Dulwich Hamlet 0 Met Police 0

Ryman Isthmian League Division One South

Saturday 24^th February 2007

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 12^th 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)

Kingstonian 2 Dulwich Hamlet 5

Ryman Isthmian League Division One South

Saturday 17^th February 2006

Whisper it quietly but it has been more than two long painful months since last the Hamlet won on their travels. Still though Wayne Burnett's prodigious young tyros clung on like Pink and Blue limpets to top spot as mightier, wealthier, more experienced teams battered away at them until defeat dislodged them as Burgess Hill upset the applecart a fortnight previous. Once though the albatross of leadership was lifted from their necks a different Hamlet emerged, unencumbered by naught but the expectation to entertain, a duty fulfilled to the utmost as Kingstonian were swept aside, Dulwich recording their biggest victory on their opponents' turf since three decades and more had passed and the K's were still ensconced in their former Richmond Road home. Since that heady 5-0 victory on former fields when sideburns and flares ruled the fashion world, neither club has fared well though the fall of the Kingston Empire has spectacularly eclipsed that of the Hamlet. Reduced almost to squatters in what was once their own home, victims of rape and pillage habitually destined to return to the scene of that ordeal, the once proud red and white stripes have a faded hue as the faithful offer supplication in another's temple. Former manager Stuart McIntyre, a man universally popular with all but the fans of whoever's stewardship he holds at the time, had been set adrift some weeks early, the rudder passed to Alan Dowson, a doughty Scot with an enviable record against the Hamlet in his former incarnation in Walton & Hersham's hotseat, his firm hand beginning to steady the ship, four games unbeaten easing the memory of half-a-dozen straight defeats.

A brace of changes for the hosts, Wes Goggin and Liam Cockerill replaced in the starting line-up by that redoubtable warhorse Tommy Moorhouse and sprightly young forward Danny Summers. The Hastings implosion might have tempted Burnett into more defensive strategies. Fat chance; the only worry hung over Gavin Dayes but with a knee swarthed in bandages he held his place in an unchanged starting XI.

Sand traps dotted the usually pristine Kingsmeadow sward but the surface did little to assuage the attacking ambitions of the Hamlet. Five minutes in and a looping header from Justyn Roberts as a phalanx of Pink and Blue clad defenders marched up field for a corner. Minutes later and Roberts was back in his own penalty area making a fine saving tackle at the death as K's swept out of defence, the Hamlet having lost possession at a corner. Buoyed, the K's mounted another attack moments later and this time they were rewarded, albeit thanks to a generous interpretation of Lewis Tozer's tackle on Bobby Traynor just inside the Dulwich penalty area. Traynor, whose run of goals had been instrumental in the K's mini-revival, swept the sand and dirt from his hands then coolly swept the ball to the left of Simon Overland diving right.

With their overlords on the bench clearly peeved by this early concession, the Hamlet hoards upped the ante, bearing down on the home goal with increasing ferocity. Against a club that had found his services surplus to requirement, Mazin Ahmad produced the sweetest of curled free kicks into the six yard box, destined for the head of Leigh Bremner until a red and white clad form intervened to nod the ball behind. Corner produced a red and white stampede up field but with 3 attackers against 2 defenders the chance was wasted as a wing to wing pass found Neil Lampton only for his cross to sail high beyond Overland's goal.

High tensions abounded, Jon Coke and Dayes both cautioned after an ugly clash followed a minute later by the fortuitous goal that would bring the contest level. 19 minutes had elapsed when the ball dropped to Shawn Beveney on the edge of the penalty area, the big Guyanese making space for himself before letting fly with a testing shot that took a wicked deflection off a divot, sending the ball looping over the desperate dive of Luke Garrard.

Further misfortune struck the hosts when first Huckle was forced off with an injury to be replaced by Simon Huckle then Dulwich claimed the go-ahead goal a minute later. The whistle blew for a foul, Hamlet reacted fastest the quick free kick finding the K's defence AWOL and when Jamie Coyle provided the pinpoint delivery in from the right wing Chris Dickson was on hand, or head as the case might be, to nod the ball into the goal at the back of the six yard box. Like a page from "Where's Wally?" one struggled to find a red and white striped shirt in attendance.

