Yeading FC 1 Dulwich Hamlet 4

Yeading FC 1 Dulwich Hamlet 4
Ryman League Division One
Tuesday 21st August 2001

Dulwich bounced back from the disappointment of Saturday’s defeat with a stunning fightback that clinched all three points. Trailing to a spectacular strike from defender Nevin Saroya after a cross had only been half cleared, Dulwich were further hindered when Francis Quarm was shown the red card after a late tackle sparked a bout of fisticuffs. After what seemed an age, he was joined as a spectator by the home participant in the kerfuffle, Keith Newby, also dismissed for his actions.
Victims of some atrocious officiating that saw Declan Perkins exquisite chip ruled out for a marginal offside, then Luke Edgehill’s felling in the box adjudged a goal kick, Dulwich must have felt that all the gods were against them. More so when Perkins tapped in Julian Old’s cross, only for the referee to ignore the advantage and pull play back for a Dulwich free kick! However justice was swiftly enacted as Perkins rose highest to flick the ball in for the equaliser.
The half ended with Dulwich in the ascendancy, Ryan Gray smashing the ball against the post from a free kick tight on the goal line.
Five minutes into the second half Dulwich grabbed a deserved lead when Old’s cross was handled and a spot kick awarded. Up stepped Perkins and dispatched a perfect penalty into the bottom corner of the net. Four minutes later and Perkins completed the first Dulwich hat trick in the League for nearly 6 years with a screamer of a shot from the edge of the box that gave keeper Matt Hodson no chance.
There was no way back for the ‘Ding and Dulwich continued to batter the home defence. Defender Nick Leach arrived unexpectedly at the near post to head a quick free kick just over, then another penalty appeal was dismissed as substitute Landry Zahana-Oni found himself the meat in a Yeading sandwich. He nearly exacted revenge seconds later setting up fellow sub Danny Ward for a drilled shot, unfortunately straight at the keeper.
Six minutes from the end, Dulwich made it four. Old found himself in a acre of space on the right and with defenders appealing in vain for offside, the winger found Zahana-Oni in the box and the Frenchman scored with a dinked header that beat the keeper inside his near post. Almost on the final whistle, Wayne Grant had the opportunity to cap the evening with a fifth, winning a race with the keeper to a through ball, nicking it past him as Hodson attempted a futile challenge that had it succeeded would have earned him a red card. However his blushes were saved as the angle was just too tight for Grant to tuck it away, the substitute smashing the ball into the side netting.
After a ineffectual start against Whyteleafe, the real Dulwich Hamlet had at last come to the surface, posting its intent that the cease-fire is over and the struggle for the promotion is well and truly back on the agenda.

Team:
1. James Mercer
2. Oliver Hunt
3. Michael Ebanks
4. Gwynne Berry
5. Nick Leach
6. Rob French
7. Julian Old
8. Francis Quarm
9. Declan Perkins (14: Wayne Grant 70 minutes)
10. Luke Edgehill (12: Landry Zahana-Oni 74 minutes)
11. Ryan Gray (15: Danny Ward 64 minutes)