Ryman Isthmian League Division One South
Stalemate at the Hill as Dulwich's rampant scoring run was brought to a shuddering halt by a Met Police side obviously intent from the first that they would not be beaten, even if this meant unentertaining fare for a fulsome crowd. However the unadventurous game plan of the boys in blue, albeit clad in their away strip of canary yellow, could prove just as damaging to their hopes of creeping into to a play-off spot as it could to the Hamlet's hope of overhauling leaders Maidstone whose 4-1 crushing of Croydon Athletic at Mayfields opened up a five point gap at the top.
Though the starting line remained unchanged from their triumph at Kingsmeadow, Dulwich recalled both Nicolas Plumain and Cedric Meeko to the substitutes' bench as their suspensions expired. Also making the bench was defensive midfielder Stanley Muguo, called up from the reserves. The Police too, despite and extensive squad from which to select had suffered an injury crisis of late, though seemed a maguffin for this so-called predicament had also coincided with a strong run of results that had powered them to the very fringes of the play-off places.
There was little goalmouth action of note in the early exchanges bar a firm Justyn Roberts header from a free kick that required a smart save at the base of his right-hand post from the Copper's custodian Will Packham. Opposite number Simon Overland was then tested but by one of his own as Lewis Tozer's wayward header from a Met Police free kick looped goalwards but the big Hamlet number one was unflustered as he leapt to pluck the ball out of the air with yellow shirts hovering.
The Hamlet should perhaps have done better with the few chances that came their way. Best of these arrived in the 12th minute courtesy of Leigh Bremner as he was laid in by Shawn Beveney only to drill his shot in the body of Packham.
20 torrid minutes had elapsed when the Police were forced into a hasty reappraisal as Simon Gregory limped from the field to be replaced Ian Batten.
Barely had the Hamlet goal been troubled by the Police until midway through the half when a free kick was met by the head of a stooping Gavin Dayes. Surprised but solid, ‘keeper Simon Overland made light work of this unexpected threat.
Within a minute the Hamlet net was threatened again as James Evans mugged Serge Musungu 30 yards from goal, legitimately in the eyes of referee Mr Regan, a suspicious name indeed for an official at a Met Police game! Without waiting for a whistle or a bellowed "you're goin' darn, you slag!" from Regan, Evans turned to face goal before unleashed a screaming thunderbolt of a strike that seemed destined for the top of the net as Overland stretched every sinew in an attempt to reach the shot. Whether a vital fingertip made the difference is a matter for conjecture but with Evans awaiting the plaudits of his fellows the ball cannoned back down off the underside of the woodwork to be clutched at by a relieved Overland. A cursory glance from referee to his assistant, a shake of the head and play continued much to the dismay of Evans, this particularly police inquiry proving fruitless.
The industrious Tony Finn wasted a fine opening with an off-target shot from distance, matched in turn by Bremner who volleyed over after Dickson had nodded a long pass out of defence into his path. Finn again threatened, cutting back along the backline after an impressive charge up the left wing but his ultimate pullback went unrewarded as Hamlet's defence proved impervious. Moments later Dickson might well have added to his season's impressive tally as he burst through the yellow lines to smack a sweet shot low and goalwards only to strike the outside of the upright.
Just before the break the tempo rose a modicum as a quick free kick for the Police found Ryan Gray, a first time low strike pounced upon and smothered by a diving Overland. Gray was less accurate the next time Dulwich infringement was punished, Tozer penalised for a handball five yards outside the box but escaped further retribution as Gray's wild swing at a short free kick produced a powder-puff shot. Twice in stoppage time Dulwich had chances to lift the game from the slough of despond as first Bremner sent a spectacular diving header just over from Jamie Coyle's rightwing cross then Musungu drove an effort from the edge of the area wide.
The start of the second half brought changes for the Hamlet with Dayes and Mazin Ahmad, both victims of unpunished Police brutality, replaced by Muguo and Phil Williams respectively. In particular Muguo impressed with a solid performance directing operations in front of the central defence.
A first minute Musungu free kick looked destined for the head of Tozer on the edge of the six yard box until a yellow-shirted head intervened. On 8 minutes substitute Muguo played a key role in a sweeping move that might have ended in glory had Williams been able to find the extra inches to meet Coyle's cross. Forcing a corner shortly after, the Hamlet again came frustratingly close as Coyle's header at the back of the six yard box bounced off Dickson's knee and over the bar.
On the hour mark in an uncanny echo of Bremner's disallowed "goal" at Burgess Hill Dickson sent a thunderous strike past Packham having latched on to Bremner's flicked header but the flag had already gone up for a transgression. Moments later Bremner had the chance to at last break the stalemate but a below par finish with only Packham to beat brought groans from a frustrated crowd.
Yet another corner, deep to the back of the box, found Coyle but a well-directed header was gathered in safely by Packham at his back stick, the Met's ‘keeper again denying Dulwich as the half-hour ticked by, punching the ball off the head of the incoming Bremner, who'd launched himself to meet a free kick.
With five minutes left came an interesting substitution, midfielder Meeko replacing attacker Bremner, perhaps to preserve a point though the Police were doing their best to ensure that, shutting up shop in defence and stifling all the Hamlet's invention. Indeed as the game plodded towards its inevitable goalless conclusion, so many yellow shirts packed Packham's penalty area, the box resembled a sea of custard, one the Dulwich strike force, no matter how manfully they strove, were unable to wade through.
Teams:
DHFC: Simon Overland; Jason Turley; Gavin Dayes (Stanley Muguo HT); Justyn Roberts; Jamie Coyle (Capt); Lewis Tozer; Shawn Beveney; Serge Musungu; Leigh Bremner (Cedric Meeko 86); Chris Dickson; Mazin Ahmad (Phil Williams HT)
Substitutes not used: Daniel Jones; Nicolas Plumain
Cautions: Jamie Coyle, Phil Williams
MPFC: Will Packham; Lee Gledhill; Ryan Gray; James Gibson; Simon Gregory (Ian Batten 20); Dave Newman; Stuart Harte; Jon Daly; Adolph Amoako; James Evans (Capt); Tony Finn (Barry Stevens 75)
Substitutes not used: Steve Potterill; Luke Cornwall; Stuart MacKenzie (GK)
Cautions: Stuart Harte; Lee Gledhill; Steve Potterill; Jon Daly
Attendance: 330
Match Officials:
Referee: Mr Ian Regan (Ashford, Kent)
Assistant Referees: Mr Alex Neil (Woodmansterne, Surrey) & Mr Craig Hicks (Sutton, Surrey)
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