Some excellent custodianship from Hamlet Number One Overland helped preserve that slender lead, down smartly at his left hand post to smother a snap shot from Martyn Lee. At the other end Roberts flicked a header wide of the back post from an Ahmad delivery, before Bremner failed to capitalise on the sluggish K's defence, escaping the last man but firing a first time effort into the body of Garrard who'd advanced to edge of his area. An incautious challenge from Dayes on the edge of his own area laid open the chance for K's to fashion an equaliser but again Overland was equal to the task as he would pulled off a crucial save to deny Lee as the K's man drilled the free kick low towards the bottom right hand corner of the net.

With half time fast approaching a Dulwich breakaway might have extended the lead, Dickson finding Beveney storming away on his team-mate's right flank only for Garrard to block his first effort. Beveney managed to chip the ball back into the middle towards the lurking Bremner, the striker shoved away from the approaching cross but referee Mr Rendell saw nothing untoward.

Bremner had the interval to plan his revenge and in fine style he exacted it within three minutes of the restart, making light of the defenders' endeavour to halt his run before turning smartly, leaving the last shadowing defender in limbo and drilling a low shot beyond the dive of Garrard and into the far corner of the net.

To most a two-goal cushion provides a modicum of security, but with the Burnett philosophy in place, Hamlet fans can never rest easy and it too another magnificent Overland save low at the base of his right-hand post, turning away a looped header from the ever-dangerous Traynor. Sacrificed in the cause of victory experienced Julian Sills relinquished the captain's armband as Lee Riddell took his stead in midfield, strong-arm tactics the order of the day. However this stratagem failed to rattle the Hamlet, Summers becoming the fourth booking for the hosts as the hour mark ticked by following through on the battle scared Dayes and fortunate not to see red.

K's Aunt Sally, Garrard, pulled off a fine flying save to deny Dickson almost at point blank range as Tozer's delicate header set up Coyle to find the master marksman. Five minutes later and the hapless home custodian was back in the shooting gallery, only this time it ended the ball being plucked from the net. Ahmad's run to the edge of the box finished smothered by the red and white rearguard. However Beveney was on hand to sweep up the debris turning defenders inside out as he toyed with them on the edge of the area before slamming the ball past the last covering defender with Garrard stranded, drawn from his line.

Bremner came close to making it five when he latched on to Ahmad's slide rule pass, flashing a drive across the face of goal. Then in the early stages of stoppage time, Serge Musungu cemented a magnificent victory as the overworked K's defence was ripped apart, the midfielder haring through to round Garrard and tuck away a fantastic fifth. Two minutes later the Dulwich defence went to sleep allowing Traynor to polish off a last-gasp assault by the hosts, scant consolation but at least it provided one wag with the premise to pronounce, "At least they got a pair of Traynors!"

The victory leaves the title race unbelievably tight with three clubs locked together on 51 points, Dulwich Hamlet, Maidstone United and Hastings United, goal difference the only differentiator. Overnight leaders Dartford, defeated 2-1 at home to now 6^th placed Fleet, slip to 4^th on 50 points, whilst another Kent side, Dover lie 5^th after defeat at Met Police. The two victorious sides now provide the next tests for the Hamlet, the Boys in Blue at Champion Hill this coming Saturday, Fleet sailing into town the following Tuesday.

Teams:

KFC: Luke Garrard; Wayne Finnie; Simon Sobihy; Jon Coke (Simon Huckle 27); Tommy Moorhouse; Julian Sills (Capt.) (Lee Riddell 60); Gary Drewett; Neil Lampton; Bobby Traynor; Danny Summers (Glenn Boosey 82); Martyn Lee

Subs not used: Richard Taylor; Stephen Windegaard

Bookings: Jon Coke; Julian Sills; Tommy Moorhouse; Danny Summers

DHFC: Simon Overland; Jason Turley; Gavin Dayes (Billy Manners 90); Justyn Roberts; Jamie Coyle (Capt); Lewis Tozer; Shawn Beveney; Serge Musungu; Leigh Bremner; Chris Dickson (Matt Dean 87); Mazin Ahmad (Theo Fairweather-Johnson 90)

