Dulwich Hamlet 3 Thamesmead Town 4

London Senior Cup - Second Round

Tuesday 14^th November 2006

A storming cup tie belonging more to the devil take the hindmost football of yore, but one that left Dulwich dumped out of the London Senior Cup by Kent League opposition, albeit the promotion favourites, and manager Wayne Burnett purple with apoplexy at some of the substandard performances from his players. Indeed had it not been for the dynamic, one man goal show that is Chris Dickson, Dulwich might have been staring down the barrel of a more comprehensive defeat.

As might be expected a number of changes from Saturday's Molesey mayhem. Jamie Coyle returned to his usual centre-half role after his brief sojourn in the midfield to be partnered by Jason Turley after warm-up misfortune for Lewis Tozer, who turned an ankle pre-game. Kenny Beaney returned after suspension and there were also starts for David Moore and Billy Warner, returning at left back after a long injury lay-off whilst the keeper's mantle returned to the tyro Chris Lewington.

Early on it looked as if Dulwich might well have the measure of some tenacious opponents, attacking at pace and unlucky not to go ahead after just three minutes when a Beaney free kick was allowed to drift across the edge of the six yard box, Dickson's powerful poke cannoned back off the inside of the upright and into the grateful hands of keeper Danny Kemp. 11 minutes though and the Hamlet found themselves trailing as the rearguard was breached with Rikki Cable latching on to Scott Mulholland's incisive pass. Vain cries for offside, an eyeball confrontation with Lewington, a little shimmy from Cable to shake off his opponent and a neat slot home. One-nil to the Kentish men. Stunned in disbelief, Hamlet were still pondering when Thamesmead struck again. This time breached on the left as Curtis Williams pressed the accelerator pedal to burst past Warner. Out came Lewington again. Something on the ball but not enough and the ball found its way in at the far corner.

A megawatt match ignited. Dulwich searched for a way back. A corner found Beaney edge of the area. Dumping his marker with a nimble turn, he looked to find the far corner of the net, a curling effort swinging just wide. Kemp, ever alert, denied Daniel Jones, rushing from his line to block at the feet of the forward as he won the race for a Moore ball in from the wing.

27 minutes and a rash challenge from Tyrone Sterling threw the Hamlet a lifeline, Dickson felled as he burst into the area. No card for the miscreant but Dickson would play nemesis and although Kemp guessed right the penalty was dispatched with such force the result was inevitable. Infused with confidence Dulwich were back on level terms almost instantly with a goal of breathtaking beauty as a ball out of midfield bypassed the last line of defence to met by Dickson with the crispest of volleys that left a flying Kemp clutching at thin air as the net rippled behind him.

A fortunate ricochet let in Jones to be thwarted once more by Kemp, nay doubly thwarted as the ball rebounded back off the prostrate keeper to Jones who deftly tried to lob a header a header over his tormentor only for Kemp to stretch fingertips to pluck the ball out of the air. Half-time loomed and a second penalty for the Hamlet as Phil Williams at last awoke from his somnambulance with a meandering run that was only ended when Sam Groombridge slid in to send the flying winger crashing to the floor. This time the offence brought with it a caution but perhaps more for naughty petulance from the Mead man in questioning the decision. Groombridge's grumblings soon dissipated as Kemp, perhaps fortunately, kept out Dickson's spot kick diving in expectation of a repeat performance the ball striking his legs as Dickson opted for a different path.

A change at half-time for the visitors, the addition of Sam Thomas providing a pacy foil for the Mead's rapier like attacks. The second half was a reprise, full throated, full throttle but would lack the goals until late as the two defences bolted themselves tight. Dickson unleashed a special from distance, Kemp beaten but relived as the effort sailed wide. Cards for Nicolas Plumain and James Brown, yellow in hue as punishment for talking in class, Brown's gripes a tad justified in the wake of a goalbound charge through the Hamlet defence that seemed to be prematurely halted by a scything challenge in the area.

A preliminary sketch perhaps for a later masterpiece, Dickson came within a whisker of scoring one of the most spectacular goals seen on this fabled turf. Blocked first by Kemp, he launched himself to execute a dramatic bicycle kick over the keeper that was only denied its true destiny by the last minute intervention of Scott Saunders, the ball flicked away from under the crossbar. As Thamesmead struggled to regroup a quick corner saw the ball delivered to the back of the six yard box where Dickson was lurking but again fortune favoured the visitors as the cross was hammered into the side netting.

Five minutes later and the Thamesmead lead was restored. A rightwing raid laid the foundations, the ball finding Cable in space at the far side of the area. Coyle seemed to have covered the danger but he slipped on the dewy turf, letting his opponent in on goal. A fierce strike, one Lewington was equal to but his parry fell to the feet of Williams, some tricky juggling and he turned to volley the ball home beyond the despairing dive of the Hamlet custodian. If Thamesmead though they had finally shaken off the Hamlet threat, they were soon proven wrong for almost instantly Dulwich were back on level terms as Dickson converted a rather routine goal for him, drifting inside from the left and unleashing a screaming low drive that nestled in the far corner out of reach of a diving Kemp.

