Dulwich Hamlet 2 Folkestone Invicta 2
Pre-Season Challenge Match
Tuesday 7th August 2007

Loftier opponents mean naught to the Craig Edwards and his young charges as Premier Division Folkestone Invicta were given a torrid time on a muggy night at the Hill. Twice the Hamlet led. Twice the men of Kent found a way back in as Dulwich failed to assuage the 2-2 hoodoo that has afflicted them throughout pre-season. Goals conceded might cause the man in the Hamlet hot seat a little concern but the ebullient attacking style, sometimes cavalier, sometimes erratic but ever incisive, should please both him and those on the sidelines for whom Dulwich football is as much about style as substance.

Youth took a bow to experience as Chuck Martini claimed the ‘keeper’s jersey over Sheikh Ceesay whilst ahead of him Helder Valdes returned at the heart of defence to partner Shane Mangodza. The perpetual work rate of Shawn Beveney and Stanley Muguo in the Three Bridges cauldron was rewarded, Muguo lining up alongside Daniel Morris in the striking vanguard. Beveney almost repaid that faith with a crunching drive from an early Phil Williams corner, rattling the crossbar from 18 yards after barely 2 minutes had elapsed. Amongst those ranged against the Hamlet in amber and black was Leigh Bremner, rewarded with a one year deal at the Buzzlines after scoring a consolation in defeat to Gillingham. The erstwhile Dulwich striker might have given Hamlet fans a taster of goalscoring prowess which became his albatross at Champion Hill but moments after Beveney’s woodwork-shaker, having being neatly glided in behind the defence, his angled strike proved no tester for Martini.

Attacking once more, Invicta found themselves with a man extra on the left as the Dulwich defence was stretched almost to breaking point. Ellis Remy, scorer supreme in pre-season, let go with a thunderous strike that but for the bravery of Stuart Booth might have been rippling the net. Instead the strike cannoned off the face of the foolhardy defender, who had thrown himself open the shot as if it were a live grenade, leaving him spread out spark out on the turf.

Powering forward, cutting a swathe through the nucleus of Invicta rearguard, gamekeeper turned poacher, Muguo unleashed a fearsome drive on the run, the ball hurtling towards goal but spinning of the target as Charlie Mitten stood helpless. Mitten’s goal again came under threat when Morris spotted a chink in defence and let loose with a cannonball drive from all of thirty yards, forcing the Invicta ‘keeper on to the back foot as he stretched at the last to tip the ball over the crossbar. Once more the men of Kent seemed frail at corners, Williams delivering, Beveney climbing highest but only to direct a powerful nod wide of the back stick. No rest for the defence as Beveney’s languid pass found Muguo, a shimmy losing his marker but a curled shot failing to ruffle Mitten’s feathers.

Positive play promised goals. At last after 19 minutes, the prayers of the faithful few were answered, not once, not twice but thrice. Hamlet were first on the score sheet, the defence of corners proving the Achilles heel of Invicta. Mangodza rose highest in a forest of amber and black, glancing a header towards the far post where Muguo ignored the close attentions of his marker to pirouette on the ball and hammer it firmly into the roof of the net. Not that Hamlet had much time to celebrate for within seconds of the restart parity was restored as Michael Everitt spotted Martini wandering from his line and launched a spectacular, speculative lob towards goal. Realising the danger, Martini back-pedalled furiously, legs a-blur, but to no avail, stumbling to the floor as the ball dropped behind him into the net.

A blow for Invicta as Bremner was forced from the field clutching his side, his replacement Damien Abel entering the arena just as his side were endeavouring to defend yet another Hamlet corner. As before though they were found wanting as Benson Kpaka muscled his way to the edge of the six yard box and bullet a header into the roof of the net.

Raging forward, Hamlet sought out opportunities to further their advantage, running amok in Invicta territory. Overworked Mitten had to be compus mentis as Veli Hakki delicately lifted a ball into a rampaging Morris, the big custodian spreading himself like warm butter across the path of Morris and blocking a sweet strike.

