As Britain’s war heroes made their way to Normandy to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the D-Day landings, another troop of gallant Brits were making their way back to Blighty as Dulwich Hamlet Supporters Football Team returned from their annual foray into Europe. This time it was the Torfeo Delfino, held in Rimini, Italy and the side were celebrating yet another achievement as for the first time they avoided the wooden spoon in their group.
The tournament opened at the Spontricciolo ground where the Hamlet lads were first on pitch against Corsica team, C.F.A. Bastia and it proved to a torrid test as the sprightly opposition displayed immaculate skills in taking a two-nil lead into the break, increasing that in the second half. Dulwich were not helped by the idiosyncratic decisions of the local referee whose eccentric decisions brought British bewilderment and Gallic shrugs in equal measure. However Dulwich would not lie down and forced their way back into the game with a classic English goal. Winning a freekick wide on the left, Dulwich took full advantage as skipper Andy Tucker’s pinpoint delivery allowed Lee Shailer to rise and head a powerful header home. As the clock ticked down Dulwich continued to press but further goals did not come. A final score of 3-1 to Bastia was deserved particularly in light of sporting manner in which they conducted themselves.
A long wait ensued before Dulwich were next on pitch against local A.C. Grottino who’d won their opening game in none too convincing style giving the Hamlet Supporters every confidence that they would be able to record a maiden victory on continental soil. However Lady Luck was not smiling upon the boys in Pink and Blue as the Italians went on to record a flattering 4-0 triumph courtesy of a trio of scrappy goals, loose balls tucked away despite the best attempts of keeper Matt Hammond and his overworked defenders. Dulwich might have claimed a consolation late on when Lawrence Marsh received the ball in the penalty area but could only hold his head in dismay as his steam-hammer effort cracked against the crossbar.
Out of contention for progression to the knockout stages, Dulwich still had the opportunity to clinch third place in the group as their final opponents, G.E Factofrance, from St Ouen l’Aumone, north west of Paris, had suffered two defeats (3-0 and 4-0), meaning a draw would ensure Dulwich avoided the wooden spoon. However it was to be a long wait as the match was not scheduled until 10 to seven that evening in Argentina, a hamlet on the outskirts of town not the country! The delay probably did more to unsettle the opposition as Dulwich came out all guns blazing, taking the lead through the head of Marsh meeting a twice nodded on freekick from a throw-in to plant a header firmly past the French keeper. The Hamlet paid for some lackadaisical defending, though, as a freekick found a French player unmarked in the box and his well placed header gave Hammond no chance but a fine strike from Hamlet’s Man of the Tournament Phil Doyle restored Dulwich’s lead before the half time break. However Dulwich were denied what would have been a deserved victory when Factofrance pulled back a goal in the second half with a close range effort and despite a myriad of chances the game petered out into a draw as the day took its toll on the fast wearying combatants.
Squad: Matt Hammond (GK); Alex Bushell; Steve Rickerby; Lucas Green; Paul Griffin; Andy Tucker (Capt.); Damon Green; Phil Doyle; Lee Shailer; Ferenc Morath; Phil Baker; Mark Hutton; Ian Wright; Dave Blyth; Mick O’Shaughnessy
The tournament opened at the Spontricciolo ground where the Hamlet lads were first on pitch against Corsica team, C.F.A. Bastia and it proved to a torrid test as the sprightly opposition displayed immaculate skills in taking a two-nil lead into the break, increasing that in the second half. Dulwich were not helped by the idiosyncratic decisions of the local referee whose eccentric decisions brought British bewilderment and Gallic shrugs in equal measure. However Dulwich would not lie down and forced their way back into the game with a classic English goal. Winning a freekick wide on the left, Dulwich took full advantage as skipper Andy Tucker’s pinpoint delivery allowed Lee Shailer to rise and head a powerful header home. As the clock ticked down Dulwich continued to press but further goals did not come. A final score of 3-1 to Bastia was deserved particularly in light of sporting manner in which they conducted themselves.
A long wait ensued before Dulwich were next on pitch against local A.C. Grottino who’d won their opening game in none too convincing style giving the Hamlet Supporters every confidence that they would be able to record a maiden victory on continental soil. However Lady Luck was not smiling upon the boys in Pink and Blue as the Italians went on to record a flattering 4-0 triumph courtesy of a trio of scrappy goals, loose balls tucked away despite the best attempts of keeper Matt Hammond and his overworked defenders. Dulwich might have claimed a consolation late on when Lawrence Marsh received the ball in the penalty area but could only hold his head in dismay as his steam-hammer effort cracked against the crossbar.
Out of contention for progression to the knockout stages, Dulwich still had the opportunity to clinch third place in the group as their final opponents, G.E Factofrance, from St Ouen l’Aumone, north west of Paris, had suffered two defeats (3-0 and 4-0), meaning a draw would ensure Dulwich avoided the wooden spoon. However it was to be a long wait as the match was not scheduled until 10 to seven that evening in Argentina, a hamlet on the outskirts of town not the country! The delay probably did more to unsettle the opposition as Dulwich came out all guns blazing, taking the lead through the head of Marsh meeting a twice nodded on freekick from a throw-in to plant a header firmly past the French keeper. The Hamlet paid for some lackadaisical defending, though, as a freekick found a French player unmarked in the box and his well placed header gave Hammond no chance but a fine strike from Hamlet’s Man of the Tournament Phil Doyle restored Dulwich’s lead before the half time break. However Dulwich were denied what would have been a deserved victory when Factofrance pulled back a goal in the second half with a close range effort and despite a myriad of chances the game petered out into a draw as the day took its toll on the fast wearying combatants.
Squad: Matt Hammond (GK); Alex Bushell; Steve Rickerby; Lucas Green; Paul Griffin; Andy Tucker (Capt.); Damon Green; Phil Doyle; Lee Shailer; Ferenc Morath; Phil Baker; Mark Hutton; Ian Wright; Dave Blyth; Mick O’Shaughnessy
