Dulwich Hamlet 2 Croydon Athletic 2

Ryman Isthmian League Division One South

Monday 28^th August 2006

Bank holiday blues at Champion Hill as the Hamlet came within an ace of their first home victory of the current campaign, only to see it snatched from their grasp by a late equaliser from one of their alumni, substitute Wade Falana. An 82^nd minute guided missile from the one time Hamlet hitman robbed Dulwich of what could, nay should, have been a comfortable victory had they not been thwarted by some masterful keeping by veteran custodian James Wastell and their own profligacy as numerous goalscoring opportunities fell by the wayside.

Unchanged from Saturday's maiden victory, the Hamlet found themselves facing up to a team chock full with former Pink and Blue heroes and villains and one of them, Charley Side, was to provide the home fans with a reminder that his prodigious talent in front of goal had not dimmed since his departure for pastures new. Barely 20 seconds had elapsed from the opening whistle and Dulwich skipper Jamie Coyle found Adolf Amoako buzzing around him like an angry gnat. Rather than wallop the ball beyond infinity to some safer environs, he tried to play it away but succeeded in supplying only the lurking Side. Not one to spurn such a present Side took great joy in banging the ball past the exposed James Pullen, staking his claim for the season's fastest goal.

Clearly rattled, Hamlet might well have found themselves further in arrears by the 5^th minute as Amoako created the chance for himself but succeeded only in burying the ball into Pullen's midriff. It took some time before Pink and Blue boys regained their composure but when the chances at last started to flow, their found their nemesis in the ample form of Wastell, a frightening figure more suited to a 70's episode of Doctor Who than the football field, but when the chips are down a formidable opponent. So Dulwich found. First to be denied was Phil Williams, twisting and turning like a dervish, he left defenders in his wake but faced with Wastell could not get the lift to chip the keeper as he spread himself at his feet. Moments later Williams slid a pass into the path of the overlapping Luke Cornwall but again Wastell was there to block as he was when Chris Dickson exploited the same gap soon after.

On 22 minutes the chance of an equaliser went west, as Dickson slipped the bonds of a static offside trap, knocked the ball past the fast advancing Wastell but with the ball seemingly inexorably destined for the back of the net, Dickson found himself robbed of the ball on the very goal line as Jon Waite somehow got back to produce a goal saving tackle.

A penalty shout as Kenny Beaney was sent airborne as he collected a pass from Nicolas Plumain, adding to the wing attack, but naught by a wistful shake of the head from referee Mr Collins. A neat swivel a yard inside the area from Cornwall that bamboozled his marker but a low drive was always going that fraction too far the wrong side of the upright. Another brave Wastell block to deny Dickson and home hopes of an equaliser to sweeter the half time seemed forlorn. Then deep in stoppage time, extended apparently interminably, a goal came almost out of nothing. A deep Beaney corner dropped invitingly for captain Coyle and with a might swing of his boot, the ball singed the very air as it was dispatched heartily into the corner of the net with the seemingly Wastell for once powerless. Having atoned for this earlier error the ecstasy in Coyle's celebration was there for all to see. So tight to half time had it come that there was barely time to even restart the contest.

Clearly buoyed by the boost of a goal the Hamlet started the second half in upbeat mode. When a long crossfield pass picked out Williams loitering in clear space on the left wing, a second goal looked on the cards but with Wastell stranded in No Man's Land, the Hamlet winger took too long to make up his mind where the ball was going and Waite was across in a flash to make a telling interception.

The Rams added muscle to their attack as Falana replaced Side but the Hamlet's renewed vigour sorely tested them. Almost on cue an injudicious comment from Danny Ward in the direction of the referee earned him the afternoon's first yellow card.

But for a tackle timed to perfection by the overworked Waite, Williams might have burst through into a scoring position whilst Cornwall in space on the right might have elected to find another Pink and Blue shirt, though his powerful drive from the tightest of angles was mere inches too high.

At last, just before the hour mark a goal materialised as Dickson's anticipation saw him outpace the defence to meet the ball, coolly lobbing Wastell, stranded far from his line. This provided a catalyst for sustained Dulwich domination but against the odds further goals were not forthcoming. From a corner Lewis Tozer crashed a header against the crossbar. Seconds later as David Moore lashed the loose ball back into the danger area; Coyle struck a venomous effort but always curling too wide.