34 minutes and Folkestone at last made base camp in the corner count, forcing their first of the evening but a well-worked move came to naught after James Corbett had picked out Ryan Briggs, lurking undiscovered on the fringes of the Hamlet penalty area, the midfielder’s pass picking out Kevin Watson within range of goal. Somehow though the chance went begging as the ball was lifted beyond the goal from mere yards.

More injury worries for the visitors as Mitten’s recurrent leg injury forced him from the field with still 7 minutes of the half to play. His replacement, tyro Luke Stonebridge, soon had to show his credentials, as he was tested by Morris, the striker’s attempt to chip him from 15 yards thwarted as the young ‘keeper stretch to tip the effort round the post.

A lackadaisical start to the second half from the Hamlet and Invicta were allowed back into the game ‘ere 20 seconds from the restart had elapsed. As if their half-time drinks had been spiked with Horlicks, Dulwich dozed as Invicta’s Abel ripped a hole in the Hamlet’s right flank, his square ball in from the wing missed by all bar Remy. Though for a moment the striker struggled to tame the pass, much to his team’s relief he swung to face goal rifling he ball past Martini from three yards out.

A single flash of lightning sparked in purple, darkening skies, the highly charged atmosphere on the pitch for a moment bubbling up as Kpaka and Everitt threatened fisticuffs after a fulsome challenge from the Hamlet man. Firm words from referee Steve Daly, a gentleman’s handshake then back to the game. A nostalgic mind drifted back to when this was once the norm.

53 minutes and cantering down the right, Beveney drilled a low pass into the six yard box. Morris had been haring goalwards as Beveney charged but with the pass behind him, the stage was set for David Piper to ease the pressure with an almighty hoof to touch. Soon after it was all hands to the pump as Pink and Blue shirts flurried like flags on the breeze, bodies falling on the ball in quick succession as a host of quick fire Folkestone strikes were repulsed.

The head of Booth once more proved crucial in preventing Folkestone finding the net as a 65th minute corner was met with venom by the head of Invicta skipper, Roland Edge, the one-time Gill letting loose a pinpoint header bound for the far top corner until Booth’s timely intervention. Almost instantly Hamlet were in freeflow upfield, a multicolour tide of players in pursuit of the ball, Valdes at the head of the Hamlet herd but unable to divert home the final cross into the box.

A right-wing raid quickly switched sides as Corbett found first Remy who in turn supplied Abel in space on the left, the substitute’s excellent shot deserving of a goal but not in the eyes of Martini, who brought ripples of applause all round Champion Hill as he flung himself left to turn the ball past his upright. With the eyes of Asclepius elsewhere Invicta would lose yet another to injury when Ryan Briggs was forced to limp from the field after a crunching tackle left him writhing on the floor. As Briggs was attended to Hakki became the recipient of the evening’s first and only yellow card. Meanwhile Dulwich were making their first substitutions; off came Williams and Morris, on came Jamie Findlay and Craig Braham, a brace of young wingers with so much energy Dulwich run the floodlights off them during power strikes. Both would threaten, first Findlay on the right, Muguo upended in the box but offenders punished not.

With 8 minutes left, Remy almost punished the Hamlet rearguard for some loose defending, latching on to the ball but letting loose an angled drive into the midriff of the well-positioned Martini. At the death, Dulwich could have claimed the victory as Braham nipping at the wing found a way through to lash a ball across the face of goal but just too far ahead of the inrushing Muguo.