Subs not used: Phil Williams; Daniel Jones

Bookings: Gavin Dayes

Attendance: 377

Officials:

Referee: Mr Lloyd Rendell

Assistant Referees: Mr Graeme Thorley & Mr Robert Dunn

Goalscoring:

1-0 KFC: Bobby Traynor (Penalty) 11^th minute

1-1 DHFC: Shawn Beveney 19^th minute

1-2 DHFC: Chris Dickson 29^th minute

1-3 DHFC: Leigh Bremner 48^th minute

1-4 DHFC: Shawn Beveney 78^th minute

1-5 DHFC Serge Musungu 90^th minute (2^nd minute of stoppage time)

2-5 KFC Bobby Traynor 90^th minute (4^th minute of stoppage time)

Dulwich Hamlet 3 Hastings United 3

Ryman Isthmian League Division One South

Saturday 10^th February 2007

Perhaps it was the sight of the Dulwich Hamlet jersey, but for some reason the Jehovah's Witnesses plying their thankless vigil outside the train station chose not to ignore me as usual on this grey, dank morning but instead thrust into an unwilling hand a short pamphlet. Their strange vision of heaven, a pseudo American midweek where the deer and the antelope roam, smiling clear-cut student types feast on apples and pumpkins, and the poppies grow plentifully presumably in order to provide something to relieve the boredom of niceness was lost on this poor hack, the devil can come a-calling as long as there is tobacco and a frothing mug of ale in the underworld. However the headline did catch the eye. "All Suffering SOON TO END!, it roared. Hah, those who claim the Almighty as omniscient would find that dogma sorely tested by a stint on the terraces of Champion Hill, for whose habitués pleasure and pain are inextricably entwined.

The visit of Hastings, galloping through the field to sit level with the Hamlet in all but goals, would prove that in abundance. Dulwich, three goals to the good, imperious in their domination, had friend and foe purring in admiration but from dancing like Sugar Ray Leonard they soon found themselves tottering against the ropes like last week's British heavyweight hopeful. First half goals from Chris Dickson and Lewis Tozer, the former a stunning dipping drive, the latter an ungainly bundle home from a corner were augmented by a sweet strike from Mazin Ahmad, his third in as many games. But then the South Coast boys decided to derail the Hamlet express as first one goal, then another, and finally deep, deep in stoppage time, a third denied the Hamlet a return to the top of the table.

A dismal defeat at Burgess Hill might have called for a wholesale cull from manager Wayne Burnett, whose pained and pensive figure had paced the Leylands Park pitch at the end of that reverse but the few changes had more to do with circumstance than tinkering. Justyn Roberts returned from the lodgers having been one of a number of victims of a purge by the Fishes management whilst Kenny Beaney made the short journey in the opposite directions the midfield reins passed to Serge Musungu making his first start of the season after a painfully long struggle with injury. On the back of four wins the visitors only major change was enforced as Ade Olorunda's nap hand of cautions saw him kicking his heels on the sidelines, though there was the worrying sight of Rhys Whyborne, whose inspirational defending had helped snuff out a Hamlet fightback in the reverse fixture at the Pilot Field.

The refreshing philosophies of both managers meant a lip smacking encounter was promised and the hungry fans were not to be denied their feast. Barely had the first died on the breeze than Dulwich might have taken an instant lead. Slick passing, a delicate lobbed pass from the returning Musungu beyond Kevin Rose finding Mazin Ahmad. Lee Worgan found himself committed; all at sea as Ahmad stabbed the ball towards goal but salvation for the United keeper lay in the figure of talismanic skipper Sean Ray, who somehow got back to sweep the ball off the goal line.

The action swung to the other end and it took a stunning price of goalkeeping from Simon Overland to preserve parity. On three minutes Russell Eldridge neatly delivered a set piece into the heart of the Hamlet penalty area, precisely locating the head of John Bradley, replacing the suspended Olorunda, the stand-in denied as Overland somehow found the elasticity to stretch and divert the ball past his lefty hand upright.

