Thame United 4 Dulwich Hamlet 2

Thame United 4 Dulwich Hamlet 2
Ryman Isthmian League – First Division
Tuesday 11th September 2001

The horror stories continued for the Hamlet as somehow they contrived to turn what looked likely to be a morale-boasting victory into a calamitous defeat. Twice they found themselves with an advantage, and twice that advantage was squandered as the home team’s greater heart and hunger carried them to glory.
Fielding an unchanged side following Saturday’s improved showing Dulwich got off to a sparkling start that gave no inkling of the horrors that would unfold later. For the first quarter hour they laid siege to their opponents’ goal and it was no surprise that first blood went to Gwynne Berry’s troops. A rapier attack down the left saw the ball find Landry Zahana-Oni drill a low shot past Alan Foster in the home goal. Five minutes later and a cross from the left found full back Danny Moore overlapping on the left but his first time volley was straight at the keeper.
Zahana-Oni could have added to his tally on 26 minutes with a well struck effort but it just cleared the bar. However the warning lights were starting to flash as Thame began to inch their back into the game, Chris Potter’s shot on the run being scrambled past the post by James Mercer.
Ten minutes before the break and Thame’s persistence paid off with an equaliser. Questions may be asked about the challenge on Mercer as he came to gather a freekick, but no doubt about the crisp finish as Potter as he tucked the loose ball into the unguarded net. Protestations came to naught as referee Mr Mackerell insisted he had seen nothing fishy.
Having lost their lead, Dulwich were swiftly given a numerical advantage. Following a foul on Mark Coyle, Justin Merritt appeared to spit at the Dulwich player and after some consultation a red card was brandished at the reprobate, who continued to aim invective at the referee as he disappeared down the tunnel.
For a while the extra man seemed to play into Dulwich’s hands and Nick Leach was awfully unlucky not to register his maiden goal when his header from a corner struck the underside of the bar and ricocheted to safety. However after this short period of Dr Jekyll it was not long before the unlucky face of Mr Hyde reared its head. In stoppage time the home side won a corner and rising head and shoulders over the Dulwich defence Rob Smith directed a textbook downward header that gave Mercer no chance. There was just time for Dulwich to take the kick-off before the halftime whistle blew.
One wonders what words were directed at the crestfallen team at halftime, but it has to be assumed they were far from complimentary. Presumably they had the desired effect as Dulwich started the second half at a canter. First Warren Burton and then Coyle forced good saves out of former Safe Hands winner Foster with powerful headers, but the old stager could do nothing about the thunderous header from Coyle that brought the sides level after 56 minutes, meeting a corner with power and accuracy and leaving the keeper clasping at thin air.
Surely this would provide the impetus for a Dulwich revival but it only served to give a kick in the pants to the home team as their harrying and running that prompted the Dulwich fans to have a quick count of the red shirts to ensure Thame had not sneaked an extra player on unnoticed.
On 67 minutes Dulwich found themselves in disarray as a third Dulwich goal rocked the very foundations of the Hamlet. Wayne Cort, brother of Newcastle’s Carl and once of Fisher, showed a clean pair of heels to Al-James Hannigan and when he pulled it back there was Potter, lurching in the box. Eluding some desperate challenges, he drilled a low drive beyond the reach of Mercer.
Pack shuffling saw Luke Edgehill replace Coyle and the villain of the piece at Carshalton, Yemi Asiodun take the place of defender Leach as the Dulwich management took a last throw of the dice, opting for all out attack. Not that it altered the state of affairs one iota.
As the game entered its final throes, Dulwich’s world collapsed around them. First Lee Endersby got his marching orders for some injudicious words to the man in black bang on 90 minutes, then Potter completed his hat trick two minutes into stoppage time with a neat turn and shot that capped an awful night for the Hamlet. Coming so soon after the promising display at Carshalton, this abject performance will surely have the management scurrying back to the drawing board, scratching their heads in bewilderment.

1. James Mercer
2. Danny Moore
3. Al-James Hannigan
4. Ryan Pacey
5. Nick Leach (15: Yemi Asiodun 80)
6. Rob French
7. Julian Old
8. Lee Endersby
9. Landry Zahana-Oni
10. Mark Coyle (12: Luke Edgehill 69)
11. Warren Burton
Subs not used
14: Gwynne Berry