and locations although I hope to include these in the Spurs programme. The season then kicks off in earnest on Sunday 27th August with a trip to Sutton United. This is followed by another friendly game although details are still being finalised. The first home game is the following Wednesday when Carshalton Athletic are our guests here at Champion Hill. Come along and cheer on the Hamlet stars of the future.

Ashford Town (Middx) 2 Dulwich Hamlet 2

Last year, Ashford Town came mighty close to causing an upset against Dulwich in the Surrey Senior Cup, eventually going down by the odd goal in five in a cracking match. Last Saturday the hosts almost pulled off another shock victory. After suffering a early setback, conceding two early goals, the Hamlet fought their way back into this game scoring twice in the second half thanks to a disputed penalty and a stunning strike from substitute Veli Hakki.
Dave Garland introduced a number of changes from the previous Saturday’s reverse at Whyteleafe, bringing in a number of players whose contributions had been instrumental in bringing the Suburban League Championship to Champion Hill the previous season. Lee Macken and Caleb Kamara-Taylor both made their first starts of the pre-season, whilst Dean Green, shorn of his peroxide locks, returned after missing the defeat at Church Road. Newcomers Dave Argent and Dave Richards also started. Missing though was Peter Garland.
Having finally gained election to the Isthmian League, after a number of years of trying, the hosts were anxious to prove their suitability for the higher echelons of the pyramid against opposition three divisions above them. Despite the fact that this as their first warm-up match, there was no sign of ring rustiness as they took the game to the Hamlet from the off. With just three minutes on the clock Ashford stunned the travelling support when Tony Chin’s high tackle in the box was deemed illegal by the referee. Tony Nolan’s spotkick came straight out of the textbook as he blasted the ball into the top corner of the net, sending Les Cleevely the wrong way.
Although Michael Azzopardi sent a low shot from outside the box skidding wide of goalkeeper Paul Burgess’s left hand post, the majority of the traffic was heading in the direction of Cleevely’s goal. With the defence at six and sevens it was only a magnificent saving tackle from Mark Garland that prevented the second after a poor offside trap had been breached leaving Cleevely exposed. This was merely a delay of the inevitable and in the 12th minute the home side extended their lead through Tony Eggington. The tall striker brushed aside all attempts to dispossess him before beating Cleevely inside his near post with a clinical finish from just inside the penalty area.
The same player could have made it 3-0 within 2 minutes but as unable to turn in ??’s shot across the goal at the back post. Memories of that disastrous 6-0 slaughter at Croydon, back in 1998 started to flood back.
Dulwich tried to respond, but could not break down a stubborn defence ably marshalled by Burgess in goal. Azzopardi and Michael Ebanks provided some tempting crosses but too often the forwards were outjumped by markers or the cross simply failed to find a Pink and Blue shirt waiting. A number of corners were forced as the half wore on, but Burgess was commanding in his area. Although he rarely seemed to catch the ball, chances afford by his punched clearances were seldom seized upon by Dulwich. Macken grazed the crossbar with one effort but the Hamlet had little to show for their efforts.
Four minutes from time, Burgess made an uncommon mistake, flapping at one in an interminable series of corners. The ball fell at the feet of Chin, but he could not re-enact his Cup Final goal as a bevy of defenders flung themselves at his goalbound effort, blocking it on the line.
Trailing 2-0 at half-time, the manager led his players to the dressing room with a face like thunder. A roasting was deserved and a second half fightback needed if an embarrassment was to be avoided.
A number of changes were made at half-time, most influential being that of Veli Hakki. Also on were Sheldon Brown and George Gibson, members of that victorious Reserve side. Gibson particularly impressed, relishing the chance to impress the First Team management and linking up well with Bobby George.
After Ashford’s Andy Frost, Dulwich’s tormentor in the Surrey Senior Cup, had wasted a good opening, blasted high and wide when well placed, it became the George and Gibson Show as the pair probed at the home defence. Only a brave save at George’s feet from Burgess prevented him putting the Hamlet back in the game, chasing Ebanks measured pass. Then a moment of controversy gave him another opportunity after Dulwich were awarded a penalty after the ball struck a defender’s hand close to the edge of the box. Referee Mr Day was convinced and barely had the ball been placed on the spot, than George was wheeling away in delight have put the ball into the bottom corner of the net beyond the keeper’s outstretched fingertips.
Dulwich seemed rejuvenated and it was no surprise when four minutes later the scores were levelled. A Dulwich attack seemed to be faltering under weight of numbers, but when the ball fell to Hakki 25 yards out, there was only one thought in his mind. The ball left his foot like shell from a cannon. Burgess leapt to his right but was left grasping at thin air as the ball flew past him and into the back of the net via the upright. A crowd, which had been appreciative if a little indolent in the sweltering sunshine, applauded this wonderful effort to the rafters.
Still half an hour to go and despite this being a friendly neither side seemed content with the draw. Cleevely was forced into a fine stop at the base of his post to deny ?? the chance to restore his side’s lead. All the while Dulwich’s youthful continued to pose problems for Ashford’s defence, particularly when Dominic Barclay replaced Mark Garland with ten minutes left on the watch.
Five minutes from the end it took the timely intervention of Noel Frankum, to deny Ashford a third after the offside trap was sprung once again. From the resultant corner a wide header gave ?? the opportunity to score, but his shot posed more danger to the aircraft leaving nearby Heathrow than to the Dulwich goal.
In stoppage time, Dulwich might have gained an unjust victory. First Gibson flatfooted his marker before firing a shot into the side netting, and then with almost the last kick of the game Barclay looked odds-on to score only for Burgess to turn his powerful low drive on to the post via his right boot.

Team:
1. Les Cleevely
2. Tony Chin
3. Michael Ebanks
4. Dave Argent
5. Mark Garland
6. Dave Richards
7. Michael Azzopardi
8. Caleb Kamara-Taylor
9. Dominic Barclay
10. Dean Green
11. Lee Macken
Subs (all used):
12: Sheldon Brown
13: Noel Frankum
14: Bobby George
15: George Gibson
16: Veli Hakki
17: Steve ??