DHFC: Chuck Martini; Stuart Booth; Ricky Dobson; Benson Kpaka; Shane Mangodza; Helder Valdez; Shawn Beveney; Veli Hakki (Billy Chattaway 87); Daniel Morris (Craig Braham 77); Stanley Muguo (Cedric Kobongo 85); Phil Williams (Jamie Findlay 77)
Substitutes not used: Sheikh Ceesay (GK), Justin Bowen

FIFC: Charlie Mitten (Luke Stonebridge 37); David Piper; Roland Edge; Kevin Watson; Liam Friend; Samuel Okikiolu (Frankie Chapple 69); Michael Everitt (James Everitt 69); Ryan Briggs (Charlie Glyde 77); Ellis Remy; Leigh Bremner (Damian Abel 21); Jimmy Corbett
Substitutes not used: Roy Guiver; Mark Saunders

Goalscoring
1-0 DHFC Stanley Muguo 18th minute
1-1 FIFC Michael Everitt 19th minute
2-1 DHFC Benson Kpaka 21st minute
2-2 FIFC Ellis Remy 46th minute

Referee: Mr Steve Daly
Assistants: Mr Matt Worwood & Mr Peter Cruise

Dogdy Twilight Photos!

Wingate and Finchley 2 Dulwich Hamlet 2
Pre-Season Challenge Match
Sunday 5th August 2007

Back to back matches over the hottest weekend of the year? Ming the merciless was in no mood for rest breaks as Dulwich’s pre-season campaign moved towards its climax with a trek north of the Thames to the Abrahams Stadium of Wingate & Finchley. An austere venue when winter winds ravage the high veldt where suburbia and Metroland blend and the Volvo is king, azure skies and a beaming sun greeted players as they stepped on to the neatly manicured lawns, perhaps half-expecting some irate gardener to appear own of nowhere to berate them for trampling his prized turf.
Pink and blue figures of players shimmered in the heat, methinks on the breeze danced the haunting strains of Maurine Jarre’s score, as in the manner of Sheriff Ali, they galloped up the park towards the waiting goal and Hamlet’s travelling faithful, T E Lawrence like in their anticipation. They did not have long to wait as Daniel Morris hove into view, sweeping on to a subtle pass before hammering a low drive towards the foot of the near post, only to be thwarted as the ‘keeper sank to his knees to gather. A long pump upfield with Morris in hot pursuit had the ‘keeper harried once more, rushing to the brink of his box but nodding the ball back towards his own goal as Morris arrived at pace. Only the quick feet of a defender spared his blushes for with the ball bounced ever closer to the line, a timely hack to safety kept the net unruffled. Soon after the electric Craig Braham would dart in behind a sluggish back line to connect with debutant Liam Hopkins’ looped pass, only to drill his drive wide of the upright. The Hamlet survived a minor scare when a pass bisected the defence but the striker’s final effort was weak and Chuck Martini was barely ruffled.
Half a league, half a league, half a league onward strode the Pink and Blue, Wingate to the left of them Finchley to the right. Benson Kpaka cantered into the valley of death, unleashed a fusillade of a shot, a telling deflection sending the ball careering wide of the upright. The corner gave the Hamlet midfielder a change for recompense. Again the shot was laced with venom, the air crackling as the ball zipped a fraction wide of the top corner.
Perhaps sated by their feast of early attacking football, the Hamlet took a postprandial doze in the summer sun. Like thieves in the night, Wingate stole, cased the joint with a couple of near misses, a midfielder’s drive dribbling wide of Martini’s right upright, the same player then setting up a colleague to sneak in behind the last line, Martini alert to save a awkward close range effort. If that had been the alarm then Dulwich failed to response to its clarion call. Two minutes later they trailed as once again a ball slipped behind defence caught them napping and this time there was no clemency as Marc Weatherstone latched on to the pass, applying the finish with a low drive across Martini’s dive and into the far corner of the net.
