May 11 2004
DULWICH 2 TOOTING & M 0
Chris Fidler Reports From Claremont Road, South London Press
AFTER the season of disappointment these two rivals have had, the London Senior Cup provided some light relief.
It may not have the kudos it used to, but the competition final was a chance for two South London sides to regain some pride in a small corner of North London.
Dulwich were in the greater need of a pick-me-up after missing promotion from Ryman Division One South by one penalty kick 48 hours earlier. However, the cup was also a chance for Tooting's players to prove they are not so dispensable for next season, after a disappointing Ryman South finish of 11th.
As it was, one man was the difference between the sides at the ramshackle home of Hendon FC.
Omari Coleman's forward play has stood out for Dulwich all season long, and it was fitting that the best player on show should grab the glory with two quick-fire second half goals in the space of 120 seconds.
It was tough on Tooting, who just have not been able to find a consistent winning formula all season. For all their enterprise, the Terrors just could not get that ball in the back of the net.
It was they that settled the quicker and tried to take advantage of Hamlet's play-off hangover.
Right winger Goma Lambu looked dangerous for Tooting and he was the first to threaten a goal in the seventh minute. He turned Dulwich skipper, and former Tooting favourite, Alex O'Brien on the wing before whipping in a tasty ball that Paul Seuke had to tip over his bar.
Another player facing his former club, Tooting striker Eben Allen, prodded just wide from James Husband's ninth minute free kick.
Former Dulwich manager, and now Tooting keeper, Les Cleevely had to be alert to smother Coleman's shot on the turn following a Scott Edgar flick-on on the quarter-hour mark.
Tooting were playing the better stuff but could not find the net. Scott Kinch saw his shot deflected off Dulwich's Julian Curnow after some tricks from Elliot Onochie in the box, but that was the nearest they came. Allen then headed a Husband free kick straight at Seuke, before Dulwich created two good chances just before half time. The first saw Kemal Bulent pump a long free kick into the box, only for David Moore to head past the post. The second was the best flowing move of the half that ended with Cleevely saving well from Edgar's head.
As the players made their way down the tunnel at half time there was some pushing and shoving as tempers flared - the sides have never been the best of friends.
The second half started slowly and it looked like Tooting were the likelier side. However, in the 54th minute they got a warning shot from Coleman who carved out a decent chance that Cleevely did well to get down and smother.
Four minutes later, Coleman had the ball in the net after he latched on to a long ball, outpaced the Tooting defence before poking past Cleevely - pure route one stuff. Tooting's composure obviously took a knock as they failed to pick up Coleman two minutes later as he sent the ball spinning past Cleevely with a superb diving header from a stunning Bulent delivery to make it 2-0.
Terrors manager Richard Cadette decided to change things as he hauled off Kinch and the disappointing Onochie, replacing them with Steven Cant and Durrand Jemmott. The move seemed to pay off as Tooting spent the final 15 minutes bombarding the Dulwich goal. Allen skewed a shot wide before Cant pulled another effort the wrong side of the post from distance.
Tooting deserved to pull a goal back, but Dulwich packed their own box for some last-ditch defending.
With five minutes to go, Hamlet somehow managed to keep the ball out of the goal after a Husband shot was cleared off the line and the follow-up was saved by Seuke.
Tooting then hit the bar, before the ball was sent across the face of goal, but no Terror was on hand to finish. Lambu hit the side-netting before Dulwich went up the other end, only for Cleevely to somehow keep out Edgar's free header with a save Gordon Banks would have been proud of.
The whistle saw fans invade the pitch. The Dulwich faithful proclaiming "we are the champions of London" and "we're the pride of South London".
Both sets of supporters were a credit to their clubs, travelling north to cheer on their local sides. And they can, at least, console themselves with the thought that, after disappointing campaigns, they have the Tooting-Dulwich derbies to look forward to next season.
Goals: Dulwich - Coleman (58, 60). Dulwich: Seuke, Amwoan (sic), Curnow, O'Brien, Bowen, Moore, Bulent, Edgar, Coleman (Nugent 89), Turley, Side. Not used: Quarm, Green, Kyezu, Bedford.
Tooting: Cleevely, Tanner (Lasbrey 40), Symes, Nwanze, Twin, Hunt, Lambu, Kinch (Cant 65), Onochie (Jemmott 65), Allen, Husband. Not used: Pinnock, Davies.
DHFC: Paul Seuke; Errison Ahwan, Julian Curnow; Alex O'Brien; Justin Bowen; David Moore; Kemal Bulent; Scott Edgar; Omari Coleman (Meshach Nugent 88); Jason Turley; Charley Side
Subs not used: Francis Quarm; Meshach Nugent; Ronnie Green; Aliy Kyezu; Russell Bedford.
Bookings: None
T&MFC: Les Cleevely, Craig Tanner (James Lasbrey 39), Steve Symes, Daniel Nwanze, Danny Twin, Oliver Hunt, Goma Lambu, Scott Kinch (Jason Pinnock 65), Elliot Onochie (Durrand Jemmott 65), Eben Allen, James Husband.
Subs not used: Stephen Cant, Jimmy Davies.
Bookings: None
Referee: O. Saliy
Assistants: R. Albert & M. Wise