However Thomas, the half-time replacement for Thamesmead, was about to embark on a personal crusade to secure victory for the men in green. Blistering pace on the left wing, subdued until now, suddenly came into its own, mere seconds flashing by as first he was denied by Lewington, and then beat the tyro keeper only to see the ball crash back off the far upright. His next attack was to prove more fruitful as an ill-timed challenge saw the evening's third spot kick awarded, Cable the dispatcher, the match winner as a precision finish beat Lewington. Dulwich threw on the late wild cards, first Eniola Oluwa for the below par Williams, then Sol Pinnock for Plumain in a last gasp effort to force extra time, but sandwiching these changes substitute Pedro Knight unleashed a fearsome shot that almost found a home in the bottom corner of the net.

A home tie with Welling or Tooting awaits the victors, for the vanquished angry words from the management. Two defeats, two inadequate performances in less than a week, one fears Mr Burnett's evening stroll on the Thames may well be postponed.

Teams

DHFC: Chris Lewington; Jason Turley; Billy Warner; Nicolas Plumain (Sol Pinnock 89); Jamie Coyle (Capt); Cedric Meeko; David Moore; Kenny Beaney; Daniel Jones; Chris Dickson; Phil Williams (Eniola Oluwa 87)

Substitutes not used: Wayne Burnett, Matt Dean, Theo Fairweather-Johnson

TTFC: Danny Kemp; Sam Groombridge (Tony Gallagher 83); Scott Saunders; James Brown (Pedro Knight 77); Dean Kearley (Capt); Tyrone Sterling; Scott Mulholland; Robbie Tarrant; Curtis Williams; Rikki Cable; John-Paul Collier (Sam Thomas HT)

Substitutes not used: Danny Bezant; Sam Mills

Attendance:

Officials: Mr James Vallance (Putney, London)

Assistant Referees: Mr Dave D'Wan (Bromley, Kent) & Mr Abdel Zekri (Islington)

Goalscoring:

0-1 TTFC: Rikki Cable 11^th minute

0-2 TTFC: Curtis Williams 13^th minute

1-2 DHFC: Chris Dickson (penalty) 27^th minute

2-2 DHFC: Chris Dickson 29^th minute

2-3 TTFC: Curtis Williams 78^th minute

3-3 DHFC: Chris Dickson 79^th minute

3-4 TTFC: Rikki Cable (penalty) 84^th minute

Trouble with an infestation of Moles

Dulwich Hamlet 1 Molesey 3

Ryman Isthmian League Division One South

Saturday 11^th November 2006

"There's only one way to get rid of a mole. Blow its bloody head off!" _{Jasper Carrott (Unrecorded Carrott 1979)}

Perhaps disorientated by the unfamiliar surrounding of Champion Hill in daylight, the Hamlet's table-topping heroes found themselves the victims of smash and grab raid by a well-marshalled Molesey team, who arrived in South London seemingly intend on smothering the Hamlet's free flowing, free scoring football. However once Dulwich's Sol Pinnock had drilled the Hamlet into a painstakingly achieved 26^th minute lead, the Moles revealed their true colours and with the aid of nightmare home debut for custodian Alan Hughes, registered a ninth win in the last ten games, one that lifted them to the very fringes of the play-off lottery places but failed to dislodge Dulwich from their lofty perch at the head of the pack.

An impeccably observed silence to mark Armistice Day preceded the start of hostilities, but once the minute of remembrance had passed the two sides were going at each other hammer and tongs from the off. The sprightly Hamlet making rare changes to compensate for the loss of their midfielder mastermind, Kenny Beaney, to suspension and in form striker Shawn Beveney to international duty for Guyana, the mass ranks of the light blue Moles unchanged from a battling shutout of fast-improving Godalming. Pinnock, making a rare start ahead of the absent Beveney, took on the free kick duties when a heavy challenge gave Hamlet a free kick within range but the teenage striker's aim was out as his effort, always curling wide, missed its target. Soon after some tried skills from Chris Dickson at the lip of the penalty area created an opening for the striker, the shot dragged wide, before a snapshot from the ever-prolific Phil Ruggles toasted the gloves of Hughes.

A rampaging run from Eniola Oluwa carved a gap on the Moles right flank, sliding the ball across the face of the area to Pinnock who in turn picked out Dickson bursting into the box. Almost a fatal slip from Safe Hands winner Chuck Martini between the sticks as Dickson rattled in a low strike from a tight angle but the veteran custodian spared his own blushes, grasping the ball at the second attempt as it threatened to squirm through his legs. Near embarrassment too for opposite number Hughes as James Rose charged down a dithering clearance. As Rose beat Hughes in the chase for the loose ball, he pulled it back into the centre but Hughes redeemed himself with a fine block to deny Jay Richardson. With Dickson planting a header wide after meeting Cedric Meeko's deep free kick, it seemed as a goal might be long coming but it was not to be as Hamlet broke the deadlock in the 26^th minute. Skipper Jamie Coyle, taking on an unfamiliar role in the stead of the suspended Beaney, proved the catalyst with a delicious pass, chipped in over the back line but it was Pinnock who earned the salutes as he strode on to the pass the drive the ball firmly past the advancing Martini.

