Barking FC 4 Dulwich Hamlet XI 3
Pre-Season Challenge Match
Tuesday 31st July 2007

Slightly surreal atmosphere, with the clubhouse under lock and key a security guard arrived to switch on the lights, the scheduled referee contacted Barkingside rather than Barking to confirm the match and was consequently told there was no game that evening. This meant a delay of more than quarter of an hour before a replacement referee was installed but the lack of assistants meant a “volunteer” was sourced from the ranks of either side to take on the task. Kudos certainly to Dulwich’s stand-in with the flag who endured a verbal torrent whenever it was felt he had erred in a decision but maintained a cheery disposition throughout.
Surprisingly strong in their line-up despite much publicised problems since the untimely passing of benefactor Peter Webster Barking included the likes of Wayne Vaughan, who had once shredded the Hamlet defence in the colours of Canvey. Dulwich's side was more of a club XI and were under the cosh early on. Though they coped well under pressure had Vaughan in particular shown the killer touch in front of goal they might well have been badly in arrears before taking the lead with a magnificently worked goal, Ricky Dobson sliding a pass in for Stanley Muguo to lift a tight cross into the six yard box where Anton Innocent flung himself between 'keeper and defender to bundle the ball home. Wearing the 'keeper's jersey for Dulwich was David Hogan, whom googling seems to place at Dagenham & Redbridge. He distinguished himself with a stunning one handed fingertip save from Bradley Barnes’ close range header after 42 minutes, the Barking defender flinging himself at a neat chipped cross from Vaughan after a deep corner had drifted across the penalty area. However Hogan’s heroics were soon a distant memory as his save sparked a series of corners that ended when the Hamlet custodian failed to cut out a corner allowing Barking defender Alan Lethbridge to arrive at the back of the six yard box and larrup the ball home just inside the upright.
Half-time meant an adjournment to the local cricket club, the nearest point for refreshment and ablutions but as the Hamlet contingent strolled back into the ground, the cheers rang out for a second Barking goal. Mere seconds had elapsed when Barking took the lead. A long bomb from Adam Rafis in goal landed in the Hamlet penalty area and a mix-up in defence allowed Dwayne Miller to sneak in 'twixt defender and 'keeper and stab the ball home.
Just past the hour mark Anton Innocent crashed home a stunner only to be called back by a fractional offside much to his frustration and three minutes later the pain was multiplied as was the lead, a low ball lashed across the face of Hogan's goal by speedy winger Michael Lee. At the back of the six yard box sliding in, legs outstretched, was Miller and despite Hogan's efforts he could not prevent the ball crossing the line. Hamlet produced an instant response as a deep cross field ball was latched on to by substitute Alex Watson, the ball drawn out of the air as if by a magnet and despatched with venom low and goalwards. A slight deflection might have deceived the home custodian but the power and accuracy of the shot deserved a goal.
Turning provider Watson hared down the right to deliver a cracking cross into the heart of the penalty area, Innocent trying his all to reach the ball but volleying off target as he fell.
A raft of Barking subs rolled on to the Mayesbrook sward among them Carl Griffiths whose CV bears the names of Manchester City and Portsmouth but for whom the humbler abodes now beckon. A crisp strike out of nothing announced his arrival as a booming clearance from 'keeper Rafis dropped at his feet, the striker’s pirouette leaving his shadow drifting before the strike rippled the net 'ere Hogan could react.
Innocent twice might have cut the gap, latching on to a Muguo header but lacking the purchase on his shot to beat the 'keeper before he chanced his arm from the acutest of angles having robbed a defender of the ball. Eight minutes still remained when the Dulwich once more cut the hosts' lead. Benson Kpaka, recently risen from the bench, paved the way, scampering to the back line, disdainfully brushing tackles aside before tucking the ball back into the path of Muguo whose unerring drive through the defensive picket line opened up a window of opportunity. Vaughan should have slammed it shut but, from 8 yards out, he lamped a rising shot wide of the target. Scurrying midfielder Dexter (No Surname!) had a crisp drive from outside the area battered out by the Barking 'keeper as Dulwich quested for the equaliser, Innocent following in only to see the rebound bounce up of the arid turf and over his head. However the last word should have belonged to Vaughan but after a fortunate rebound had set him on a clear path of goal, Hogan the last obstacle, only the locks and hoardings of the security men prevented a reprise of the Mayesbrook tea bar massacre of yore.

BFC: Rafis, Sendall (Bennett 70), Barnes (Omegbehin 69), Wheeler, Lethbridge, Maskell, Wettner (Murat 70), Miller (Griffiths 68), Vaughan, Green (Lee 55), Rowland

DHFC:David Hogan; Francis Kwapong; Peter Lyall; Stanley Muguo; Shane Mangodza; Dave Waters; Basco; Cedric Kobongo; Anton Innocent; Josh Coulson; Ricky Dobson
Subs included: Alex Watson and Benson Kpaka

Goalscoring:
0-1 DHFC Anton Innocent 30 minutes
1-1 BFC Alan Lethbridge 44 minutes
2-1 BFC Dwayne Miller 46 minutes
3-1 BFC Dwayne Miller 66 minutes
3-2 DHFC Alex Watson 67 minutes
4-2 BFC Stanley Muguo 82 minutes