Dulwich Hamlet 3 Carshalton Athletic 1

Pre-Season Friendly

Monday 14th August 2006

The dogfight for promotion begins afresh this Saturday and in the light of this exhilarating match, Wayne Burnett’s ebullient prediction that his youthful charges will be challenging the moneyed likes of Dover and Met Police come the final reckoning may not be too far wide of the mark. Despite going behind to a breathtaking individual goal within mere seconds of the kick-off, courtesy of the Robins’ star player on the night, youthful winger Mark Marshall, Hamlet girded their loins to fight back and claim victory with Jean-Serge Musungu levelling from the penalty spot before an own goal added to a sublime piece of finishing from substitute Sol Pinnock wrapped up a comprehensive triumph.

Though less than a week remained before the season opener at home to Corinthian-Casuals, there was still time for a new face and a familiar one to stake their claim to a place in that starting line-up. After a turbulent summer of his own, there was a welcome return for the goal machine, Chris Dickson to lead the attack, a little ruing-rusty but a regular threat until cramp forced him off on the hour mark. Between the stick, the management had opted for experience over youth as James Pullen took over the gloves from custodial prodigy Chris Lewington, whose day is yet to come.

Barely had the shrill blast of the referee’s whistle dying in the still night air than the Robins’ found themselves with a goal to celebrate. A Hamlet attack from the kick-off broke down and the ball made its way out to the left wing where tricky tyro winger Marshall was waiting. A graduate of the Athletic youth team, the swift winger attacked Dulwich’s right flank at pace, the coolest of drag backs leaving Jason Turley in a heap on the floor, then whilst all around expected a cross into the middle from the tightest of angles a wickedly curling strike beyond the reach of Pullen and into the far corner of the net.

Refusing to be bowed by this early setback Hamlet instead drew strength from adversity and 11 minutes later had an equaliser as Turley darted in behind the defence as they dithered and found himself upended by an old colleague, Carshalton keeper Paul Seuke. From the spot Musungu put the lie to Dulwich’s penalty problems of yore with a finely executed effort sending Seuke the wrong way as he slotted the ball home.

Were it not for the frame of the goal rescuing a beleaguered Robins’ defence, the Hamlet might have bid goodnight to their guests before the break. Four minutes after the penalty, Dickson’s determination set up Kenny Beaney to drive a ball across the edge of the area, Phil Williams’ first time strike cannoning back off the foot of the upright with Seuke statuesque. When Musungu latched on to a precision pass to chance his arm with a shot from the acutest of angles it was the crossbar’s turn to play saviour.

Sweeping forward with the brio of men inspired, Dulwich had Carshalton hanging on grimly to egality, indebted to Seuke for twice denying the rampaging Musungu, first with a fingertip low save after the Hamlet forward had capitalised on David Moore’s threaded pass, then standing up well to block a fierce drive after Musungu had escaped down the left wing much to the opprobrium of defenders who thought him offside.

Like children on Christmas Eve, the Hamlet faithful awaited the second half in anticipation of something special; they were not to be disappointed. Two minutes in and Dulwich deservedly grabbed the lead as Musungu broke free to knock the ball past Seuke, defender David Graves providing the final touch to turn the ball over the line. This was the cue for Dulwich to stamp their dominance on the game, something they maintained despite a number of changes of personnel as the game went on. A brace of substitutes linked up as Seuke denied Luke Cornwall, saving with his feet after the striker had been fed by Carlton Murray-Price. A late rally from the Robins’ as they rose from their sonambulance gave Pullen a chance to at last display his skills; a couple of flying saves from a brace of blistering shots on the run from substitute Danny Platel ensuring his net was unruffled again.

In stoppage time, the seal was set on an emphatic victory as a third goal was conjured. A pinpoint cross field pass released Cornwall scampering like a teenager down the left wing, the striker playing provided as he whipped a low ball into the heart of the penalty area where Pinnock was arriving at speed to sweep the ball imperiously home from close range, provoking a wistful look over his shoulder at his former team-mates from Seuke as he turned to pick the ball from his net for a third time.

DHFC: James Pullen; Jason Turley; Nicolas Plumain; Daniel Nwanze; Jamie Coyle; Lewis Tozer; David Moore; Kenny Beaney; Jean-Serge Musungu; Chris Dickson; Phil Williams

Subs used: Sol Pinnock; Matt Dean; Luke Cornwall; Ohran Stewart; Carlton Murray-Price; Jamie Cheeseman; Daniel Jones; Billy Warner; Chris Hurst

CAFC Squad: Paul Seuke, Colin Hartburn, David Graves, John Cartledge, Murphy, Steve Gibson, Mark Hawthorn, Tony Quinton, Mark Marshall, Craig Dundas, Laurent Hamici, Richard O'Conner, Danny Platel, Tom Carter, Howe

