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