Whyteleafe FC 2 Dulwich Hamlet 1

Whyteleafe FC 2 Dulwich Hamlet 1
Challenge Match

Saturday 22nd July

In sweltering conditions, deep in the heart of the Surrey stockbroker belt, Dulwich’s pre-season preparations took a knock as they succumbed to lower division opposition in the shape of Division 1 side, Whyteleafe. Looking sharper, Dave Garland’s former employers took advantage of a lacklustre display from their loftier opponents to chalk up a narrow victory although the final score was a little flattering, with all three goals coming from home players.
No new names to report in the starting line-up, with Paul Scott and Matt Fowler again leading the attack. Liam Kane continued on the left, balancing at the other end of the age scale by the reappearance of Michael Azzopardi on the right. Michael Ebanks who impressed so many with his determined display against Reading continued at left back.
Games against Whyteleafe always seem to the air of a catastrophe waiting to happen – who can forget that disastrous performance in the FA Trophy in 1998 – and taking advantage of the slope, the home team put Les Cleevely’s goal under intense pressure from the kick-off.
After a number of scares, it came as no surprise when the opening goal arrived after just five minutes had elapsed. A Whyteleafe corner on the right was poorly cleared to the waiting boot of Paul McKay who thumped in a powerful volley from the edge of the box through a crowd of players giving Cleevely no chance.
Worse was to follow for the Hamlet a couple of minutes later when Kane was forced to leave the field. Chasing an overhit through ball, he suddenly pulled up as if shot, feeling the effects of a pulled leg muscle. Still Dave Garland had an ace up his sleeve, as the replacement turned out to be Phil Barber, once of Crystal Palace. 35 he may be but the veteran of the Eagles run to the FA Cup Final proved to be one of the more influential Hamlet players on the pitch.
As Dulwich started to come back into the game, a horrendous blunder by Cleevely allowed Whyteleafe to double their lead. Collecting a back pass from Ebanks, rather than hoof the ball into the wild blue yonder the keeper inexplicably attempted to dribble the ball round the fast reacting Leion Dillon. The ‘Leafe striker must have thought Christmas had arrived early for he had the simplest of tasks of dispossessing Cleevely and then made light work of slotting the ball into the unguarded net. 20 minutes gone and 2-0 down. Still rather have the major cock-ups in friendlies.
Dulwich had their chances to get back into the game but apart from a reasonable curler from Fowler and Peter Garland’s long-range effort that when a foot wide, Danny Rose in the home goal barely had to break sweat. It was not until the 27th minute that he was truly tested and from the unlikeliest of sources. From a corner Mark Garland met the clearance was a crashing volley that saw Rose pull off a magnificent reaction save to deny Garland his first goal in Hamlet colours.
On the half-hour, the home defences were finally breached, although the goal came from a home player. Following a corner the ball pinged around the home box, before a weak clearance reached the foot of Barber. He sent over a tempting cross and as mass of bodies tired to make contact with it, it skimmed delicately off the head of Gary Fisher beyond the reach of Rose and just inside his right-hand post. After five fruitless appearances in Pink’n’Blue, Fisher had finally managed a positive contribution for the Hamlet!
Eight minutes from half-time Scott should have levelled things against his former team-mates, but after being sent clean through on goal, he placed his effort too close to the keeper, allowing Rose to save with his feet.
The half ended as it had begun with the home side in the ascendancy. McKay might have added a third after a first time shot just wide of the post had Cleevely vainly stretching. Then a miscommunication between Cleevely and Ebanks almost exposed the Hamlet goal, only for the diminutive defender to clear the danger at the last second.
The second half brought a flurry of changes as the thermometer rose and the tempo slowed. It became a game of ‘Spot The Newcomer’, as shirt numbers became more confused. A brace of 16’s and 14’s in Hamlet colours added to the confusion. In addition a number of players left the field at half-time, only to return later, so apologies if any misunderstanding or misidentification occurs. The final 45 minutes saw the appearance of Dominic Barclay, once of Sutton, Dave Richards, Dave Argent, Shaun Daley and Noel Frankum along with Dulwich’s own Jimmy Krankie, Jamie Martin.
Still the stifling heat took its toll on the players and the helter-skelter pace of the first half could not be maintained. Whyteleafe maintained the upper hand and it took a fine save from Cleevely, atoning for his blunder, to keep the Hamlet in touch. Indeed it might have been level just past the quarter-hour when Mark Garland was denied once again as his goalbound effort was kicked off the line. After good work from Barber, Brother Peter was similarly denied when his header was intercepted by a timely intervention from a defender.
As fans dozed in the sun, the game wended its way to its conclusion, but not before the returning Fowler had forced replacement custodian, Matt Martin, into a full length save. In the dying seconds, a draw might have been clinched but this would have been unfair on the hosts. A mass breakout instigated by Martin found Ebanks free on the left. His finely judged cross picked out Fowler but he fluffed his shot allowing Martin to unknowingly block the attempt. The ball ran loose and Barclay was quickest to react only to stab his chance into the keeper’s midriff.
In the end, the hosts deserved their victory, but with half-a-dozen games yet before the season opener against Grays, it is too early to make assumptions about who will be on the teamsheet come 19th August.

Team:
Les Cleevely, Gary Hewitt, Michael Ebanks, Veli Hakki, Mark Garland, Tony Chin, Michael Azzopardi, Peter Garland, Matt Fowler, Paul Scott, Liam Kane

Subs used: Phil Barber, Dominic Barclay, Dave Richards, Dave Argent, Shaun Daley, Jamie Martin, Noel Frankum

Whyteleafe FC 2 Dulwich Hamlet 1

Whyteleafe FC 2 Dulwich Hamlet 1
Challenge Match – Saturday 15th July

In sweltering conditions, deep in the heart of the Surrey stockbroker belt, Dulwich’s pre-season preparations took a knock as they succumbed to lower division opposition in the shape of Division 1 side, Whyteleafe. Looking sharper, Dave Garland’s former employers took advantage of a lacklustre display from their loftier opponents to chalk up a narrow victory although the final score was a little flattering, with all three goals coming from home players.
No new names to report in the starting line-up, with Paul Scott and Matt Fowler again leading the attack. Liam Kane continued on the left, balancing at the other end of the age scale by the reappearance of Michael Azzopardi on the right. Michael Ebanks who impressed so many with his determined display against Reading continued at left back.
Games against Whyteleafe always seem to the air of a catastrophe waiting to happen – who can forget that disastrous performance in the FA Trophy in 1998 – and taking advantage of the slope, the home team put Les Cleevely’s goal under intense pressure from the kick-off.
After a number of scares, it came as no surprise when the opening goal arrived after just five minutes had elapsed. A Whyteleafe corner on the right was poorly cleared to the waiting boot of Paul McKay who thumped in a powerful volley from the edge of the box through a crowd of players giving Cleevely no chance.
Worse was to follow for the Hamlet a couple of minutes later when Kane was forced to leave the field. Chasing an overhit through ball, he suddenly pulled up as if shot, feeling the effects of a pulled leg muscle. Still Dave Garland had an ace up his sleeve, as the replacement turned out to be Phil Barber, once of Crystal Palace. 35 he may be but the veteran of the Eagles run to the FA Cup Final proved to be one of the more influential Hamlet players on the pitch.
As Dulwich started to come back into the game, a horrendous blunder by Cleevely allowed Whyteleafe to double their lead. Collecting a back pass from Ebanks, rather than hoof the ball into the wild blue yonder the keeper inexplicably attempted to dribble the ball round the fast reacting Leion Dillon. The ‘Leafe striker must have thought Christmas had arrived early for he had the simplest of tasks of dispossessing Cleevely and then made light work of slotting the ball into the unguarded net. 20 minutes gone and 2-0 down. Still rather have the major cock-ups in friendlies.
Dulwich had their chances to get back into the game but apart from a reasonable curler from Fowler and Peter Garland’s long-range effort that when a foot wide, Danny Rose in the home goal barely had to break sweat. It was not until the 27th minute that he was truly tested and from the unlikeliest of sources. From a corner Mark Garland met the clearance was a crashing volley that saw Rose pull off a magnificent reaction save to deny Garland his first goal in Hamlet colours.
On the half-hour, the home defences were finally breached, although the goal came from a home player. Following a corner the ball pinged around the home box, before a weak clearance reached the foot of Barber. He sent over a tempting cross and as mass of bodies tired to make contact with it, it skimmed delicately off the head of Gary Fisher beyond the reach of Rose and just inside his right-hand post. After five fruitless appearances in Pink’n’Blue, Fisher had finally managed a positive contribution for the Hamlet!
Eight minutes from half-time Scott should have levelled things against his former team-mates, but after being sent clean through on goal, he placed his effort too close to the keeper, allowing Rose to save with his feet.
The half ended as it had begun with the home side in the ascendancy. McKay might have added a third after a first time shot just wide of the post had Cleevely vainly stretching. Then a miscommunication between Cleevely and Ebanks almost exposed the Hamlet goal, only for the diminutive defender to clear the danger at the last second.
The second half brought a flurry of changes as the thermometer rose and the tempo slowed. It became a game of ‘Spot The Newcomer’, as shirt numbers became more confused. A brace of 16’s and 14’s in Hamlet colours added to the confusion. In addition a number of players left the field at half-time, only to return later, so apologies if any misunderstanding or misidentification occurs. The final 45 minutes saw the appearance of Dominic Barclay, once of Sutton, Dave Richards, Dave Argent, Shaun Daley and Noel Frankum along with Dulwich’s own Jimmy Krankie, Jamie Martin.
Still the stifling heat took its toll on the players and the helter-skelter pace of the first half could not be maintained. Whyteleafe maintained the upper hand and it took a fine save from Cleevely, atoning for his blunder, to keep the Hamlet in touch. Indeed it might have been level just past the quarter-hour when Mark Garland was denied once again as his goalbound effort was kicked off the line. After good work from Barber, Brother Peter was similarly denied when his header was intercepted by a timely intervention from a defender.
As fans dozed in the sun, the game wended its way to its conclusion, but not before the returning Fowler had forced replacement custodian, Matt Martin, into a full length save. In the dying seconds, a draw might have been clinched but this would have been unfair on the hosts. A mass breakout instigated by Martin found Ebanks free on the left. His finely judged cross picked out Fowler but he fluffed his shot allowing Martin to unknowingly block the attempt. The ball ran loose and Barclay was quickest to react only to stab his chance into the keeper’s midriff.
In the end, the hosts deserved their victory, but with half-a-dozen games yet before the season opener against Grays, it is too early to make assumptions about who will be on the teamsheet come 19th August.