Maidenhead United 1 Dulwich Hamlet 1

Pre-Season Friendly

Saturday 12th August 2006

For more than a century Maidenhead’s antiquated, charmingly ramshackle York Road ground has played host to the noble game of football, the River Thames serenely flowing behind its ancient bounds, host to the wealthy Lotus Eaters that laze beside its lapping waters or poot-poot up and down Father Thames in a variety of eccentric aquatic craft. Stark contrast to the epicurean pleasure seekers was the scenario that unfolded but a stone’s throw from the indolent pleasures of a summer’s afternoon of affluent Buckinghamshire for on the once green sward of York Road, two sides were engaged in battle royal as both moved into the final phases of pre-season preparation. Naught but pride may have been a stake, but neither the hosing Magpies nor the visiting Hamlet were prepared to give quarter in a contest either could have won but neither deserved to lose and where the art of goalkeeping was displayed to its full by a teenage tyro and a Portuguese journeyman.

Having impressed in a late cameo role for a Hamlet XI at Burnham, Jamie Cheeseman was given a chance to display his talents from the off but catching the eye as the Hamlet dominated the early exchanges were full-backs Jason Turley and Billy Warner, whose piercing raids down either wing causing the host defence no end of problems. With the midfield ferocious in the tackle, the Magpies had little time to settle on the ball and had it not been for one-time Benfica keeper, Chico Ramos, between the sticks Hamlet might well have raced into an early lead. Ohran Stewart was first to be denied, meeting a ball into the box to crack a flying first time volley goalwards only for Ramos to pull off an equalling mouth-watering save flinging himself left to parry the ball away. This was nothing in comparison to the reaction save on his line he later pulled off to prevent Jean-Serge Musungu putting Hamlet ahead as the Dulwich striker produced a breathtaking overhead kick inside the six yard box that seemed destined to find the net. All the Magpies had to show in reply was wasteful drive from Yashwa Romeo flying high over the terraces when it seemed easily to find the target.

At last after 33 minutes the Hamlet made their dominance tell, though the impressive Ramos was left cursing his luck as Jason Turley blistering shot at the end of determined charge up field took a cruel deflection off a defender, beating the outstretched fingertips of Ramos as he clawed at the air. The upright came to his rescue but momentarily as Stewart reacted with alacrity to bravely fling himself headlong at the rebound and nod the ball into the now unguarded net. Stung into action the Magpies woke from their slumber and but for the bravery of Chris Lewington might have levelled within seconds as Danny Burnell slipped his leash, only for the young Hamlet stopper to smoother his effort. However that was but a momentary reprieve and a minute later Maidenhead had regained parity, Romeo bullying his way through the Dulwich defence and letting rip with a searing low drive that gave Lewington not an iota of a chance as it found its way unerringly to the far corner of the net.

Beaten but not bowed, young Lewington was in no mood to let another past him and before the break would again deny Burnell as the striker once again slipped the ties of his marker. For Dulwich Turley was left frustrated, playing a one-two with David Moore on the corner of the penalty area, latching on to his team-mates cheeky back flick but failing to find the target as his volley bounced wide of Ramos’ far upright.

Hamlet made a number of changes at the break, among them Youth Team goal machine Sol Pinnock, and it took a while before they again found the rhythm that had allowed their midfield to hold sway for so much of that exhilarating first half. This was quickly capitalised on by the Magpies and but for an outstanding display from the impervious Lewington, in supreme form, a nemesis to all, in particular Burnell who seemed cursed not to score as Lewington produced a string of top drawer saves. Best amongst a master class of shot stopping was an matchless effort to batter away a close range piledriver from Romeo, stretching to sweep a low rightwing cross goalwards with the force of a bullet. Running this close in a panoply of custodial prestidigitation was a stunning save to deny Burnell as not once but twice as the striker burst into the area.

Buoyed by this, Dulwich might well have come away victorious as they mounted a late rally to threaten the hosts’ goal in the closing moments. A bullish run from substitute Daniel Jones pierced the Magpies right flank, the striker dragging the ball back into the six yard box where Nicolas Plumain was desperately unlucky to see his close range effort deflected wide. From the resultant corner, Gavin Dayes was left unmarked to meet the ball with his head but a wayward header troubled none but the ball boys who would have to recover the ball from beyond the terraces. Still there was time for Luke Cornwall to seal victory as he beat an offside trap applied rigorously by the home defence, but with only the keeper to beat dragged an angled shot wide.

Team:

DHFC: Chris Lewington; Jason Turley; Billy Warner; Gavin Dayes; Daniel Nwanze; Jamie Coyle; David Moore; Ohran Stewart; Jean-Serge Musungu; Carlton Murray-Price; Jamie Cheeseman

Subs used: Luke Cornwall; Sol Pinnock; Kenny Beaney; Nicolas Plumain; Chris Hurst; Matt Dean; Daniel Jones