Thamesmead Town Youth Team 1 Dulwich Hamlet Youth Team 1

Thamesmead Town Youth Team 1 Dulwich Hamlet Youth Team 1
Pre-season Challenge Match
Sunday 5th August 2001

After a disappointing 3-3 draw with Croydon Athletic the previous Sunday, Dulwich travelled down to the banks of the Thames there to meet with the youth of Thamesmead Town. Again they would fail to record a victory but in that failure to win, there sparkled a glint of things to come. Being newly acquainted with a number of players, please bear with me should I get the odd name wrong.
The game started brightly for the Hamlet and on their first attack Dulwich might well have been awarded a penalty when Frankie Hart was upended as he attempted to take the ball round the goalkeeper. The warm weather made for a lackadaisical afternoon with defences on top and few clear-cut chances. A freekick on the left saw Thamesmead head over when well placed. A couple of minutes later and Meshach Nugent was the provider for Lee Scott to power in a header that just missed the target.
After a 20 minutes Frankie came close to claiming a spectacular goal when the home keeper slashed at a back pass. As the ball hurtled to earth, Frankie produced threw himself at the pull to produce a bullet header as he flew through the air. Unfortunately the gods of football had averted their eyes for a moment and richly deserved goal was not to be as the ball flew wide of the mark.
Still the Hamlet did not have long to wait for a goal and after being denied twice, it was that man Hart who was to give Dulwich the lead, a deep cross to the back post giving the chance of textbook header to beat the keeper all ends up.
Steve Webb took a leaf out of Peter Garland’s book in that famous match against Newport (IoW) as he stormed down the left flank. Unfortunately however this time the referee showed more of an eagle eye to spot the offence as Webby threatened the goal.
The breakdown of a Dulwich attack gave Thamesmead the chance of a quick counter and despite the efforts of Dan Black to narrow the angle, he was rounded and an equaliser seemed on the cards. However Matt Penny rode to the rescue, forcing the attacker wide thus causing him to miss his intended target.
A lack of communication between Frankie and Lee probably deprived Dulwich of a second after Meshach galloped off down the left to whip in a tempting cross that proved just too high for Frankie. Unfortunately the slight deflection he got on the ball was enough to take it away from the better positioned Lee Scott.
Dan in goal was having a relatively peaceful afternoon in comparison with his opposite number, but when the Thamesmead No 10 got the better of Alfie Bonsu, his lack of activity was not apparent as he made light of the striker’s attempt on goal with an assured save.
Alfie quickly made up for this getting on the end of a low cross from Meshach only to be deprived of a shot on goal by a fine tackle. Then with a mere 8 seconds of the 45 to play, the Hamlet found themselves stunned as the home team got an equaliser. With the ball pinging around the box following a corner a miscued shot seemed to be going wide when the Thamesmead no 8 showed suspiciously quick reactions off the block (faster than Maurice Greene by the looks of it) and stabbed the ball past Dan. Despite the suggestion of an offside, the goal stood.
Halftime saw a number of changes for the Hamlet and they were downhearted at the late, late concession of the equaliser, it did not manifest itself in their play as their attacking intent showed. Twice in the early exchanges Alfie released explosive efforts that might have left holes in the net had their accuracy matched their power. A brace of freekicks close to the box also threatened to restore the Hamlet’s lead but both came to naught. The first from Frankie cannoned back of a solid defensive wall whilst the second proved too lofty for Frankie and substitute Steve Pulman to reach, but left the keeper with his heart in his mouth as it dropped a fraction wide of his back post.
Cruel fate denied the Hamlet the lead 20 minutes into the half as Frankie sped off in pursuit of a threaded pass out of defence from Mohammed Ismail. Then just he shaped to shoot, a wicked bobble seemed to fluster him and he skewed his shot wide. An outrageous piece of showboating from Alfie came close to restoring the advantage when he attempted a cheeky backheel as Lee Scott got in behind the defence to deliver a low cross.
Another wave of subs just before the end seem to upset the Hamlet momentum and it was the host that finished in the ascendancy although they could not find a way past Dan even when a nasty bounce of the rock-hard and rutted pitch might have deceived him, a confident save ensuing.
Right at the death of forest of feet kept the ball out when a powerful downward header from a freekick threatened a home victory but in the end it was honours even.

Team: Dan Black; Steve Webb; Perry Holland; Dan Amsberry; Matt Penny; Frankie Hart; Meshach Nugent; Alfie Bonsu; John Kasapi Junior; Craig Phelps; Lee Scott
Subs: Arron Hamilton; Mohammed Ismail; Ashley Reid; Matt Charles; Steve Pulman