Dulwich Hamlet 0 Worthing FC 2

Dulwich Hamlet 0 Worthing FC 2

Ryman Isthmian League Division One South

Saturday 25^th August 2007

The old hunter's adage "Never trust a wounded animal" ignored at the Hill as against a Worthing side racked by injury and stuffed with reservists called up from the second string and Youth XI, Dulwich failed to take advantage, rarely threatening visiting 'keeper Rikki Banks' net. Indeed the Rebels proved themselves adept at gobbling up Hamlet's long range bombing raids out of defence, Hamlet's strikers starved of the ball as the scattergun delivery frequently found a red-shirted head rising highest to pump the ball away.

Bar a half chance for Daniel Morris when Banks' charge from goal to head away a long punt almost ended in tragedy for the Worthing Number One as Morris lofted the ball back over the stranded Banks only to miss the target, the first half belonged to the visitors encamped at the Greendales end of the ground. Soon after Worthing might well have taken the lead but for a magnificent show of the goalkeeper's art from Chuck Martini as he reacting with impeccable timing, diving to his left to pluck a half volley out of the air as Matt Phelan was left unattended in the penalty area to meet a flicked on free kick. Like a horsefly on hot day, the ever-buzzing Phelan proved a thorn in the side of the Hamlet defence, going close again soon after. Corners too proved a problem for Hamlet, gargantuan Rebels skipper Ben Andrews ubiquitous in meeting them unchallenged but unable to combine power and accuracy for the vital breakthrough, a bullet header flashing over, precise efforts cleared or caught.

Sonny Cobbs stoked his cannon and let fly from a free kick, a rasping drive that sped wide of the far upright of Martini's goal. Phelan snapped at Hamlet's right flank, turning to leave Harry Vitalien bemused before a mightily struck attempt on goal tore across the face of goal with nary a Worthing appendage on hand to turn it home.

Jaded Hamlet made an early change as the out-of-sorts Phil Williams made way for Craig Braham. At last there seemed a spark lit in the final few minutes of the half, as Dulwich's at last got into attacking gear. A desperate lunge on a rampaging Ricky Dobson, haring down the left, earned Karl Akehurst a booking but Hamlet's frustration in front of goal lingered. The candle of hope still burned as the second half got underway though it was Worthing who might have struck first as Sam Gargan swept up a low pass in from the left, turning sweetly in the D but striking the ball straight at the waiting Martini.

A pass neatly laid into his path, the goal yawned before Shawn Beveney, but power won over precision as his strike crashed into the netting behind the goal. Andrews again troubled the Hamlet at a corner, winning the ball but Akehurst wasting his skipper's good work lashing the ball skywards and over the net. Stalemate looked the likely outcome, particularly when the freak goal option evaporated after Dean Lovegrove chanced his arm from 30 yards, a haphazard bounce almost catching out a startling Martini, bouncing over him as he clawed at the air but thankfully clearing the crossbar too.

An hour gone and a new injection of inspiration was needed. Dulwich looked for it in Mazin Ahmad, the trickster soon in the thick as the action as Leo Day's ugly challenge brought Hamlet a free kick. Ahmad whipped the ball into the six yard box but Banks' was not to be fooled, diving forwards to gather as Stanley Muguo went in for the kill.

The fleet foot of callow youth, teenage trainee Gargan set his sights on goal but unselfishly slipped a pass into strike partner Richard Hudson, only for the chance to go begging as the shot was launched into the void. Released on the left Beveney scampered into the area, whipping the ball into the danger area, but echoing his namesake Banks was secure confidentially throwing himself amongst the much and boots to pluck the ball to his bosom. A moment later the Rebels were rising again as that industrious irritant Phelan wove inside from the wing, a low drive beating Martini but ricocheting back off the upright. Gargan reached the rebound first but as he rolled the ball across the face of the gaping goal, an offside flag spared his blushes. An unpleasant challenge on Braham from Day earned the Worthing midfielder a final warning, referee Gary Jerden expressive sign language brooking no further infringements on pain of dismissal.

Space for Benson Kpaka ten yards outside the box, a mishit effort into path of Muguo almost converted but the strike had no intensity within in. Not that that could be said for the game's opener 12 minutes from time though fortune played a part in Gargan's steamhammer shot that broke the deadlock. Having picked up a pass from fellow Brighton boy Cobbs, Gargan's first attempt sprung back off a Hamlet defender but the rifle had been charged, the flint was flicked and, from fully thirty yards from goal, the ball was sent crashing into the far corner of Martini's net, the flying dive of the Hamlet 'keeper all in vain.