The high tempo encounter claimed its first casualty after just nine minutes as a crunching tackle left Gavin Dayes clutching his left knee in agony, limping off to be replaced by Phil Williams. Chalk and cheese the two players styles might be but Dulwich lost not of their momentum as Williams slipped seamlessly into the engine room, relishing the chance to run at the opposition ranged ahead of him, one meandering move threatening a special end but halted on the edge of the area. Moments later and Dulwich found exposed Overland out smartly on batter away an effort from Bradley who had somehow slipped the bonds of his marker. His opposite number soon topped that was a breathtaking save to keep out a fire breathing drive from the boot of Chris Dickson.

Back and forth the game flowed, a torrent of football as both sides cast caution to the winds. Dan Williams chanced his arm from long range but too high. Eldridge got on the end of a head-seeking cross from James Sims but could only find the hands of Overland. From one goal to the other, Williams turned on the gas with an incursion into the left of the area followed by a pull back across the six yard box. An almighty scramble saw Dickson's first effort caught under the feet of a prostrate Worgan. The hamlet hitman latched on to the loose ball, created space for himself but again Worgan denied him, hooking the ball away at the last. The master marksman of Champion Hill would not have to wait long before Worgan would finally be beaten, the long wait for the goal more than justified by a stunning effort that had the fans salivating. Simple build-up followed by spectacular finish, Roberts launching the ball out of defence, Leigh Bremner winning an aerial battle to nod the ball into the path of Dickson, the striker taking a few steps then unleashing a dipping, swerving drive that danced in the air as Worgan flung himself in vain to keep the ball from his net. The fates conspired to deny Dickson an equally dazzling number two just minutes later as he collected Jamie Coyle's slipped pass, left a brace of defenders in his wake and let rip with a sizzling shot that had beat a powerless Worgan only to hammer back down from the underbelly of the crossbar and away. One might have a long wait for a bus on Dog Kennel Hill but on the green sward of Champion Hill one could almost timetable the goals. Having missed one a second Hamlet strike would arrive shortly afterwards, albeit a slightly less extravagant fashion. The Hastings defence was lost at sea as Ahmad swung the ball into the six yard box, Lewis Tozer's ungainly bundle home scoring low on style marks but high on import.

A hooked effort from distance by Lee Carey failed to trouble Overland as it dropped wide of his right hand post, a brief aberration in the Dulwich dominance. The god of the penalty kick turned his face once more from Dulwich as Musungu was first to low a Bremner cross from the right, only to sent tumbling by the challenge of Tim Olorunda but with the men in Pink and Blue once more on song could there be anything but one result this afternoon?

Drastic measures from Hastings supremo Nigel Kane, pulling off a brace of players at the break, Kevin Rose withdraw from the rearguard to be replaced by the returning Whyborne whilst Eldridge making way fro Danny Ellis. The defence seemed tighter but still it was Hamlet launching wave upon wave of attacks. Almost from the restart Dickson burst into the box only to be smothered by defenders, Williams suffering a similar fate as he run on to Ahmad's slipped pass. Olorunda tried illicit methods of stalling the rampant Hamlet, a heavy challenge on Ahmad halting yet another incisive run but earning him the afternoon's first caution.

Perhaps it was the constant pressure from the marauders Hamlet assassins but Whyborne brief cameo would soon pass, his injury flaring up once more and forcing the visitors into their final substitution with still half an hour to play.

As Hastings were once more reshuffling Dulwich almost exploited this as Shawn Beveney set out on a breakneck charge from his own half of the field before slipping the ball left to Bremner. His effort was blocked but the ball ran to Ahmad, silky skills seemed to have unlocked the door but Worgan slammed it in his face twice blocking from close range. Ahmad though would have his revenge. 64 minutes on the clock and the determined winger found himself the recipient of Musungu's excellent crossfield pass, the defence opening up ahead of him, Worgan perhaps leaving too much space at his near post and well beaten as Ahmad's low drive swung away from his desperate dive.

The points seemed secure but Hastings had other ideas. Taking control of midfield, they cast caution aside and laid into the Hamlet with gay abandon but not before Dulwich had the chance to further extend the lead only for Dickson to volley over the bar from close range after meeting Coyle's cross. Two minutes by and Hastings found themselves thrown a lifeline, aided and abetted by Coyle's weak defensive header from an innocuous Lee Carey cross. The ball dropped kindly for substitute Ellis, anonymous until now, but feted as he hammered the loose ball low into the corner of the net.