Team:
Les Cleevely, Gary Hewitt, Michael Ebanks, Veli Hakki, Mark Garland, Tony Chin, Michael Azzopardi, Peter Garland, Matt Fowler, Paul Scott, Liam Kane

Subs used: Phil Barber, Dominic Barclay, Dave Richards, Dave Argent, Shaun Daley, Jamie Martin, Noel Frankum

NEWS FROM AROUND THE RYMAN LEAGUE

Howse takes charge at Leatherhead
Leatherhead have appointed Clive Howse as their new boss and he will be assisted by his long-time friend Alan "Chick" Botley. Howse is the former number two to non-league football’s most successful manager of all time Kingstonian's Geoff Chapple. Howse also brings Ryman League experience with experience at Chertsey Town and Bracknell Town. Together with Botley, the pair will be a formidable team to reckon with in non-league football. Botley recently took Hampton to three promotions in five years in recent seasons.

Farnborough plans rejected
Plans for a seven-a-side floodlit pitch, club extension and other improvements at Cherrywood Road have been turned down by the local council. Directors of Farnborough Town had outlined the proposals to the council – and had secured sponsorship and a lottery grant to cover much of the cost. They were also hoping for assistance from the council with the cost of re-surfacing the car park. Full details of the decision to refuse permission are awaited, but the club says the plans are not dead.

CLARK QUITS SAINTS FOR CANVEY
Veteran striker Steve Clark has left St Albans City to join the Saints' Premier Division rivals Canvey Island.
The 36-year old decided to move on after failing to agree terms with the Hertfordshire side. Said Clark: "I will be disappointed to leave St Albans because I have a lot of connections with the club, but I feel I am worth more than the package they put before me." Clark played a total of 488 games for the Saints scoring an incredible 322 goals, just 18 of which were from the penalty spot. He was only 35 goals away from beating the goalscoring record at the club, which is held by Billy Minter.

Hampton & Richmond’s pitch work faces cash drought
Hampton & Richmond Borough commenced work on their Beveree pitch to install a drainage system in May and contractors E & S Sportsground Contractors were well into the work when news came through that the club’s grant application had been refused. Hampton & Richmond had approached a local charity, the Hampton Fuel Allotments for £30,000 to install a complete drainage and irrigation system at the ground. The Fuel Allotments Charity have assets of £40m and are allowed to issue up to £1.5m per year in grants to worthy causes in the Hampton community. Having believed they could expect a favourable decision, the club went ahead and ordered the works to be done mindful the pitch needed to be fit for use at the end of July. The news that the grant had been refused meant a quick re-appraisal of the works in hand had to be carried out as the club was now faced with covering the total cost out of its own resources. The additional irrigation system has been cancelled but the club have at least been able to install drains, a soakaway and sand slits which should improve pitch conditions at the Beveree. However the club will now be unable to extend its successful Saturday Mini-Soccer Coaching School and in fact will have to reduce the age grouping from 5-11 years of age to 5 to 10 years.

Windsor team boss steps down
After five and a half years Alan Davies has indicated that he wishes to take a break from the pressure of football management and has tendered his resignation as Manager of Windsor & Eton Football Club. Having gained promotion from the Third Division scoring more goals than any other Club in the Ryman League in that season, the Club has since advanced to the final of the Vandanel Trophy, the quarter finals of the Berks & Bucks Cup and has finished a creditable fifth in the Second Division in the last two seasons of the competition. Assistant Manager Byron Walton has taken the step up to Caretaker Manager for the time being.

Ringrose leaves Ware
Ware have announced they have parted company with Steve Ringrose, team manager for the last three and a half years. Steve's departure was by mutual consent and the club wishes to pay tribute to the work that he did, not only with the first team, but in helping to promote a strong club ethos through the successful reserve and youth sides. Steve's commitment and support will be missed. The management committee have moved quickly to fill the gap and have appointed Dave Edwards as Steve's replacement. Dave has had managerial experience at Saffron Walden, Harlow, Stansted, Bishop’s Stortford and Bromley.

QPR stalwart arrives at Wingate
Wingate & Finchley have announced the signing of Clive Wilson, ex-QPR & Spurs as player/coach for 2000/2001. The club believes Wilson will bring class in the midfield and having played under such as Terry Venables, George Graham and Ray Wilkins will bring a wealth of experience to the Blues

Hemel keeper moves north
Luljan Gjeloshi, a keeper at Hemel Hempstead Town last season, has been given a tryout at Scottish side Partick Thistle. The 25-year old arrived in the UK last September. His application for political asylum was granted and he has also been given a work permit, allowing him to play professional football. Gjeloshi played 15 games with Hemel on their way to winning Division Two. He can also claim 10 caps at under-21 level, three call-ups to the Albanian international squad and has also played for the under-16s and under-18s.

Canaries tie up with Brazilians
Hitchin Town may one day include Brazilians in their line-up if an innovative scheme in Latin America bears fruit for the Canaries. The club has been approached by its Brazilian-based agent, Willy Tigre, to consider a proposal to invest in a youth training facility in Foz do Iguacu in the state of Parana, Southern Brazil. The facility coaches players ranging from nine years old to under-21 level. Earlier this year, Hitchin Town was instrumental in bringing a team of Brazilians to England to play a series of games against non-league and full-time opposition. The club hopes to send, in conjunction with the PASE scheme, a team of youngsters to Brazil on a reciprocal basis. "We are looking for sponsorship for this project," says Club Captain and Brazilian project manager Mark Burke. "But this is a massive goodwill operation, which we feel will add to relations between football in this country and Brazil, one of the great footballing nations."

Heybridge to face Premiership newboys
The highlight of Heybridge Swifts pre-season programme is a match with the full Ipswich Town Premiership squad on Saturday July 29th. Kick is 3.00 p.m. and the match is all ticket, priced at £8 for adults and £4 for juniors and OAP’s. Tickets are selling well but are still available both from the Clubhouse and from ‘Yours in Sport’, Bentalls Shopping Centre, Heybridge; 01621 857087. This highly prestigious friendly is yet another feather in the cap for Swifts as the club continues to build its profile on and off the park. Also visiting Scraley Road in the pre-season build up are the first teams of Colchester United on July 25th and Leyton Orient August 1st. These will be smashing games and an opportunity to see our local league sides in the flesh at a fraction of the normal price.

Hutchings leaves Recreation Ground
Aldershot Town manager George Borg has confirmed that midfielder Otis Hutchings has left the club after it was agreed that the 29 year old would struggle to keep a regular first team place next season. The London based player re-joined the shots in December 1999 from Boreham Wood and in total he made 23 appearances last season. He originally joined the Shots as one of George Borg's early signings and was an integral part of the 1997/98 Ryman Division One championship squad and he was honoured by receiving the Supporters Club Player of the Season Trophy. Manager Borg said " I felt that with the midfield players I have brought in Otis would be just a squad player and would not be first choice for next season. It was best that he moves on and Otis was realistic enough to accept this. He has had other offers and I am sure that he will find another club soon".

Carshalton hit by fire
Fire has destroyed the clubhouse at Carshalton Athletic's Colston Avenue ground. The fire was contained to the offices and boardroom, but the dressing rooms and function room were spared. The fire brigade are investigating the cause, but have not ruled out arson. Chairman Andrew Hay described it as a disastrous day for the club, but was thankful no-one was hurt in the blaze. He also paid tribute to the fans who had given their help in the clear up operation and neighbouring clubs who have also offered assistance. The club had spent around £20,000 in recent years on improving the parts of the ground which have now been destroyed. Also lost in the fire were a number of irreplaceable items from the club's past. With the stands and dressing rooms still intact the club are hopeful they will be able to stage league games at home when the season starts in August.