With eight minutes on the lock Dulwich were made to pay as another former Hamlet hero came back to haunt the Hill. This time it was the veteran Falana who was to capitalise as he met a deep ball in from the right with a shot on the run of such power it seemed to pass through Pullen as if he were a phantom.

With time against them, Hamlet vainly sought a winner but fate and Wastell would conspire against them, the ‘I Zingari' keeper produced a fine block to deny Williams from close range. From a corner Tozer looped a header over but best chance came deep, deep in injury time as at the end of an exquisite move, Dickson stretched to meet a low cross only to stab his effort agonisingly wide of the back stick.

Teams:

DHFC: James Pullen; Jason Turley; Nicolas Plumain; Daniel Nwanze; Jamie Coyle (Capt.); Lewis Tozer; David Moore (Danny Moore 77); Kenny Beaney; Luke Cornwall (Sol Pinnock 73); Chris Dickson; Phil Williams

Subs not used: Jamie Cheeseman; Ohran Stewart; Carlton Murray-Price

CAFC: James Wastell; Mark Waters; Danny Cecil; Jon Waite; James Gibson (Capt.); Danny Ward; Mark Simmons (Julian Curnow 65); Gareth Graham (Veli Hakki 53); Adolf Amoako; Charley Side (Wade Falana 50); Tyrone Myton

Subs not used: Chris Malik; Danny Lombardo

Attendance: 305

Officials:

Referee: Mr Lee Collins

Assistant Referees: Mr Phil Stevens & Mr Peter Georgiou

Goal Scoring:

1-0: CAFC: Charley Side 1^st minute

1-1: DHFC: Jamie Coyle 45^th minute

2-1: DHFC: Chris Dickson 59^th minute

2-2: CAFC: Wade Falana 82^nd minute

Horsham YMCA 0 Dulwich Hamlet 1

Ryman Isthmian League Division One South

Saturday 26^th August 2006

"Young man, there's no need to feel down. I said young man, pick yourself off the ground. I said young man, 'cause you're in a new town. There's no need to be unhappy." For the young men of the Hamlet on their maiden visit to the rustic Gorings Mead home of newly promoted Horsham YMCA, happiness at last as a morale boosting victory was claimed, albeit via the penalty spot after an unfortunate handball incident. Still though the Hamlet have yet to fully click into gear, but at least they could point to the outstanding performance of the hosts' custodian, one James Dumbrill, plucked from local football for his debut, nigh well unbeatable and deserved winner of the man of the match award. Time after time, as Dulwich threatened to run rampant after a stuttering start, he rescued his beleaguered defence performing feats of keeping and acrobaticism seemingly impossible for one of his ample frame.

Just one change for the Hamlet in the starting line up as wise old owl Luke Cornwall came in to join the attack in place of the precocious Sol Pinnock, goalscorer in the midweek defeat at Dover. Disappointing defeat that night, one that needed to be erased with victory. Hamlet started positively, their connoisseur fans seeking a palate sating performance, a banquet of quality football laced with goals a plenty. Feast laced with famine for whilst Dulwich were dainty servers of the first time ball and the lateral pass, the hungry mastiffs of the YMCA defence were snapping up stray passes that fell from the table not as scraps but as whole pheasants.

The uniquely undulating terrain of Gorings Mead certainly provided a new test for the Hamlet, away from the carpet of Champion Hill, judging the weight of a pass as crucial as setting an Open winning putt. A quarter hour of probing at last gave way to the first real chance as Phil Williams danced a polka around his marker on the left side of the penalty area, whipping the ball into the heart of the six yard box where Cornwall was waiting but a tame prod at the ball failed to trouble Dumbrill. Cornwall's persistence almost created a goal out of nothing for striker partner Chris Dickson moments later as he chased down an underhit back pass, Dumbrill's clearance going straight to Dickson but then redeeming himself blocking Mr Goal Machine's pile driver, then watching relieved as the follow up attempt curled wider and wider until it went out for a throw in!