Four minutes later though, Dulwich proceeded to throw away that hard-won lead as a carelessly conceded goal allowed the Moles to draw level. Richard Brightwell wound himself up to deliver a monstrously long throw in and with the Hamlet defence in the Land of Nod, Richardson proved most awake as he nipped in ahead of Lewis Tozer and met the ball ahead of a hesitant Hughes, who found himself stranded as the ball was headed past him.

Stung the Hamlet retaliated as only they knew how, by attacking. Dickson got himself into a scoring position, swinging away from his marker as a long pass arrived but a fierce low drive destined for the bottom corner drew an equally impressive save out of Martini as he defied his physique with a smart one-handed save low at his near post. Four minutes from the break and Molesey's midfield who had little by little forced their presence in the middle of the park combined to pave the way for the go-ahead goal. Young Steve Brown showed vision and precision with a neat pass that released Ruggles to the back line from whence he pulled the perfect pass into the path of the fast-arriving Rose. As the trigger was pulled, the result was inevitable, Hughes powerless as the ball was cracked home. Again Dulwich might have hit back, Oluwa just shy of connecting with an excellent ball in from the left wing but half-time arrived with the Moles in the ascendancy.

A few home truths for the Hamlet in the interval and the expected response, the Molesey lead hanging by a thread as Dulwich went at them like rabid dogs. Two minutes in and an acrobatic diving header from Tozer at a corner saw the ball drop at the feet of Pinnock, mere feet from goal, the striker swivelling on his favoured left foot but somehow scooping the ball up and off the crossbar. Another corner with minutes; this time Justyn Roberts with the header. Martini at last beaten but Richardson to the rescue as the goal bound effort was cleared from the goal line. But then Dulwich became the architects of their own downfall as the Moles were gifted a third goal, though that should not detract from the predatory instincts of Rose who capitalised on yet another defensive blunder to make it 3-1. There seemed little danger as Roberts shepherded back a hopeful punt to his keeper but Hughes was as punctual as the 18:30 to Basingstoke allowing Rose to stretch a leg beyond Roberts and nick the ball neatly past crestfallen Hughes.

The extra cushion added buoyancy to the Moles challenge and Rose might easier have inflicted further punishment had he capped the approach work of Chris Wales and Billy Rowley with a goal, the header though wide of the mark.

Dulwich rang the changes; the steel of David Moore replaced the pace of Oluwa in an attempt to bolster the midfield. Plumain tried his luck from distance only to the see the fiery drive bounce wide before he too made way for Daniel Jones. Moore chanced his arm with a curling effort from outside the area but he too could not find the target. But when the Hamlet did find their range there was the ample figure of Martini, every time, every place, every where. Dickson was denied as he chased a long ball, a shot stabbed at the keeper. As time trickled away, the veteran shot stopper was there again with a crucial save as he went length to batter out Pinnock's effort though Murphy had to complete the clearance, reacting faster than the Hamlet attack to hoof the ball to safety from the edge of the six yard box. Less to worry about for the big man as he comfortably held a Dickson header from Pinnock's lofted cross but time would prove a greater enemy as the Moles comfortably played out time. Once again Champion Hill has had an attack of troublesome Moles and this time it's not only the groundsman who is none too pleased.

Teams:

DHFC: Alan Hughes; Jason Turley; Cedric Meeko (Jake Daniel 79); Nicolas Plumain (Daniel Jones 67); Lewis Tozer; Justyn Roberts; Eniola Oluwa (David Moore 60); Jamie Coyle (Capt); Sol Pinnock; Chris Dickson; Phil Williams

Substitutes not used: Theo Fairweather-Johnson, Matt Dean

MFC: Chuck Martini; Richard Brightwell; Billy Rowley; Aaron Nowacki (Capt); John Murphy; Chris Wales; Steve Brown; Jay Richardson; James Rose (Achraf Toughieni 90+2); Phil Ruggles; Youssef Metwali

Substitutes not used: Paul Cross; Phil Caughter; Steve Beeks; James Farrow

Attendance: 316

Officials:

Referee: Mr Stuart Butler (Maidstone)

Assistant Referees: Mr Andy Mead (Orpington) & Mr Christopher Clarke (Aylesford)

Goalscoring:

1-0 DHFC Sol Pinnock 26^th minute

1-1 MFC Jay Richardson 31^st minute

1-2 MFC James Rose 41^st minute

1-3 MFC James Rose 57^th minute