Review of the Season 1999-2000

‘Rather a fool make me merry, than experience make me sad’. So spoke the immortal bard, Stuart Hall. It was a pity then that Dulwich Hamlet’s last full campaign of the 20th Century should see the merriment of the opening months turn sour as the old millennium faded and reality took a nasty grip in the year 2000. Champions of London at the start of the season even that title was ripped from their grasp by the cruel lottery of the penalty shoot-out, Veli Hakki’s effort from the spot being beaten away by Uxbridge keeper Sean Dawson.

July

Plenty of familiar faces around the club as the pre-season challenge matches began with the visit of Barnet on 17th July. Billy Smith arrived back at Champion Hill to lend a hand to his former assistant at Crawley, Dave Garland. On the playing front, captain Russell Edwards moved on to pastures new in Welling, where he was unable to prevent the Kent club slipping out of the conference. Veteran Lee Akers also tasted relegation blues as he moved down the line to Carshalton. Cup final hero Luke Anderson also departed to Gravesend & Northfleet.
A smattering of new faces also appeared, among them Paul Harding, who returned home after a successful career in league football, along with Kevin Smith back from New Zealand. Some amongst the new faces would go on to make their mark during coming months, whilst others would fall by the wayside. Andy Riley and Dean Green would both contribute to Hamlet victories, whilst those that fell among the latter would include former West Ham player Matthew Rush and Gary Odlum, unlucky with injuries.
On to the pre-season and the first of those matches saw the Hamlet lose 2-1 to Barnet in searing heat, although they were far from disgraced and the high point of the afternoon was a corker of a goal from Tyrone Myton. The following Thursday and it was a trip into the heart of the stockbroker belt as the Hamlet were guests of Whyteleafe. Two goals in a minute from Dave Stevens and Danny Carroll with the first ten minutes were not capitalised on and in the end Dulwich were much relieved to hang on for a 2-1 victory. A hastily arranged fixture against Brentford on the Sunday, meant the Saturday match at Whitstable found itself downgraded. A number of graduates of the youth team made appearances but it was a player who began his career when most were still in nappies that outshone them all. With a magnificent display on the right, Gary Hewitt showed that less than a month from his 36th birthday he still has something to offer the first team.
The Sunday saw another dose of midday madness but the Hamlet were not overawed by Ron Noade’s Division 3 Champions but could not penetrate their rock solid rearguard which ensured a 1-0 victory for the visitors.
On the Wednesday Millwall hopped on the P13 for the annual Jack Kennedy Cup match. The Lions honoured one of Dulwich’s most loyal supporters by sending down a strong side, indeed too strong for the Hamlet as they registered a 3-1 victory after Paul Harding had given the Hamlet the lead. The Lions triumph was thanks in the main to Paul Ifill who grabbed a brace. The month ended with a storming 3-all draw at Bromley. Former Hamlet hero Joe Odegbami scored twice in quick succession to put the hosts 3-1 just after half-time, but Danny Carroll, whose header had had given Dulwich the lead, and Gareth Mitchell grabbed goals in the last 15 minutes to ensure honours finished even.

August

Dulwich finished their pre-season warm-ups with a couple of road trips. On Tuesday 3rd they met Banstead Athletic in a match that saw Justin Gregory make his first appearance in a Pink and Blue shirt. The bumpy state of Banstead’s back pitch did not inhibit the Hamlet as goals from Harding, Carroll (2) and a stonker from Tony Houghton sealed a straightforward 4-1 victory. Next stop was the Surrey Docks Stadium for the annual Battle of Southwark and what a cracker it was although home keeper Maurice Munday may have other opinions, being fault for Dean Green’s winner in a 4-3 thriller. Bryon Harper and two from Danny Carroll were the other scorers.
A week later the Ryman League began in earnest with the visit of those old killjoys from Hertfordshire, Boreham Wood won at Champion Hill by the odd goal in three. The visitors had been expected to struggle with numerous off field problems but they turned round 2-0 up. A second half penalty converted by Peter Garland pulled it back to 2-1 but despite their best efforts, Dulwich ended up on the wrong end of a defeat. The game marked the full debuts of Dean Green and Dave McEwen up front. Both battled hard but could not break down a stubborn rearguard. Matthew Rush appeared for the last 18 minutes of the game but was released shortly afterwards to join Dagenham & Redbridge.
The following Tuesday came a more purposeful display away to one of the perennial bogey sides – Walton & Hersham. 3-0 was the result and this was all the more pleasing as the Hamlet had played the entire second half with only ten men following Paul Harding dismissal for violent conduct 4 minutes after the Hamlet had taken the lead through Danny Carroll. Andy Riley was a rock in defence and this allowed the Dulwich strikers ample opportunity to probe the Swans’ defence. Further goals from Dave McEwen and Peter Garland with an exquisite free-kick gave Dulwich their first points of the new season.
The momentum did not carry through to the next game, a trip to once proud Enfield, who were soon to lose their Southbury Road home to developers and become the nomads of the Isthmian League. Dave Stevens returned from suspension, but Andy Riley was absent and it showed as an early advantage was blown. Stevens grabbed a goal within 4 minutes and the crossbar twice saved Enfield from going further behind but it always seemed as if Dulwich’s shaky defence would leak the odd goal. Three goals, one a debatable penalty, gave the home side a 3-1 cushion and despite the dismissal of Kevin Rattray and a goal from Tony Houghton Dulwich came away with nothing to show.
Dave Garland’s men had a chance to redeem themselves 2 days later when Basingstoke Town were the visitors to Champion Hill and so they did in a game played at a frenetic pace. Four goals came in the opening half-hour as Dulwich built a 3-1 lead after Gus Hurdle had converted a penalty in the 10th minute. A brace from Dave Stevens, enjoying an almost physic understanding with Dave McEwen, and Peter Garland scored a penalty after a trip on Justin Gregory. Stevens might have claimed a hat-trick but a fine save denied him. The opposition pulled one back with 6 minutes left, but despite one or two hairy moments Dulwich hung for a second victory of the season.
Three more point came the way of Dulwich the following Saturday when a wasteful Hampton & Richmond Borough failed to convert territorial advantage into goals. Despite dominating possession, they failed to create a single chance. Goals in either half from Dave Stevens, courtesy of Dave McEwen’s delicate delivery, sent the visitors home pointless.
The month ended on a high note as the Hamlet completed a third straight victory that sent them fourth in the Premier Division thanks to a 2-1 victory at Chesham United. A triumph made all the sweeter for being the first ever Dulwich victory on this ground. Despite being under the cosh early on, Danny Carroll nodded the Hamlet into a 16th minute lead as home players squealed for offside. An evil deflection deceived Les Cleevely to bring matters level shortly after the break. It seemed as if it might stay this way until the 75th minute, when Justin Gregory’s battling set up Dave Stevens for a clear run on goal giving Preddie in the home goal no chance.