Twice Dulwich had chances to restore the three goal cushion, Coyle flashing a free kick across the face of goal, Bremner unable to connect before Williams lasered his way through the yellow hoards, but could not add the final flourish as Worgan got his hands to the eventual shot. This move proved the finale for Williams, a fusillade of applause marking his exit as young David Milton entered the fray in his stead. As Milton was taking his place, the Hamlet defence were almost breached once more as Ellis's dancing feet took him past a couple of attempted tackles and saw man on man with Overland, the big custodian coming out on top with a smart block. A quick break out from the resultant corner. Could Dulwich seal it? Dickson fed Bremner but Worgan came to the rescue once more with a fine save.

Thick and fast the chances came. Sam Adams drilled an angled shot fractionally over the bar, before turning provider for James Sims, up from defence, but the chance evaporated as a shot was slashed wide of the near post with the goal begging. Worgan again denied Bremner with an excellent save from a shot on the turn, as the visitors went dozed off at a quickly taken free kick.

Three minutes left and cramp claimed Dickson, Daniel Jones his replacement. Mere seconds remained of normal time. Surely a two goal mountain would too much for Hastings to climb? Throwing all hands forward, yellow shirts swarmed into the Hamlet area as Olorunda drilled in a low cross from the right. Amidst the mêlée, Adams and Ellis chanced their arm (and the odd hand if eyewitness reports are accurate) but heroic blocking denied them. Three times a charm though and Bradley benefited as the ball looped up towards him the ball nodded into an unguarded net.

Yet another Dulwich breakaway ended in failure as Musungu surged away on the left wing, rifling a cross towards Bremner at the far post, only the intervention of Ray denied the striker a shot on goal. The stage though was set for one last big push from the visitors. Stoppage time was four minutes old when a corner was won in questionable circumstances as the assistant referee, seemingly signalled a Hastings player offside, raised then lowered his flag in quick succession. Even ‘keeper Worgan was up for the corner kick but it was poor, Hamlet cleared to Jones on the sidelines but he found himself mugged by Adams. A neatly weighted cross ensued, Overland tempted from his line for cross but beaten to the ball by Dan Williams. Bradley picked up the loose ball, kept a cool head, resisting the temptation to try for glory himself and instead passed the honour and the ball to his leader, Ray, who tucked the ball home to shatter Hamlet hearts. Unbelievably that gaol sent the centre-half into double figures for the current term. With Hamlet rocking, Hastings came with a whisker of snatching all three points a farcical scenario less than a quarter hour previous but when Adams unleashed a furious drive which grazed the bar from all of 35 yards, the visiting fans were already in wonderland. Likewise those of the Hamlet but for them the wonderment was not born of joy.

Teams:

DHFC: Simon Overland; Jason Turley; Gavin Dayes (Phil Williams 11 (David Milton 76)); Justyn Roberts; Jamie Coyle (Capt); Lewis Tozer; Shawn Beveney; Serge Musungu; Leigh Bremner; Chris Dickson (Daniel Jones 87); Mazin Ahmad

Substitutes not used: Matt Dean; Billy Manners

HUFC: Lee Worgan; James Sims; Jimmy Elford; Kevin Rose (Rhys Whyborne HT Danny Spice 60)); Sean Ray (Capt.); Dan Williams; Lee Carey; Tim Olorunda; John Bradley; Sam Adams; Russell Eldridge (Danny Ellis HT)

Substitutes not used: Brett Griffin; Bernard Asante

Attendance 404

Referee: Mr Robert Smith (New Addington)

Assistants Referees: Mr Martin Lehane (Bexleyheath) & Mr Guy Marley (Bexleyheath)

Goalscoring:

1-0 DHFC Chris Dickson 27^th minute

2-0 DHFC Lewis Tozer 33^rd minute

3-0 DHFC Mazin Ahmad 64^th minute

3-1 HUFC Danny Ellis 72^nd minute

3-2 HUFC John Bradley 89^th minute

3-3 HUFC Sean Ray 90^th minute (4^th minute of stoppage time)