A clumsy challenge on Muguo as chased a pass to the goal line, splayed his legs beneath time but neither official saw transgression in the tackle, the lifeline of a penalty denied. Hamlet heads slumped, the hearts of the threadbare Rebels leapt. On a teenage rampage Gargan met Hudson's delivery with a textbook header downward, this time Martini would thwart him. However the youngster would have revenge five minutes from time as Hudson, a morning injury doubt belied the pain with a skip and dance through the Hamlet's defence, rolling across to Gargan to provide the icing on the cake with a simple side foot home.

Teams:

DHFC: Chuck Martini; Harry Vitalien; Ricky Dobson; Benson Kpaka; Shayne Mangodza; Steve Aris (Capt.); Shawn Beveney; Anton Innocent; Daniel Morris (Mazin Ahmad 62); Stanley Muguo; Phil Williams (Craig Braham 34)

Substitutes not used: Daniel Jones; Cedric Kabongo; Sheikh Ceesay (GK)

WFC: Rikki Banks; Dean Lovegrove; Sonny Cobbs; Stuart Axten; Ben Andrews (Capt.); Karl Akehurst; Matt Phelan (Callum Murray 90); Leo Day; Richard Hudson (Michael Demetriou 87); Sam Gargan; Jamie Brotherton (Misui Mlynowski 76)

Goalscoring:

1-0 WFC Sam Gargan 78^th minute

2-0 WFC Sam Gargan 85^th minute

Match Officials

Referee: Mr Gary Jerden (Grays, Essex)

Assistants: Mr Andrew Woodruff (Byfleet, Surrey) & Mr Gareth Mays (Epsom, Surrey)

Attendance: 286

Dulwich Hamlet 1 Horsham YMCA 0

Dulwich Hamlet 1 Horsham YMCA 0
Ryman Isthmian Division One South
Tuesday 21st August 2007