September

September began badly as Slough Town brought the Hamlet back down to earth with a severe bump. Andy Riley had returned to shore up Sutton United’s defence in their ultimately unsuccessful bid to stay in the Conference. Into his place came Alan Pardew. Les Cleevely was by far the busiest man on the pitch and constantly frustrated the home supporters with a string of fine saves. Danny Carroll missed an early chance, but after having one effort scrambled off the line and seen Mark Hall miss the target with the goal gaping in front of him; hesitancy in the Dulwich defence allowed Chris White to stab home from inches. The lead was doubled in the 57th minute. Despite a goal from Carroll and sustained pressure to the final whistle, few could complain about the eventual outcome.
Billy Smith’s involvement with the club also came to an end at this point. Deciding he missed the day-to-day involvement with the players, he tendered his resignation, which the club accepted with regret. He later rejoined his old club, Crawley Town.
If the trip to Slough was tough, the prospect of entertaining title favourites Dagenham & Redbridge two days later was terrifying. Once again, the Hamlet rose to the occasion with a courageous performance that could have brought a surprise victory but for the referee who denied both teams penalties, most blatant of all when Dave Stevens was bundled over with 11 minutes left on the clock. Still the result was enough to lift the Hamlet to 6th place; seven points behind shock leaders Enfield. They maintained that 6th place with a 2-0 victory over Harrow Borough who saw their defence ripped to shreds by the two Daves, Stevens and McEwen. With Peter Garland excellent in midfield, it was only the bravery of Harrow keeper Eric Talbot that kept the score down. However Talbot was at fault for the first goal, allowing McEwen’s shot to squirm into the path of Stevens for him to open the scoring. Number two took a long time coming, but on 81 minutes Dean Green turned in Kevin Smith’s unselfish pass to complete the scoring.
On Monday night came a nice diversion from the rigours of the League with the visit of Wivenhoe in the 1st Round of the League Cup. With the FA Cup just around the corner, few regulars were risked and so fans were greeted to the rare sight of Engin Salih between the sticks and Pettier Garland on the bench. As expected the reselect was a rout but nit before the Essex men had given the home side a few shocks. They even had the audacity to take the lead through a 6th minute penalty. However, Dave Stevens and Dean Green gave Dulwich a 2-1 lead by half time. Dave McEwen made it 3-1 just after the break. Despite pulling it back to 3-2, the Dragons ran out of puff and further goals from Dean Holness, Tony Chin and Stevens completed a 6-2 victory.
For the second successive year the FA Cup had paired Dulwich with Newport (IoW), but this time the Islanders were to be hosts. Three coachloads of Dulwich fans made the long journey through choppy seas to St George’s Park but in squally conditions they were to be denied celebration by a late, late equaliser from the hosts. The conditions were far from ideal but after Newport had been denied by Cleevely almost straight from the kick-off; it was only Newport’s veteran keeper Neil Hards who stood between the Hamlet and a place in the 3rd qualifying round. Kevin Smith missed a sitter in the first half, but 7 minutes into the second half a clumsy challenge in the box gave Peter Garland the chance to make it 1-0 from the spot, which he did with consummate ease. It seemed as this would be enough, until that late heartbreak. The replay was set for the following Monday but with torrential rain battering Champion Hill all morning and well into the afternoon, an early decision was taken to postpone the match. In the meantime, Dulwich warmed up with a 5-0 demolition of Carshalton Athletic. Justin Gregory opened the scoring with a brave diving header in the 26th minute, which was doubled in the 39th minute when Dave McEwen drilled an unstoppable shot past the keeper. An own goal, followed by two more from leading scorer Dave Stevens pushed Dulwich to within one win of the top of the table. The team didn’t even miss Alan Pardew who had returned to Reading to take on the mantle of caretaker manager.
The goal feast continued in the rearranged cup-tie against Newport as they too were put to the sword. Kevin Smith opened the scoring hooking in a left foot shot on 13 minutes. Within 7 minutes the visitors were level after a mistake at the back but this was merely an aberration as Tony Houghton soon restored the Hamlet’s lead. Dave Stevens increased the lead early in the second half with a cracker of a shot from the edge of the box, and then capped the night with number 4, dancing round the keeper before slotting the ball into a empty net.

October

The next round pitted the Hamlet against Hastings Town from the Southern League Eastern Division. A scoreline of 2-1 was hard earned but closer than it should have been. The visitors came determined not to be beaten and it took a wonderful free-kick from Peter Garland to break the deadlock. Dave McEwen made it 2-0 late on at which point Hastings decide it would be a good idea to employ some attacking ideas which saw the score pulled back to 2-1, but was not to prevent the Hamlet going into the hat for the next round where Hayes of the Conference were to be the guests.
On the Tuesday, the defence of the London Challenge Cup began with a comprehensive demolition of Metropolitan Police in front of a paltry crowd of just 70. Goals from Holness, Green and Stevens (2) clinched a place in the quarterfinals. Again a number of youngsters and reserves got run outs.
Th goal glut continued as Dulwich got the best of an eight-goal thriller at Billericay as they made a rare return to League action. Defensive skills were conspicuous by their absence but with an overabundance of goalmouth action, the game was an adrenaline packed thrillfest. First the Blues went ahead then Dave Stevens created a goal out of nothing. 1-1. 35 minutes and the home were back in front but not for long. Two minutes later a deflection helped Dave McEwen’s shot past a visibly jittery young keeper. In second half goals from McEwen and a Peter Garland penalty made it 4-2 before a screamer made for a tense last few minutes before Stevens 2nd sealed a remarkable 5-3 victory.
The cup-tie with Hayes was something of an anticlimax in the light of this with neither team able to make a breakthrough. With Peter Garland suspended the Hamlet lacked creativity in midfield, but they still had the bulk of the play in the first half with Houghton and Stevens both going close. However it took a fine piece of defensive work from Francis Duku to keep the scores level after he got back to clear a goalbound shot off the line. Hayes had the better of the second half but still could not end the deadlock sending both teams to Church Road for a replay. Under the cosh from the first whistle, Dulwich made the worst possible start conceding a goal after just 4 minutes. A highly-dubious penalty on stroke half-time gave the players a mountain to climb in the second half, one that was to prove ultimately insurmountable as a third Hayes goal send them into the Final Qualifying Round and an eventual meeting with Hull City in the First Round.
If there was an hangover it was quickly blown away as a 3-2 victory at Aylesbury United moved Dulwich up to 3rd place in the league a mere point behind the leaders Dagenham. Key instigator of the triumph was Peter Garland a target for the boo-boys throughout and his winner deep into stoppage time silenced them. The game had seesawed both ways before this with both sides having led at some point, Dulwich’s earlier goals coming from Stevens and Carroll.
The nuisance of the Full Member Cup was quickly dismissed from the schedules as the Hamlet made a swift exit losing 3-0 to Farnborough Town. However on the night the result was largely unimportant following a horrific (accidental) injury to Nick Hooper of the Boro' after a seemingly innocuous fall. Dulwich fans showed where their heart lies with a generous collection for the youngster at the next game.
Victory over bottom of the table Heybridge Swifts maintained the momentum at the end of the month, but 2-1 in a scrappy game was hardly Championship form. A freak goal gave the visitors the lead after just 3 minutes. After wasting a number of openings, two goals in a minute were to clinch the points. First the arch predator, Dave Stevens, scored from close range then, straight from the kick-off Kevin Smith was the provider for Danny Carroll to get the second.

November

It became six wins in a row at the start of November with a 2-1 win at Hendon against the odds. Danny Carroll and Mark Garland were both missing. Dave Stevens managed to get caught in traffic and missed the kick-off and Dean Green had become frustrated with his lack of first team football and upped sticks to Crawley. Former Bulgarian international Bonctcho Guentchev gave the home side the lead on the stroke of half time but the Hamlet stormed back in the second half. Francis Duku saw his header kicked off the line before a spectacular overhead kick from Peter Garland brought things level. That man Garland would set up the winner with a delightful chipped cross for Tony Houghton to grab the winner.
Cups seemed not to be the Hamlet’s speciality this season and they were dumped out of the league cup this month by Croydon FC, also as the Home for Retired Dulwich Players. Unfortunately the old boys got the better of their alma mater this time with a 2-1 victory, where the only moment of a great enjoyment was when the referee was knocked cold and had to be replaced.
At noon on the day of that match at Hampden, the Hamlet faced another great test of how far they’d come this year when Canvey Island were the visitors. Backed by a generous chairman and large travelling support, the Essex men had made an instant impact on the Premier Division in their inaugural season. However despite playing some neat football, they seemed to forget one of the fundamental tenets of the game. To win you must score goals. Dulwich did that, Canvey did not. Barry Horne was the busier of the two keepers, picking the ball out of his net twice in the 90 minutes after goals from Dave McEwen and Danny Carroll.
A run of seven successive wins had propelled Dulwich to within sight of the league leaders but all that was to come crashing down around their ears the visit to St Albans saw the Hamlet on the wrong end of a 4-1 thrashing courtesy of a Steve Clarke hat-trick and disastrous 6 minute spell in the 2nd half that saw the scoreline go from 1-1 to 1-4.
Another cup run vanished in the FA Trophy when lowly Burnham dumped the Hamlet out of that competition. The home tie was woeful with Dulwich hardly able to string a pass together. This was exacerbated when the visitors silenced Champion Hill by taking the lead in the 10th minute. Dave McEwen missed a brace of sitters within a minute, but it was almost the hour before Danny Carroll levelled things. Both sides could have snatched it at the death, but a replay had to be endured. What a culture shock that was. A railed off pitch, that might have had hippos wallowing in it for the amount of mud on it. Still no sour grapes, the home keeper pulled off a number of cracking saves to keep Hamlet out. Normal time brought no goals. Then in the very first minute of extra-time Burnham scored to end Dulwich’s Wembley dreams.

