Dulwich Hamlet 2 Chalfont St Peter 1

Dulwich Hamlet 2 Chalfont St Peter 1
The FA Cup – Second Round Qualifying
Sunday 30th September 2007

Steve May left it late, but Dulwich’s recent arrival from Welling United scored for the second successive game on Sunday afternoon to send the Hamlet through to the next round of the FA Cup. The ninety minutes were up when Steve rounded off the Hamlet’s best move of the match to deny a spirited Chalfont St. Peter side who appeared to have done enough to earn a replay and a chance to host the Hamlet deep in the heart of Metroland.
The opponents from the Spartan South Midlands League made a lively start and for a while looked the more likely to score. In the 11th minute, a free-kick from out on the right-wing caught Dulwich’s defence unawares but the unmarked Bradley Bubb just failed to connect as he attempted a diving header at the back post. Later, Terrell Lewis sent an angled shot just past the far post. It was certainly against the run of play when Dulwich opened the scoring in the 26th minute. Shawn Beveney gained possession some thirty yards out and with the Saints defence nowhere to be seen he ran forward and coolly planted the ball to the right of the advancing 'keeper and into the comer of the net. As half-time approached, the Hamlet enjoyed a brief spell of supremacy. Phil Williams, on for the injured Helder Valdez, unleashed a fierce shot which was desperately headed over his own bar by defender Steve Nott-Macaire, then in the last minute of the half the Saints defence somehow survived a bout of frenzied Hamlet attacking. First, Shayne Mangodza's header was deflected behind, then from the resultant comer another header from the same player was kicked oft the goal-line and two follow-up shots both charged down.
Despite the loss through injury of their leading scorer, Lewis, Chalfont St. Peter took control after the break and Dulwich were hard pressed to prevent them from equalising. The Hamlet had a number of narrow escapes. Substitute Ryan Welsh shot straight at Sheikh Ceesay when the Dulwich defence was caught napping by a long clearance from the opposing 'keeper, then Bubb took advantage of some sloppy Hamlet play to run clear into the box, but with only Ceesay to beat he dragged his shot wide of the far post. Bubb went even closer on 71 minutes, his close range shot bouncing up onto the top of the bar. With the Saints taking a firm grip of the midfield, little was seen of Hamlet forwards in this half, although Williams shot narrowly over the bar on one occasion after turning his marker inside out. Eventually, with just five minutes left, Dulwich’s opponents scored the equaliser that their efforts deserved. A long throw from Alan Hedley on the left caused panic in the Hamlet goalmouth and although Ceesay blocked the initial header, Welsh lashed the rebound into the roof of the net. But there was more drama to come. With the game going into stoppage time, Dulwich strung a really neat move together and when Shawn Beveney slipped the ball between two defenders in the inside-right channel, Steve May nipped in and shot low past the 'keeper from 15 yards to make it 2-1. The Hamlet had the ball in the net again shortly afterwards when Henry Darko fastened onto Williams' headed pass and fired in, but the goal was ruled off-side.
If fortune favoured the Hamlet on Sunday, Dulwich were out of luck when the draw for the third qualifying round was made yesterday. Next up for the Hamlet in the competition on Saturday week, 13th October, will be AFC Hornchurch, of the Ryman Premier Division, who won a replay 2-1 in midweek following a 1-1 draw at Hendon on Saturday.

Teams:
DHFC: Sheikh Ceesay; Steve May; Ricky Dobson; Benson Paka; Shayne Mangodza; Helder Valdez (Phil Williams 30); Shawn Beveney (Capt.); Stanley Muguo (Meshach Nugent 73); Anton Innocent; Henry Darko; Billy Chattaway
Substitutes not used: Ayoola Olatunde, Jermaine Brown, Nas Hussein

CSPFC: Michael Power-Simpson; Steve Nott-Macaire (Danny Stone 73); Adam Louth; Ray Walsh; John Carroll; Lee Togwell (Capt.); Adam Bunce; Alan Hedley; Terrell Lewis (Jerome Okimo 45+1); Bradley Bubb; Martin Deely (Ryan Welsh HT)
Substitutes not used: Mark Needham, Bradley Edmonds

Attendance 215

Match Officials:
Referee: Mr Neil West (Leigh-on-Sea, Essex)
Assistant Referees: Mr Keith Stone (Manston, Kent) & Richard Joss (Margate, Kent)

Goalscoring:
1-0 DHFC Shawn Beveney 26th minute
1-1 CSPFC Ryan Welsh 85th minute
2-1 DHFC Steve May 90th minute (+ 1)