Croydon Athletic 1 Dulwich Hamlet 0
Ryman Isthmian League Division One South
Saturday 30th December 2006
On an afternoon when storms of biblical proportions battered the Keith Tuckey Stadium, perhaps it was apt that a man called Moses should part the waters and claim the goal that knocked Dulwich from their perch at top of Division One South. After a promising start December petered out with a brace of disappointing defeats to clubs in the bottom half of the table, the goals drying up as the pitches dampened. Not that this defeat was not without merit for Dulwich created the bulk of the chances only for ill-fortune and poor finishing to conspire against them, a sure-fire penalty brushed aside when the game still stood goalless whilst the home goal at times led a charmed life.
With Chris Dickson suspended as punishment for his dismissal against Cray Wanderers, Shawn Beveney and Phil Williams combined to form a twin strike force whilst Jason Turley returned to the starting line-up. Meanwhile the hosts stood by the players that had taken them on a four match unbeaten run, including draws with high-flying Fleet and the experienced Cray Wanderers.
Wild and windy was the weather as the game sprung into life early on with Dulwich on the offensive early on. Seven minutes in and David Moore unleashed a screamer from distance after Williams had flicked a throw into his path but the effort fizzed wide of the far upright. A surreptitious shirt tug, something that seemed to be a strong part of the Rams' game plan, brought Hamlet a free kick tight by the corner flag but Kenny Beaney's delivery was hammered high and wide from Gavin Dayes. On the quarter hour James Gibson was allowed to jump highest to meet a right wing corner but his header flew harmlessly over the crossbar. That opportunity sparked a flurry chances primarily for the Hamlet. Beveney could not achieve the vital connection on Jamie Coyle's delivery after the defence had pulled out to leave him unmarked 12 yards out. A minute later and Gavin Dayes met a corner only to direct a downward header wide of the back post. Lewis Tozer's attempt to cut out a right wing cross almost created the opening for Simon Moore but Simon Overland reacted quickly to pat away the loose ball from the hovering Athletic attacker. Soon after great approach work from Williams, controlling the ball masterfully on treacherous terrain, created an opening for the young wingman to fire in a low shot from corner of the six yard box only for Sam Moore between the sticks for the Rams to stick out a foot and block the shot at the base of his post.
An excellent move saw the ball spread wide to a charging Jason Turley on the right, his pass finding Beveney on the edge of the box. Some neat footwork and the chance was there, only for Moore to block bravely. The ball ran towards Beaney but before he could pull the trigger Liam Wright was flying in with a superb covering tackle to rescue his side.
28 minutes brought controversy as Dulwich were denied what seemed a clear-cut penalty. Wide of his goal, custodian Sam Moore slashed a back pass straight to the feet of Williams 12 yards out. For a moment he struggled to control the ball on the sodden surface, then with the goal gapping before him he was unceremoniously shoved into the mud. Surely this would be a penalty kick and red card for the offender but no. Much to the bewilderment and chagrin of the Hamlet, referee Mr Rendell waved play on. On decisions such as this games can be won or lost. Six minutes later and the game had its breaker. Caught square, the Hamlet defence looked in vain to the assistant referee for a flag as Moses Ademola turned on the gas to pounce on to a pass slid through by Daniel Waldren. Overland did his best to narrow the angle but the young striker held his nerve calmly leaving the Hamlet ‘keeper stricken in the mud as he rounded him and hammered the ball into the unguarded net from a tight angle.
Though Beveney missed an opportunity to bring things level, shooting wide at the near post three minutes later, the goal had breathed inspiration in to the young Rams and but for the goal line intervention of Lewis Tozer Dulwich might have been looking at a deficit doubled and Ademola at a second goal. In the final minute of the half, Wright too went close, throwing himself at Simon Moore's deflected cross but much to the relief of the Hamlet his diving header just shaved he crossbar.
Second half brought no relief from the elements as the wind picked up to gale force, trees bent double by the force of the storms. Despite playing into the teeth of the tempest, Dulwich would take command of the second half albeit without turning opportunities created into goals scored. Four minutes in Sol Pinnock took the field to augment the attack, defender Tozer making way for the substitute. 12 in and the wind became a twelfth man for the hosts as a lofted pass found Simon Moore onside. Only Overland stood between him and the goal, the big custodian diving at his feet as the striker attempted to take the ball past him. It seemed as if Overland had taken man not ball but as if to atone for his earlier error, Mr Rendell stunned the prostrate Moore, pointing not for a penalty but instead brandishing a yellow card in the face of the perplexed Ram.
Desperate not to surrender their leadership of the Division turned on the gas. A half-cleared corner saw Williams drive a fearsome effort goal wards but a foot too high. Williams again showed his silky skills on the right, dancing through tackles before driving the ball into the six-yard box, only for Sam Moore to pounce on the ball as Beveney attempted to connect with the cross. Moments later the industrious Nicolas Plumain slipped a pass into Pinnock but from a tight angle, ‘keeper Moore showed lightning reactions to one-handedly turn the ball past his near post. The corner saw the ball drop at the feet of substitute Cedric Meeko 30 yards from goal, a ferocious drive fizzing through a forest of players but too close to Moore who smothered the ball as a strongman might a cannonball. Moore's guardian angel was by now filling in the overtime sheet as fortune favoured the custodian, Beveney somehow striking the ball into his face from a yard after a rebound had dropped conveniently at his feet. A foot, an inch even, either side and Dulwich were back on level terms, but it was not to be. Domination counted for naught, the Rams content to use each and every machination in the bible of gamesmanship to run down the clock and secure the points.
Teams:
CAFC: Sam Moore; Adam Wadmore; Daniel Waldren; Danny Young; James Gibson (Capt); Lumumba Amena; Frankie Warren (Jason Mabbs 70); Gareth Graham; Moses Ademola; Simon Moore (Carlton Murray-Price 79); Liam Wright
Substitutes not used: Darren Phillips; Delando Smith
DHFC: Simon Overland; Lewis Tozer (Sol Pinnock 50); Gavin Dayes (Cedric Meeko 69); Justyn Roberts ; Jamie Coyle (Capt); Jason Turley; David Moore; Kenny Beaney; Shawn Beveney; Nicolas Plumain; Phil Williams
Substitutes not used: Chris Lewington (GK); Matt Dean; Daniel Jones
Attendance: 159
Officials:
Referee: Mr L J Rendell
Assistant Referees: Mr F Davis & Mr R Ellis
Goalscoring:
1-0 CAFC Moses Ademola 34th minute