December

As winter set so form seemed to evaporate. A two-goal lead was blown at home to Slough Town. Peter Garland’s header from Dave McEwen’s cross, following by a glorious 18-yard effort from Dave Stevens had Dulwich cruising. A deflected free kick pulled it back to 2-1, then a second half capitulation saw the visitors go ahead. The game finished on a sour note when both sides were reduced to 10 men. An atrocious foul on Lee Macken saw Slough scorer Mark Hall dismissed and he was joined by Dave Stevens, scapegoat for an unseemly mêlée that followed.
Another five-goal game followed 7 days later at Aldershot. In front of 1696 supporters, the two sides laid on a pre-Christmas feast of flowing football. Gary Abbott’s penalty gave the home side the lead that was doubled by their record signing Grant Payne before the half-hour was up. However Dulwich refused to lie down and die. Dave McEwen pulled back one before the break then levelled late on. He might well have grabbed a hat-trick, but 3 minutes from time the defence was sliced open and Payne made no mistake for the winner. Having claimed 42 goals in his 59 starts, this was to be Dave Stevens’s last appearance in a Pink and Blue shirt. After this game he began a three-match suspension and, just before Christmas in came Hayes to whisk him away to the Conference where he was to claim even more goals.
The last home match of the millennium saw Purfleet entertained along with the crowd who witnessed another 5-goal game. Purfleet grabbed an early lead but Lee Macken smashed home his first senior goal to pull things level within 5 minutes. Dave McEwen found himself with a new partner in Carl Bartley, making another return to Champion Hill and both had chances before Dave made it 2-1. Danny Carroll made it 3-1 before the visitors pulled one back but the Hamlet held on for a welcome three points.
The year ended on a disappointing note at Gravesend & Northfleet. In front of the Kent side’s largest crowd of the season, Dulwich simply fell apart. A 45th penalty gave Fleet the lead. Dave McEwen got a 52nd minute equaliser before it all turned sour. A second penalty made it 2-1, Carl Bartley and Peter Garland both got their marching orders and to put the tin hat on it former Dulwich player Steve Restarick made it 3-1 in stoppage time.

January

Many talk of fairytales but few expect it to happen on your doorstep. Less than 18 months previous, Dave McEwen graced the Southern Amateur League with Crouch End Vampires. Now after 11 goals in 30 appearances, Premiership Tottenham had swooped and signed him to a professional contract. Then the realisation set in. The entire strike force gone at a stroke. Where would the goals come from? Could Carl Bartley deliver? What of Young Mark McGibbon knocking them in the reserves? Prehaps Dean Green newly returned from Crawley.
Dave McEwen signed off his Dulwich career in the New Year fixture, which resulted in a narrow 1-0 victory over Hendon. Truth be told the scoreline flatters the visitors, but it was hard ground out and symbolic of harder times to come. The decisive goal from Carl Bartley on 36 minutes.
Like sparrows scratching for corn on winter’s stony ground, Dulwich fans were forced to take what few crumbs of comfort came their way. Nil-nil draws against Enfield and Boreham Wood followed. A new name in the shape of Kamu Laird, a Trinidad & Tobago International player, impressed early, especially with a cracker that rattled the bar at Wood, but he would not remain long.
Light relief came in the shape of a visit to Ashford Town (Middx.) in the Surrey Senior Cup where Dulwich got the better of their hosts by the odd goal in five – all scored in the first 30 minutes.
The month ended with Dulwich completing a rare double over Walton & Hersham – their first for more than quarter of century. On a windswept field, Danny Carroll’s goal was to prove the difference between the two sides. However the result was tempered by the news that one of the club’s most loyal servants and most colourful characters, John Hugh-Jones, had lost a long fight against illness. His comments as he read the score on the celestial Teletext would be worth noting!
Despite the paucity of goals and entertainment in January, there was one good note. Conceding not one goal during the month ensured Les Cleevely of the League’s Safe Hands Award.

February

The first reverse of the New Year came at Basingstoke where Dave Garland unveiled new signing Gary Fisher from Whyteleafe. However it was to be someone who’d spent most of the season in the reserves that was to impress most despite the defeat. Mark McGibbon made an instant impact coming off the bench in the 53rd minute with Dulwich already 1-0 down. However his heroics were not enough and a final score of 2-0 was fair reward for the home side.
Another defeat followed in quick succession with Chesham United winning 2-1. Mark Xavier was this week’s new striker bringing with him a pedigree of scoring freely at his previous clubs. However he could find a way through Chesham revitalised side and it was only Les Cleevely that kept the scoreline respectable. After taking a 18th minute lead through Tony Houghton, Dulwich dozed off and by the time they woke up again Chesham were 2-1. Carl Bartley walked for the second time this season and the slide down the table had begun.
Like a fly in the ointment sat the London Challenge Cup tie with Welling. Postponed from the 8th February, then subject to a late postponement the following Tuesday, indeed too late to stop many Dulwich fans travelling, it was eventually played just a day later on the Wednesday. Once again this Cup provided footballing Prozac as Dulwich ran their supposed Conference betters ragged with a first half display to warm the heart. A own or Peter Garland, take your pick, then two absolute beauties from Mark McGibbon and Veli Hakki were enough to clinch a home semi-final with Romford.
Off course, there is a downside to success and that is that the struggling moneyed clubs will soon come sniffing around your best players. So it was that Justin Gregory was the next to depart luring away by Graham Westley’s 30 pieces of silver at Farnborough Town. Things were too get worse as a trip to the leaders Dagenham resulted in a 3-0 hammering and the loss of Peter Garland.
Walton & Hersham gained some revenge for that league double by dumping Dulwich out of the Surrey Senior Cup for the third year running. It was a poor performance all round with only Les Cleevely coming out of it with any credit, pulling off a string of fine saves in a 0-2 defeat.
The same scoreline came at Farnborough Town where the only entertainment value was to be gained for taunting Gregory. The Hamlet were always chasing the game after conceding a goal 4 minutes in and then a penalty just after halftime. Even their chairman played, although Martin Eede is pretty noncommittal on the subject of his return to the game. A point for the record books – Richard White on as substitute in the 67th minute, recipient of his second yellow card 18 minutes later. The shortest Dulwich League career on record. Answers on a postcard.
February turned into March and 2 former giants of the amateur game were brought together as Romford made their first trip to Champion Hill for 27 years. Then they knocked Dulwich out of the FA Cup but tonight they were not to be so triumphant as goals from Danny Carroll, Tony Houghton (penalty) and Dean Green booked Hamlet’s passage back to the final.

March

March was a battle of attrition. With relegation still a distant possibility, manager Dave Garland was struggling to find the right mix. Kamu Laird, Gary Fisher, Carl Bartley and Mark Xavier were all shown the door. Injuries to the likes of Peter Garland and Kevin Smith further restricted choices. Against Billericay three new signings came abroad – the vertiginous Peter Crouch, on loan from Spurs as part of the McEwen deal, Declan Perkins, a former Republic of Ireland U-21 international, and Nabil Ouidirene, some French bloke recommended by Tony Finnigan. All were make an impression for varying reasons. 6’ 7” Crouch, quickly dubbed the ‘20 Ft Chicken’ by supporters scored on his debut but was unable to prevent Billericay winning 2-1. At Hampton & Richmond Borough in midweek, a further defeat sank Dulwich further down the table as the home side ran out easy 3-0 winners. Defeat followed defeat as Dulwich sank into a spiral of decline. Carshalton, despite their lowly league position, avenged the 5-0 home defeat with a 3-1 victory at Champion Hill. Declan Perkins was both hero and villain, scoring the opener then putting the ball from a matter of inches with the goal unguarded. At Harrow Borough a single goal on the stroke of halftime was enough to give the home side all the points, but Dulwich failed to make any inroads even after both Harrow’s centre halves had been forced to leave the pitch after a clash of heads.
The poor run finally came to an end at Heybridge Swifts as the clouds cleared both metaphorically and meteorologically to reveal a brief glimpse of a rainbow. Dulwich deserved more than a point from the game after taking the lead through Danny Carroll’s screaming volley in the first half, but the Swifts keeper played a blinder and a freak goal ensured a share of the points.