Roused by the goal, Hamlet came within a whisker of drawing level within moments. A corner won quickly from the restart, delivered deep to the back of the box to the lurking Justin Bowen, playing his second full 90 minutes of a hectic weekend. The burly centre-half rose unchecked looping a header over a static ‘keeper towards the back stick, destined to be a goal until a defender’s head popped up to clear the ball from under the crossbar.
Though Hopkins went close with a master blaster of drive after Veli Hakki had laid off a quick free kick into his path, it was the Blues who came closer to the afternoon’s next goal, a deep cross from the left wing headed into the side netting after Dulwich’s defence had been outleapt then a stinging drive from distance skimming the top of the crossbar. For all Dulwich’s worthy attacking intentions and opportunities there would be a strong sniff of fortuitousness about their equaliser as Kpaka lofted in a deep cross towards Morris, only for a light breeze to appear from nowhere and carry the ball in its embrace beyond the outstretched hands of a tumbling ‘keeper.
Act II as pulsating as the scene setter but with defences dominating chances arrived with the frequency of a Sunday country charabanc. Five minutes had idled up when in came a Dulwich free kick, up went Anton Innocent, a goalbound header bundled away in a flurry of blue defenders, only to be snaffled up by Morris, firing the trigger but denied a goal by a wondrous reaction save from Wingate’s custodian, one-handedly pummelling the ball away from his net.
A rapier-like run from Braham, incisive but ultimately fruitless, for a phalanx of blue defenders fell upon him as he burst into the box, a promising charge killed off in its prime. Come the half hour, red alert in the Hamlet defence. Jemal Henry provided a timely interception to cut a deadly pass but a moment flashed by and Martini had to stretch every sinew as a floated free kick was targeted on his back post, the Hamlet ‘keeper touching the ball beyond the woodwork. All in vain though for defenders went AWOL when the corner was delivered, a free header sending the ball goalward to where substitute Tashan Bradshaw-Brown would flick the ball back through his legs and past Martini.
In the goal’s wake came a double change for the Hamlet amongst their ranks Jamie Findlay, latterly returned from his sojourn in “warmer” climes. Pretty soon the replacement would have the Hamlet faithful drooling as he produced a masterpiece of goal, one that deserved a significant audience, but like a fine wine should perhaps only be appreciated by the connoisseur? Steeping over the half way line to gathering the ball wide on the right wing, Findlay’s goalseeking devices went into overdrive as he cut in hurtling headlong towards goal. Playing a supporting role, Kpaka leisurely exchanged passes with Findlay on the fringes of the area then stood back to admire as the young winger danced from foot to foot, tempting, teasing, daring defenders to tackle before ghosting past them. Finally face to face with the ‘keeper, he dealt the Devil’s Bedpost to a flummoxed ‘keeper, once more left deposited on his posterior as the ball was nonchalantly rolled past him.
Quality such as that is difficult to follow; maybe the heat at last began to bite. Still there was time for another of the Hamlet replacements, Chris Theodore to come close to making his mark with a cannonball angled drive but this time the ‘keeper was waiting pouncing the effort into his midriff. One should not wish a trio of posterior dumpings on anyone, should one?

