Eastbourne Town 1 Dulwich Hamlet 1

Eastbourne Town 1 Dulwich Hamlet 1
Ryman Isthmian League Division One South
Saturday 5^th January 2008

Junior Baker's 66^th minute equaliser helped secure a share of the points at struggling Eastbourne, but after a poor performance in filthy conditions, Hamlet were glad of at least that. Had the hosts taken but a fraction of the chances that they created or been blessed of a modicum of the good fortune that often deserts hose fighting for survival at the wrong wend of the table then Dulwich might well have been making their way back from the seaside with their tails firmly between their legs. An stunning save from Sheikh Ceesay after just six minutes prevented Town’s skipper Danny Simmonds giving his men an early fillip as the latter’s free kick from five yards outside the penalty area, neatly lifted and curled over the Hamlet wall, was expertly tipped away at full stretch by the Dulwich custodian.

At the gallop, enfilading Eastbourne kept up the intense pressure on their lacklustre guests, a whipped cross in from the left by the overlapping Ben Putland tipped on to the crossbar by the overworked Ceesay. Soon after Dulwich’s defences should have been breached when the dangerous Peter Cooper defeated Shayne Mangodza in aerial combat for a leftwing cross, Mark Goodwin ghosting in betwixt ‘keeper and defender to nod the ball over a stranded Ceesay but tortured Town’s fans would have to wait before they could celebrate scoring as the striker’s bopped header looped over the crossbar.

Come the 21st minute and Eastbourne claimed a merited, if fortuitous, opener as Cooper let rip from distance, the low dribbler from 25 yards out zipping across the sodden turf, catching Ceesay unawares as the ball buried itself in the bottom corner of the net. Galvanised by the goal, the buccaneers of Eastbourne went raiding once more, fast frigates an armada of yellow as Dulwich’s penalty area became a war zone. Let loose on the flank, Goodwin lashed in the sweetest of crosses towards the predatory Liam Baitup, goalscorer extraordinaire, flinging himself in the direction of the delivery but failed to make any connection, though the pleas of the aggrieved Baitup suggested he felt some underhand defensive artifice had robbed him of the opportunity.

Too often off the pace, at times shambolic, Dulwich struggled to contain the pace of Eastbourne’s rocket-powered attacking threat, a yellow tide sweeping down the Saffrons. However Fortuna was watching over the Hamlet, for as for all the Town aggression they could not extend their lead, ill fortune and desperate defending colluding to keep the wolf from the door and the ball from the net. Twice in as many minutes Eastbourne toyed with the emotions of their long-suffering fans who had cheered their heroes to the Sussex County League glory half a year previous, only to see them bullied and beaten for their tuck money and points, week in and week out as they moved up to Big School, fags to the Flashmans of the Isthmian League. Simmonds pinpoint delivery of a free kick had the Hamlet defence all at sea as the muddied Putland flung himself full-length to connect with a forceful header, the effort beating the outstretched fingertips of Ceesay but cannoning against the woodwork. How Eastbourne did not double the lead with mere moments will remain a mystery to all. Amidst flailing boots splashing through the slick of watery mud in his six yard box the intrepid Ceesay ventured to block at the feet of goalscorer Cooper but the greasy ball squirmed away into the path of Baitup, the striker prodding the ball past the prostrate Ceesay and goalwards, only to be thwarted as Mangodza, on guard duty behind his fallen ‘keeper, scythed the ball to safety from his own goalline.

Hamlet supremo Craig Edwards was in a fit of vapours beside his dugout and beside himself. His Sergeant-Major’s bark had had little bite until now. Five minutes left until the break and at last Hamlet found life and spirit that had been absent. Forcing a corner, the subdued Sebastian Schoburgh pummelled a delivery into the six yard box where Town’s number one flapped at the passing ball. The screw turned as player after player tried in vain to punch a shot home. Eventually a defender’s boot forced the ball away as far as the edge of the penalty area to where Stanley Muguo lurked, a fierce low strike beating the nervous-looking Scott Andrews between the sticks, the jittery custodian recued at the last as the drive was blocked by the boot of Luke Denton on the line. Still the pressure ensued an angled switch to Schoburgh lingering on the wing but Mangodza’s header was poor as unmarked he bopped the ball well wide after brushing aside his markers.

Within a minute the electric pace of Billy Chattaway locked the right flank of the hosts, a cross whipped frighteningly into the heart of the Eastbourne six yard box where Henry Darko flung himself ahead of his marker to flick the cutest of headers but rising away from the far top corner of the net.

Having seen the threat of Schoburgh neutralised by the smothering defensive traits of Matt Aldread, Dulwich made a change at the break bringing on Junior Baker in his stead and reshuffling the rest of the pack. Uncomfortable in his alien position of right back Muguo surrendered that place where he had replaced the absent Sol Patterson-Bohner, to Ricky Dobson whilst Chattaway slipped back to fill in the left back role. The defensive readjustments took a while to bed in and Eastbourne nearly took advantage as Baitup slipped the chains of the offside trap, or so he thought, before lofting the ball over a strangely nonchalant Ceesay. That nonchalance was well placed though as assistant’s flag was up as soon as Baitup latched on to the ball, negating his “score” much to the chagrin of the home contingent, worse was to come for these hardy individuals, bred on success but now sucking at the drying teat of a relegation scrap. Catching Hamlet cold with a leftwing raid, the Town had a batch of players queuing up unguarded in the middle for the eventual delivery but the chance went to waste as Luke Denton lashed at the ball sending it spinning well wide of the inviting target before him.