April

April Fools Day saw the Ducks of Aylesbury lost without a paddle on the M40. Peter Crouch’s last game saw gloomy clouds leave Champion Hill for a bit and follow the Ducks back to Bucks. Not really a pretty sight, but Aylesbury never looked like scoring and in the end it was an easy victory even if it bit start ten minutes late. Green, Chin and Carroll goalscorers.
Next stop the hinterlands of Purfleet and another point safely collected. Purfleet always seem to be a surprise package finishing fourth in the last two seasons, so a point even if was gained through a late oggie is always welcome. Indeed Jimmy McFarlane won everything in the air for Purfleet so it was quite apt that he should outjump everyone for Dulwich’s equaliser, especially in the light of the sour aftertaste of Purfleet’s first half penalty that had given them the lead.
Happier news from the Reserve team came the same day as they were held to a 0-0 draw by the Metropolitan Police. Not a great result but enough to clinch the Suburban League Premier Division title with four games to spare.
The following day around 300 fans were present for a match between a Dulwich Hamlet Old Stars XI and the Millwall Veterans in aid of Gary Hewitt’s Testimonial Fund. The Millwall Veterans won 2-1 but a great time was had by all and a tidy sum raised for a loyal servant, only the second player in Dulwich history to be granted a Testimonial.
Against Hitchin Town Dulwich slipped back into their old ways blowing a 1-0 lead through Dean Green to lose 2-1. This followed by the visit of Aldershot Town and with more than 1200 fans in the ground Dulwich gave a display to be proud of only to be undone at the death. A bizarre goal credited to Peter Garland had seen the Hamlet lead from the fifth minute. Spirited defending and a touch of luck kept the Shots out until 18 minutes from the end when a lapse in concentration allowed Mark Bentley the chance to equalise. A point seemed a fair result but deep into stoppage time, the league’s leading goalscorer Gary Abbott, having spent the game securely in the pocket of Mark Garland, slipped away to nod in a cross at the back post.
The next visitors to the Hill were Aldershot’s neighbours and deadly rivals Farnborough. For the third time this season, they came away with a victory (3-1) although this time at least Dulwich managed to get on the scoresheet through Perkins.
Good Friday at Canvey Island was not looked forward too but once again Dulwich surprised themselves. The Islanders hospitality was second to none even allowing Dulwich to steal a win when Dean Green’s deflected shot looped over the keeper’s head for the only goal. However Canvey should have taken the lead in the 22nd minute but for one of the worst penalty misses of all time. Who was that strange bloke with the South African accent?
Pleasure is often followed by pain, but I’m not sure winning 1-0 at Canvey was pleasurable enough to warrant the next two matches that followed. On Easter Monday, Dulwich must have overdosed on Easter Eggs as they were thumped 5-1 at home by Gravesend & Northfleet. Les Cleevely seemed on another planet, as he allowed dropped a simple free-kick among other howlers. Slightly more determined performance at Hitchin the following Saturday but still the same result – nul points – as Hitchin Town scored twice in 5 minutes to complete a double and ensure their own safety.
The same day Dave McEwen completed the massive step from Ryman to Premiership, when he came off the bench to replace David Ginola against Derby County. He even came close to getting on the scoresheet, but missed a couple of good chances.

May

If there is one spark of light that can illuminate a dark season, then it is the prospect of a cup final. Unfortunately after last season’s delirium at Charlton, the London FA decreed that their most prestigious competition should take place in the depths of industrial Essex at Dagenham, ostensibly on the grounds that it was free. Still the gloomy surroundings were apt for the final result as twice Dulwich needlessly blew a lead against First Division opposition in the shape of Uxbridge. First Peter Garland gave the Hamlet a 1-0 lead from the penalty spot in the first half, only for Dean Green’s inexplicable back pass let in Tunnell for the equaliser. No further goals in normal time. But on 99 minutes, Tony Chin pounced on a loose ball in the box to ram in the second. Again the lead was wasted as Francis Duku was caught in possession allowing Uxbridge to make it 2-2. For the first time and in the last final for the foreseeable future the fate of the cup would be decided by a penalty shoot-out. Uxbridge looked cool, Dulwich nerves shattered. Uxbridge’s first kick was buried, then Kevin Smith put his effort somewhere in Ford’s backyard. No more misses until Uxbridge’s 5th. Smashed against the base of the post. A glimmer. Mark Garland despatches his to make it 4-4. Sudden death. Uxbridge convert. Anxious looks among the Dulwich players. Up steps Veli Hakki, but his effort lacks conviction and Dawson, in his testimonial year, becomes the hero of the hour.
With heavy hearts, the league season was wrapped up on the 6th May with the visit of St Albans. So cheer is restored to Dulwich hearts as a 3-2 victory is recorded thanks in part to graduates of the youth team like Dean Palmer, who scores. Also on the scoresheet is Francis Duku, heading in Marcus Dussard’s cross as a 1-2 deficit is overturned. Dulwich end a season of up and down in 10th place.
The final game on the ground sees Gary Hewitt honoured with a Testimonial match against West Ham United. The Hammers send along a strong Youth/Reserve side but unusually for a Testimonial, the game finishes goalless in front of a healthy crowd of 300+.

Summary

If you could take a knife and slice this season down the middle, it would be two different teams playing in each half. At the start of the season talk of could the hamlet stay in the title race, at the end talk of avoiding relegation. 10th place is respectable, but to lose 20 games – as many as Aylesbury who were relegated. Key players went and were not adequately replaced. Next season will be tough with finances stretched. The burden will be passed to younger, less experienced players, but somehow come July 15th those that care about the Hamlet will be at the gate expecting, hoping, worrying but never surrendering.

Dulwich Hamlet 2 Uxbridge 2 (AET FT 1-1) Uxbridge won 5-4 on penalties

London Challenge Cup Final
Dulwich Hamlet 2 Uxbridge 2 (AET FT 1-1)