A single Daniel Morris goal after 26 minutes was all it took for the Hamlet to make a winning start to their home campaign against a sterile YMCA XI who seemed more concerned with keeping the game scoreless as long as possible. With wise old heads added to the defence, Chuck Martini taking over between the sticks and Steve Aris making his debut at centre-half as skipper, Dulwich might have been well able to contain the attacking threat of YMCA had they chosen to pose a more consistent one. Two good early chances for the visitors served only to disguise their stifling intent, Dan Taylor neatly cutting back inside his marker to chance his arm from 25 yards out on the left wing ensuring Martini got in some early custodial practice. Five minutes later a rightwing cross almost had Dulwich snookered found Steve Davies with the goal at his mercy but he failed to find the target with his header from close range.
Instead it was Dulwich launching the greater offensives only to be frustrated time after time by well-marshalled backline that snared the Hamlet forwards in their insidious offside trap. 25 minutes Matt Duffield juggled the ball into the box only to fall to ground under the close attentions of Shayne Mangodza, a tumble the forward though warranted a penalty but referee Mr Nigel Lugg deemed worthy of naught. A minute later and Hamlet were leading courtesy of a corner won by the persistence of Shawn Beveney, scampering after a weak back pass and battering down ‘keeper Chris May’s snatched clearance. Though the corner was cleared as far as Veli Hakki lurking on the fringes of the area and with defenders expected a stinging drive, the midfielder dabbled a chip into the penalty area. Dragging the ball out of the area, and deaf to spurious offside entreaties, Morris spun on the ball, drilling a volley through a sprawling ‘keeper and into the net.
Five minutes later Benson Kpaka had a header back across goal from a deep corner, hooked away from the goal line by the leg of Davies, on duty at the near post. Hamlet might have had the opportunity to double their lead as half-time drew near, Beveney’s cantering charge into the box ended by the lunging challenge of Kevin Joyce, something that drew a blank from referee Lugg as he pointed for a goal kick.
Once command had been established it was rarely relinquished. The second half began with Hamlet in fine fettle, Morris a micron from a second goal as he stretched out a leg in competition with his marker, only to divert Hakki’s low whipped cross the wrong side of the near upright. Pinball in the penalty box as Phil Williams almost claimed the benefit of a deflected pass from Kpaka, May coming, tangling with his own defender but amidst the melee of boots and bodies, twisting back behind to fall gratefully upon the loose ball. As if possessed of Hermes’ winged boots, Williams terrorised the YMCA right flank with incisive run, his effort battered away by an alert May who’d torn from his line in anticipation. Hakki tried to hammer the loose ball home, but a deflection, off a defender’s hand some thought, denied him as the ball was sent spinning away for a corner kick. Hakki’s evening would soon be at a premature end as a heavy challenge forced him from the field to be replaced by Cedric Kabongo.
Martini showed inactivity had not dulled his senses, a magnificent block denying Horsham’s Duffield after the centre-forward had seemed odds on to reach a through ball first. Morris sensed goal once more as he rose to meet a cross in from the flanks, but his header disappointed bobbing over the cross bar from five yards out.
A mass breakout from defence as Dulwich countered from the Young Men’s corner kick, the flailing limbs of a rampant Beveney a blur as like the Keystone Kops were left tumbling over each other as they hared off in pursuit. With team-mates pleading for the pass, the lure of goal proved too much for Beveney as with last man May ahead of him he dragged a drive wide of the near post.
Having recently replaced Beveney, striker Anton Innocent was soon in the thick of things as a long throw squirmed through to him, his bullet strike looping off a defender’s head and away for a throw-in. The Hamlet piled forward as the throw was delivered, the ball wheedled away to Kabongo lying in wait on the brink of the box but a sweet strike on the turn just failed to find its objective. Hamlet wooded the inviting goal with fine football but she failed to open up for them. Substitute Helder Valdes slammed a free kick into a solid wall after Innocent was sent sprawling by a grisly challenge from Glen Woodburn, as defender was left in striker’s wake in pursuit of a long ball forward, a yellow card brandished in the face of the YMCA man. Marauding Morris, scourge of the defence, was in again once more as night’s labours end neared, drilling towards the corner of the net from Kabongo’s delivery only to find the slight figure of May gathering. Unsated by the single goal, Dulwich burst in unison as the game slipped into stoppage time, a tired tug on an indefatigable Harry Vitalien presenting Kabongo with the opportunity to curl in a free kick at the death, May rooted to the spot but watching relieved as the spherical object hovered over both him and his crossbar.

Teams:
DHFC: Chuck Martini; Harry Vitalien; Ricky Dobson; Benson Kpaka; Shayne Mangodza; Steve Aris (Capt.); Shawn Beveney (Anton Innocent 75); Veli Hakki (Cedric Kabongo 62); Daniel Morris; Stanley Muguo (Helder Valdes 82); Phil Williams
Subs not used: Craig Braham, Sheikh Ceesay (GK)

HYMCA: Chris May; Dean Carden; Andy Ottley; Kevin Joyce; Glen Woodburn; Tom White (Capt.); Matt Russell (Matt Simpson 80); Joe Keehan; Matt Duffield (Seb Kamezi 76); Steve Davies; Dan Taylor (Alex Keaney 80)
Substitute not used: Martin Flack

Goalscoring:
1-0 DHFC Daniel Morris 26th minute

Match Officials:
Referee: Mr Nigel Lugg
Assistant Referees: Mr Dele Sotimirin & Mr Jeff Lengthorn

Walton Casuals 2 Dulwich Hamlet 2
Ryman Isthmian League Division One South
Saturday 18th August 2007

