Croydon FC 2 Dulwich Hamlet 2

Saturday 15th July 2006

Pre-Season Friendly (played @ Footscray RUFC)

On blazing summer’s day, on an unfamiliar sward normally frequently by beefy fellows playing with their strangely shaped balls, once regular rivals locked horns in combat. Dulwich’s pre-season preamble to the battle proper began with a test of mettle against a Croydon side who had pressed Premier Division Bromley in their previous outing, something that showed in a late rally that almost saw them emerge victorious, nay should of done but for the referee’s failure to spot a blatant handball in a late goalmouth mêlée.
Whilst the senior players were excused games, this was an afternoon for the triallists and the aspiring youngsters fresh from the Youth Team’s silver gilded season to impress under the watching gaze of manager Wayne Burnett, steely-eyed on the touchlines as the hopefuls performed before him.
In a game of three thirds, as much to give all those aspirants an equal chance to impress, Dulwich shaded the opening period and took the lead with a fine strike from former Tooting and Whyteleafe midfielder Daniel Nwanze, following a sweeping move down the left wing. The second period saw Dulwich double their advantage as Ohran Stewart, youth team graduate of 2005, wove his way through the defence before slamming a low drive beyond the Croydon keeper and into the far corner of the net. At this point it seemed as if Dulwich were about to turn on the gas but despite a number of clear openings the Hamlet were unable to add to their advantage.
The third period was momentarily interrupted by the unexpected appearance of a dog on the pitch, but for the downturn in Hamlet’s fortune it might as well have been a herd of black cats for Croydon’s troops found strength as Dulwich’s powers waned. A clumsy challenge gave Croydon the chance to equalise from the spot; soon after a handball went unnoticed as the Hamlet goal almost wilted under a blue tide. Then a stunning strike on the volley from the edge of the box and the Trams had pulled level as the ball looped over a leaping Hamlet keeper before dropping in the far corner of the goal.