Kenny Beaney chanced his arm with a low long range effort form outside the area but well wide. A corner produced the best opening for a while as Jamie Coyle made a rare sally to the near post, turning on a sixpence to hook the ball goalwards from an acute angle but foiled by Dumbrill who scrambled the ball past the upright. A crucial interception from Glenn "Woodie" Woodburn preventing an encouraging Hamlet move ending in success, as the YMCA defender stretched a leg out to stab Beaney's lashed centre behind. More telling though was the save at the other end by James Pullen, villain of the piece in Dover's fateful third, but hero of the hero as he denied Pat Massaro having been left staring the barrel of a gun following a defensive lapse.

A touch of route one football from the purveyors of passing, Dickson latching on a long punt upfield but robbed by tackle timed to perfection from Steve Best. The troublesome Dickson had only himself to blame when his strength allowed him to hold off his marker and power into the box soon after, his poor finish dribbling into the keeper's waiting hands. Having switched wings with David Moore, Williams rampaged down the right but with just the keeper between him and glory, the ball was lashed high and hopeless. Dickson was again giving the home defence nightmares as he burst through a forest of white shirts into the area but could find the telling pull back.

A clumsy Williams challenge gave YMCA a chance to stun their guests but Massaro's freekick was larruped into the wall, the rebound lashed over and the action returned to the other end. In the dying minutes twice the Hamlet might have had a spot kick. Moore took an almighty shove in the back as he waiting for a high ball to drop. Referee Mr Knight hesitated as did Moore, the ball nicked off his toes as he shaped to shoot. At least the referee spotted the foul play when Moore was again the victim, sent sprawling as he burst into the area. However to the chagrin of players and fans alike, the man in black awarded not a penalty but a freekick a fraction of an inch outside the area, one that would be wasted through an over intricate set piece that allowed YMCA to charge down the eventual shot on goal.

Second half brought more of the same. Early on a well worked move saw Beaney swept the ball out to Moore galloping down the left, his centre met by Dickson but denied hitting the target by a hefty last ditch block. Lurking wide out on the left, Kevin Keehan looked as if he was disinterested in the game but posted intent as a deep cross from the opposite flank picked him out to welly in a sweet angled strike to ensure Pullen was paying attention.

Served a few hors d'oeuvre at last the main course for the Hamlet as fortune swung in their favour. Shot after shot blocked as Dulwich seemed destined not to score but with Dumbrill grounded the ball dropped to Williams ten yards out, the ball lashed towards goal where the hand of Best, intentionally or not only he will know, keep the ball from its intended target. Not doubt about the penalty, even the hosts did not protest, though for Best his misery was compounded as a red card was flourished in his face. Up stepped Dickson and at last Dumbrill was beaten as the Hamlet strike walloped the ball high into the corner of the net. It would be the last time the debutante keeper would pluck the ball from his net. Twice in quick succession he denied the threat of Dickson, as Hamlet found a higher gear. Nicolas Plumain should have done better when a cross from the right dropped at his feet on the corner of the six yard box but his volley kept curling just wide.

A bullish charge through the middle of the park from Moore saw the ball switched inside to Cornwall, but he too was thwarted by Dumbrill's alert save to palm the ball around the post. The ten men of YMCA refused to buckle but with Pullen commanding his area like a general, the greater threat was of more Hamlet goals. Dumbrill would prove a naysayer on that count, hardly tested a Jamie Cheeseman's effort from a couple of yards out but flinging himself full length to tip away Pinnock's deceptively powerful lightning bolt of a shot from fully 25 yards out.

YMCA: James Dumbrill; Rob Mills; Mo Shuga'a; Steve Best; Glen Woodburn; Tom White (Capt); Matt Russell; Ave Gellatly; Kevin Keehan; Pat Massaro (Steve Davies 66); Scott Kirkwood

Unused subs: James Bird; Adam O'Carroll; Mike Wood (GK)

DHFC: James Pullen; Jason Turley; Nicolas Plumain; Daniel Nwanze; Jamie Coyle (Capt); Lewis Tozer; David Moore; Kenny Beaney; Luke Cornwall (Carlton Murray-Price 76); Chris Dickson (Sol Pinnock 76); Phil Williams (Jamie Cheeseman 70)

Unused subs: Ohran Stewart; Danny Moore

Attendance: 153

Officials:

Referee: Mr Ben Knight

Assistant Referees: Mr Anthony Foster & Mr Stephen Thorne

Goal Scoring:

1-0: DHFC: Chris Dickson (Penalty) 61^st minute