Father Thames in full torrent alongside Franklyn Road, hardy anglers enveloped in oilskins to shelter from natures inequities peeping from beneath in vain hope of a bite, but across the towpath, Craig Edwards was left bemoaning the one, nay two points, that got away as Walton Casuals made good from a goalkeeping error to snatch a share of the points in season’s opener.
When summer’s breeze and sunlight’s ease stroke across secluded Franklyn Road, the remote setting, the sparse crowd can be forgotten but as rain lashed across the field almost from the off, this can be a barren arena, even when a noisy band of travellers arrive in anticipation of new Hamlet era under the tutelage of a new regime. Wayne Burnett’s defection to the landlords is history; the players that followed in thrall to him now ply their trade in Fisher monochrome. The side that took the field at Walton belonged to Craig Edwards, moulded in his image, fine football interwoven with steely determination, or so the hardy Hamlet throng anticipated. Instead when a furious Hyde was expected a timid Jekyll appeared. First half Dulwich needed name badges, strangers to one another they seemed. More ruthless teams than the Casuals might have exploited that but pre-season promise seemed stillborn as the rain and wind played havoc with thoughts of pure football, Walton surely missing the talismanic Craig Carley.
Casuals enjoyed the possession, but foundered on the rocks of Hamlet’s defence, bandanaed Shayne Mangodza, a particular nemesis for the hosts’ attack. Greg Ball threatened early, Hamlet replied as Phil Williams held off Jermaine Hinds only to clip the ball wide out as Paul Smith sauntered from his line.
At times as stagnant as the ablutions in a back street dive, the huddled masses behind the goal had little to warm them. Daniel Morris showed his strength to brush off the attentions of his marker as the two went off in pursuit of a pass launched forwards, rifling a strike a fraction wide of the top corner, only to be penalised for something the eagle-eyed assistant referee spotted.
Having had the better of those scrappy opening 25 minutes, Casuals were gifted the opportunity to take the lead when Mangodza was penalised for a push on Josh Ambridge as the big defender attempted to connect with a corner. Anthony Gale's spot kick was executed to perfection Sheikh Ceesay sent diving towards his right hand post as the ball was hammered firmly to his left.
Hamlet hit back with their best move so far as Morris was released on the left wing, his ball into Shawn Beveney neatly flicked into the path of Stanley Muguo but agonisingly too far in front of the marauding striker.
Ten minutes later the young Hamlet custodian had to be at his very best to keep out a thumping diving header from Ball, reacting smartly to stretch out a hand and keep a powerful effort from his goal. Casuals’ David Ocquaye also went close but Hamlet went in at the break, lamenting the wasted opportunity of a free kick a yard outside the penalty box, Benson Kpaka slamming a drive into the wall.
If a timid Dulwich had sloped off the pitch at half time, what emerged from the dressing rooms might have been a whole new XI such was their uplifted spirit. Ball was denied early by Ceesay but the stampeding Pink and Blue herd, hungry for goals, was soon gnawing at the Casuals defensive lines.
Having seen a close range chance dabbled past the upright as Pink and Blue shirts swamped the hosts’ penalty area, from the resultant corner Dulwich's renewed vigour earned them an equaliser. Powering like a Chieftain tank through the massed ranks of Amber shirts, Mangodza brushed aside the Stags' rearguard to bullet a header firmly down past a statuesque Paul Smith in the home goal.
The tide had turned, downbeat Dulwich now defiant. 69 minutes and the ball was worked out to Phil Williams on the left, the tricky winger resisting the close attentions of defender Max Hustwick, keeping him at bay as he set his sights on goal, neatly arrowing the ball through the legs of the onrushing Smith and into the net.
The Casuals redoubled their efforts but time seemed to be running out when substitute Grant Keywood won a corner though Dulwich were still fuming at a free kick decision back in the Casuals half from which the Stags hared forwards. Skipper Scott Harris' delivery was nothing out of the ordinary but coming to collect Ceesay somehow allowed the ball to squirm through his fingers and into the net. The Amber Army celebrated as if the title had been clinched; Harris removed his shirt and waved it as if he had a flag bearer of a Sienan Contrada. Unfortunately for him it also earned him a yellow card, his second of the afternoon, but he left the field with a smile on his face, something that melted into a grimace as he caught the eye of his furious father, Casuals’ supremo Kim Harris.

Teams:
WCFC: Paul Smith; Jermaine Hinds; Anthony Gale; Youseff Metwali (Michael Cayford ?); John Ambridge; Max Hustwick; Craig Lewington; Sol Patterson Bohner (Billy Rowley); Greg Ball; Scott Harris; Dave Ocquaye (Grant Keywood)
Substitutes not used: James Crowe; Andrew Watt.

DHFC: Sheikh Ceesay; Harry Vitalien; Ricky Dobson; Benson Kpaka; Shayne Mangodza; Helder Valdez; Shawn Beveney; Veli Hakki; Daniel Morris (Anton Innocent 67); Stanley Muguo; Phil Williams
Substitutes not used: Stuart Booth; Craig Braham; Cedric Meeko; Mazin Ahmad; Nas Hussain (GK)

Attendance 103

Officials:
Referee: Mr John Scott
Assistant Referees: Mr Shaun Scott & Mr Barrie Lynch