Uxbridge won 5-4 on penalties

On the 16th of May last year, Les Cleevely triumphantly held aloft the London Challenge Cup at Charlton’s Valley ground. In altogether different surroundings, the cup was heartbreakingly wrenched from the Hamlet’s grasp in the cruellest of circumstances – a penalty shoot-out. At 10.35 p.m. on a dank evening in the heart of industrial Essex, Sean Dawson’s save from Veli Hakki’s penalty gave Uxbridge the Cup for the third time, leaving Dulwich players to reflect on missed chances and defensive errors that could have rendered penalties, indeed even extra-time, totally unnecessary.
From reasons known only to the bigwigs of the London FA, a team from South London and one from Middlesex were forced to made the long trip down the A13 to Dagenham to contest one of the most prestigious of County Cups. Indeed Uxbridge’s Supporter’s coach only made it to Victoria Road at 7-45; just a couple of minutes before the game eventually kicked off. Dave Garland was able to welcome his son Peter back into the line-up, although one doubts whether wild horses would have stopped him making an appearance even if his leg had been severed in that tackle on this very ground. Indeed Peter was to have a telling influence on the pattern of the game, until obviously tired, he was replaced at the start of extra-time.
From the start Dulwich looked the livelier, although it was the Dulwich goal that was threatened first with Uxbridge striker Lee Tunnell wasted a couple of good chances early on. Indeed, despite Dulwich controlling midfield through Peter Garland, the threat of an Uxbridge goal was not far away and both Kevin Smith and Francis Duku made vital interceptions in the box to deny Jamie Cleary and Dean Clarke respectively.
In the 14th minute Dulwich tested the evening’s eventual hero for the first time, when Danny Carroll met Peter Garland’s lofted ball with a thumping header at the back post, only for Dawson to parry his effort at the base of the post. The ball ran loose to Carroll who tried to square it back across goal, but despite the best efforts of John Cross to knock it in, the defence managed to clear their lines. 4 minutes later and Gary Hewitt tried an audacious lob that landed on the roof of the net before Tony Houghton’s hurried low drive was well off the intended target.
In the 24th minute, the deadlock was broken but not without much protest from Uxbridge. Dean Green burst into the box from the right, battling with Phil Granville on the goalline. The burly defender stumbled as he and Green battled for the ball. As he sprawled on the floor, he handled the ball in a bizarre effort to pretend he was getting his arms out of the way. Referee Alex Valentino, a scourge of the Hamlet in the past, most recently at Gravesend and Northfleet where he showed red cards to Carl Bartley and Peter Garland, had no hesitation in awarding a penalty despite protestations from the Uxbridge players. Cool as a cucumber up stepped Peter Garland to the spot and despatched the penalty wide of Dawson’s outstretched left hand to give the Hamlet the lead.
Despite going close on a number of occasions, most notably when Carroll had the ball whipped away from him by Mark Weedon after Green had pulled the ball back from the corner flag, the Uxbridge goal remained unbreached. Then, in the 32nd minute, Green spurted clear of a leaden-footed rearguard, only to hold the ball up when a full-frontal attack on Dawson’s goal seemed the best option. Instead, he found Peter Garland, who attempted an exquisite chip from distance. It looked goalbound all the way until that man Dawson intervened again tipping the ball over the bar at full stretch. From the corner, Dulwich were caught on the hop and it took a fine piece of defending from Hewitt, outpacing younger limbs to get back and hold up Chris Moore, who fluffed a poor shot wide.
Turning round 1-0 up it seemed as if the Cup was there for the taking and more so as Dulwich started the second half in top gear. Despite an early scare as the defence struggled to clear a freekick, it was the Uxbridge goal that bore the brunt of the initial action. Green’s screamer from the left flashed across the face of Dawson’s goal but whizzed just past the angle. Then a couple of minutes later Dawson was in the thick of the action again pushing over a close range headed from Green that seemed destined for the back of the net.
The importance of that save was underlined in the 64th minute, when a disastrous back pass from Green let in Uxbridge for the equaliser. As fans looked on in horror, Green attempted to find Cleevely with a pass from near the halfway line only to find the grateful Tunnell nipping in behind. Cleevely attempted to beat him to the ball, but the striker had the simple task of rounding the keeper and slipping the ball into the net.
Shocked by this catastrophe, the Hamlet hit back at the Uxbridge goal straight away, but Dawson seemed impregnable pushing out Carroll’s shot across the face of goal. The ball was not cleared and Green seemed to be fouled as a mess of legs tackled for the ball, but this time Mr Valentino resembled his namesake and remained silent. Likewise moments later when Tunnell went down in the box, amid pleas from his teammates.
The goal had given the men from Middlesex renewed confidence and they began causing the Hamlet defence myriad problems. Despite Duku being a hairsbreadth away from meeting a corner, won by Dean Palmer who had replaced Hewitt minutes before the equaliser, the bulk of the action switched to the opposite end. Smith incurred the wrath of the referee and a yellow card for a reckless late challenge on Moore as the pressure and the tension grew. Cleevely looked comfortable making a save from Clark’s close range header, but within a minute substitute Nicky Ryder had broken through to drill a shot wide of the keeper left hand post.
Chances were coming thick and fast as the advantage swung to Uxbridge, and after his opposite number’s earlier heroics now it was the turn of Cleevely to earn his corn, smother the ball at the feet of Clark after Tunnell had slipped the ball through to him. Five minutes later and he denied Moore, turning his low shot around the post. As the game moved into stoppage time Dulwich were forced into ever more desperate measures to clear their lines. Two stunning diving headers from Palmer aided the resistance and somehow the Dulwich goal weathered an interminable 5 minutes of stoppage time that seemed to last an eternity.
So, twelve months on, Dulwich and Uxbridge would be forced onto the field for a further half-an-hour’s football to determine who would be the last to lift the London Challenge Cup. Mark McGibbon was brought on to replace Peter Garland, looking suitably tired after 90 minutes of 110% effort.
Both sides created opportunities in the opening exchanges of extra-time, but it was Dulwich who regained the lead in the 99th minute through Tony Chin’s fourth goal of the season. A corner was only half cleared to Smith and when he despatched a teasing cross into the box, it ran loose straight as defenders and attackers battled for the ball. Chin picked it up just inside the box, slamming the ball in the back of the net off the outside of his boot. For once Dawson could only look in dismay as the ball curled past his powerless hand.
As the teams turned round 6 minutes later, Dulwich knew that to hold on for a further 15 minutes would cement their place in history. Sadly, it was not to be. Moments into the second half of extra-time, the passion boiled over after an atrocious foul on Chin by Stuart Bamford. The game threatened to degenerate into an unseemly brawl before wiser and cooler heads, among them Dulwich captain Cleevely, brokered a nervous peace. Then four minutes in the half Uxbridge found themselves level once again courtesy of another ghastly error in defence. Duku, attempting to dribble the ball out of his own penalty area when a swift hoof into Row Z would have sufficed, was caught in possession by Ryder. Despite appeals that the Dulwich defender had been the victim of an illegal assault, the substitute pulled the ball back to the unmarked Gavin Bamford who rammed the ball past Cleevely from ten yards out.
Once again Uxbridge raised their game after this gift and, as the ball pinged from one end of the field to the other, Uxbridge supporters finally found a voice to try and compete with the Rabble who had been vociferous throughout. Living on a knife-edge, the action swung from end to end. Clark struck a post from 20 yards, with Simon Poulter sticking his follow-up into the side netting. Next minute it was the Hamlet on the attack and Green feeding Palmer, steaming up the right, only for him to put the ball wide of the post with only Dawson to beat.
Disaster struck with just 4 minutes left on the clock when Carroll was forced to leave the field of play, limping badly, to be replaced by Hakki. Tony Houghton’s piledriver that Dawson grabbed at the second attempt was Dulwich’s last serious effort as the final seconds became one-way traffic, with Cleevely’s goal leading a charmed life. Twice the lines were cleared at the last gasp, then in stoppage Cleevely denied Clark with a stunning save, turning his ferocious shot onto the post.
So it was that the last ever London Challenge Cup would be decided by that cruellest of footballing mistresses – the penalty shoot-out. Two hours of football and the destiny of the trophy would be decided by the ability of tired legs to summon up enough strength to beat a goalkeeper from 12 yards. Cleevely was a whisker away from getting his hand on Clark’s first kick, but it was 0-1. Next up Smith for Dulwich. Then disaster! As he went to kick the ball, his legs disappeared from under him and the ball sailed over the bar. Next three Uxbridge penalties. Goal – Kevin Cleary. Goal – Nicky Ryder. Goal – Chris Moore. Next three Dulwich penalties. Goal – Dean Green. Goal – Tony Houghton. Goal – John Cross. So the score stood at 4-3 to Uxbridge. The fate of the cup rested with Mark Weedon, but he rattled the ball against the post. Dulwich were still there. Mark Garland had to score to send the contest into sudden death. To the immense relief of Dulwich supporters he rolled the ball into the left-hand corner of the goal and things were level. Now for sudden death. Taking the mantle of responsibility himself, Uxbridge’s captain Mark Gill strode purposefully to the spot, smashing the ball into the back of the net. Cleevely was close to saving it but the power of the shot beat him. For a moment, Dulwich seemed unsure as to would be taking their sixth penalty then the diminutive figure of Hakki stepped forward. All voices hushed as he took the kick, then a mixture of groans and cheers shattered the silence. Groans from Dulwich, cheers from Uxbridge for their hero of the hour keeper Dawson who had won them the cup with a simple save from a nervous kick.
A funereal atmosphere descended on the Dulwich camp, as their realisation sank in the first team’s season would be without a silver lining. Dave Garland and Micky Read wandered amongst their players tried to console them but deep down they knew that in truth this Cup had not been won by Uxbridge but lost, nay thrown away, by Dulwich.

Team:
Les Cleevely, Gary Hewitt (12: Dean Palmer 61), Kevin Smith, Danny Carroll (14: Veli Hakki 116), Mark Garland, Francis Duku, John Cross, Tony Houghton, Dean Green, Peter Garland (15: Mark McGibbon 91), Tony Chin,

Man of the Match: Peter Garland: Ran the show in midfield and his departure before extra-time was the turning point.