Team:
DHFC: Chuck Martini; Jemal Henry; Ricky Dobson; Benson Kpaka; Shane Mangodza; Justin Bowen; Liam Hopkins; Veli Hakki; Daniel Morris; Anton Innocent; Craig Braham
Subs used: Jamie Findlay; Chris Theodore; Joel (No Surname)

Three Bridges 1 Dulwich Hamlet 2
Saturday 4th August 2007
Pre-Season Challenge Match

New outposts may have been added to the Hamlet’s summer itinerary but one thing remains constant, Dulwich’s annual trip to Jubilee Field where Three Bridges await. First of a testing regime of a trio of matches in four days, the Sussex County Leaguers would provide stern opposition for an XI, more possible than probable but with openings in that starting XI at Walton Casuals still up for grabs there was still an opportunity for players to impress the watching management. Also too for new faces and old to prove their mettle against a side who had already claimed Conference side Crawley as an early pre-season scalp and were slavering at the prospect of adding another victim from loftier climes to their trophy wall.
Azure skies and that rare visitor, the Sun, greeted the cast of players as they took the field, the searing conditions matching by the early pace of the game. One of Hamlet’s triallists, Albanian striker, Izzy Harusha might have made his mark with the first few moments as he latched on to the ball 15 yards out only to chip the ball gingerly into the hands of gargantuan custodian, Stuart Robinson. A corner soon after had the goliath in goal beaten as Stanley Muguo looped a header over home from 10 yards out, only to be denied a goal as a defender’s head cleared the ball from under his own crossbar.
The hosts responded with commitment, muted aggression then a goal sweetly dispatched by central defender Gary Anderson, as he made Hamlet pay for a poorly cleared free kick, sending a blazing drive arrowing into the far corner of the goal as Sheikh Ceesay flung himself in vain. Dismissive of reputation, boisterous in attack, Bridges ensured this was no summer’s stroll for the Hamlet defence, an old head in Justin Bowen amongst the ranks. Not that the home defence went untested but with Anderson returning to defensive duties after his successful sortie in Hamlet territory, the avenues and alleyways to goal became of maze through which Dulwich struggled to navigate.
Shawn Beveney, a prestidigitator with the ball, swiftly conjured openings first for Mutui Lamidi, whose stroked shot beat the giant Robinson only to cannon back off the base of the upright. A corner ensued, Lamidi free to head the ball but sending the ball harmlessly over the crossbar. More magic from the Guyanese as he took on all comers weaving a tortuous trail through the Three Bridges rearguard, but his tricks had a Tommy Cooper outcome as the ball was slipped back into the flight of Harusha, only for the ultimate shot to graze the wrong side of the near upright.
Elegant football failed to bring reward as Hamlet strained for the equaliser. Lamidi collected the ball wide right, slipped it outside to Beveney powering down the flank, Muguo the beneficiary of his pass but the net remained unsullied as Muguo watched, head in hands, as his drive was lifted high over the crossbar. With the break mere moments away, left-back Peter Lyall let fly with a decent drive from 25 yards out but an unflustered ‘keeper was in perfect position, the ball cushioned in his midriff.
Barely had the half-time rallying calls subsided than the man in black had incurred the wrath of the Hamlet contingent as he pointed to the spot. Galling indeed for moments earlier Dulwich were threatening, Robinson plucking the ball from the head of Bowen after Dave Waters had nodded on a free kick. Caught short though Dulwich were soon facing a corner and though the first delivery was cleared, the redelivery struck the hand of Stuart Boothe and Bridges had their penalty. However, as at East Thurrock, Ceesay outfoxed the kicker, smartly down at his right hand post to smother the kick of Jack McNab, this time ensuring there were no crumbs for hungry forwards to peck at.
Renewed heart and Hamlet were back in full flow once more. Beveney danced into the box, jinking one way then the next, but a phalanx of amber shirts swarmed around him and the chance was lost. A howitzer of drive delivered by Alex Watson from the edge of the penalty area truly tested Robinson for the first time, every inch of his leviathan frame in the air as he sprung lithely to turn the ball away for a corner.
65 minutes, penalty to the Hamlet but no, Harusha’s rapier run into the box curtailed unceremoniously as his legs were swept from under him. Raising the whistle to his lips the referee appeared in the act of blowing but no sound came and Bridges turned to attack once more. Chagrin forgotten, Dulwich rejoindered with more assaults, Harusha thwarted as Robinson smothered the ball at his feet, Beveney firing off a wild volley after Watson’s left wing cross had been punched out to his feet.
A dashing finale ensued. Anderson withdrawn from the hosts’ defence, Samson shorn of his hair. Six minutes remained when a long arching throw bounced awkwardly up against the hand of a defender allowing the man in black to atone for his previous timidity; the spot kick more in tune with the letter of the law than its spirit. Any sympathy Dulwich might have had was not evident in Beveney’s penalty, the ‘keeper’s extra inches serving him for naught as the ball was expertly dispatched into the bottom corner.
An honourable draw it might have been but for Harusha, the impish forward gliding past static defenders, glancing first at each other than in vain to the assistant referee. Latching on to Beveney’s perfect pass, the foot was drawn back like a trigger, the ball despatched beyond a crestfallen Robinson for a late, late winner four minutes into stoppage time.

DHFC: Sheikh Ceesay; Stuart Boothe; Peter Lyall; Stanley Muguo; Dave Waters; Justin Bowen; Shawn Beveney; Cedric Kobongo; Izzy Harusha; Mutui Lamidi (Alfie Bonsu 66); Alex Watson