Survival seemed the watchword for the Hamlet but at last the promise of those final throes of the first 45 began to sprout buds of hope. A Hamlet breakout, having nullified yet another Eastbourne raid, saw Chattaway cantering away down the left wing, flaying the ball low into the six yard box where Darko dived in to meet the delivery only to divert the ball over the crossbar from close range.

The 66th minute at last brought respite for the Hamlet as Darko galloped free of the last line of defence dragging his drive across the diving Andrews but striking the base of the far post. All was not lost though for Baker was sniffing around at the back post and as the ball rebounded into his path, he managed to force the ball home, bundled the ball over the line a yard shy of the line. Furious Eastbourne complained bitterly that a flag should have gone up against the scorer but yellow supplications to the officials went unanswered. Mr Rendall and his team further earned the approbation of wronged Eastbourne as the ill-starred Baitup was once more deprived of a goal by an offside flag, going in amidst the mud and bullets to stab a low rightwing cross into the net ahead of a diving Ceesay but all to no avail.

Late changes for the Hamlet as the endgame began, Dulwich hunting for a vital winner, albeit underserved should it arrive. Eastbourne, meanwhile would find themselves anxiously defending a point that by rights, offside “goals” notwithstanding, they felt should have been a home and hosed trio. But for inspired, diligent defending, particularly from an old hand at the back, the veteran Stuart Playford, wider of girth than in his heyday but producing vital tackles when Dulwich threatened to rob his team of its scant reward. A thumping block denied Benson Paka after the Hamlet midfielder had hacked a path in from the rightwing before unleashing a strike 16 yards out from goal. Not long after and Playford’s tackle proved telling as he cut out Baker’s delivery en route to Shawn Beveney whipping it off his feet on the fringes of the area as the home defence held firm in the face of a Pink and Blue whirlwind.

Still Mr Rendall and his assistant had to run the gauntlet of home supporters’ invective but had but a handful of home chances been converted Hamlet should have been back on the metaphorical bus long, long before the final whistle.

Teams:
ETFC: Scott Andrews; Matt Aldread; Stuart Playford; Luke Denton; Ben Putland; Peter Featherstone; Danny Simmonds (Capt.); Adam Davidson; Liam Baitup; Peter Cooper; Mark Goodwin
Substitutes: Steve Dallaway; Simon Catt; Alex McKay; Charlie Francis; Gary Brockwell

DHFC: Sheikh Ceesay; Stanley Muguo; Ricky Dobson; Benson Paka; Marc Cumberbatch; Shayne Mangodza; Shawn Beveney (Capt); Sebastian Schoburgh (Junior Baker HT); Henry Darko (Vitor Tavares 80); Lumumba Amena (Jason Hawes 80); Billy Chattaway
Substitutes not used: Justin Fevrier, Tim Roberts (GK)

Attendance: 230
Officials:
Referee: Mr Lloyd Rendall (Durrington)
Assistant Referees: Mr R Wilkins (Worthing) & Mr J Pike (Hurstpierpoint)

Goalscoring:
1-0 ETFC Peter Cooper 21st minute
1-1 DHFC Junior Baker 66th minute

Dulwich Hamlet 1 Cray Wanderers 1

Dulwich Hamlet 1 Cray Wanderers 1
Ryman Isthmian League Division One South
Saturday 29^th December 2007

It was honours even in this hard-fought top five clash at Champion Hill as visitors Cray Wanderers halted Dulwich’s five match run of league victories courtesy of a late own goal by the ill-starred Marc Cumberbatch.
Cray threatened first when hesitancy in the Hamlet defence went unpunished with Michael Power unable to force the ball home when it dropped to him on the fringes of the six yard box. Though that threat was smothered a half-hearted clearance was redelivered from the left by Lewis Wood but Steve Aris could not connect at the back of the box with a stooping header. On nine minutes Dulwich had the ball in the back of the net as Benson Paka rose unchallenged to meet a free kick and power a close range header past Glen Knight from 6 yards out. However much to the bemusement of the “goal scorer” and the chagrin of supporters, the flag had already gone up against Paka, a harsh decision indeed. Cray too had the ball in the net, though delay twixt flag and “goal” was more pronounced on this occasion as an offside Power looped a header over a nonchalant Ceesay.
The ubiquitous Power had Ceesay more concerned when a snapshot from distance had the young Hamlet custodian flinging himself across goal but though the drive beat the dive, the ball nestled in the side netting. Gargantuan defender Ryan Royston threatened soon after as he met Jamie Wood’s dead ball delivery with a strong header but too high to trouble the Dulwich goal.
One-time Cray man, Junior Baker, making his full debut for the Hamlet wasted a golden opportunity to remind his former players of what they missed as the responsibility for a free kick a yard beyond the brink of the penalty area was clobbered high and harmless over Knight’s crossbar. However the threats from the men in Pink and Blue were mounting. Shawn Beveney mugged Aaron Day on the left; put the hammer down before lashing a low, dangerous ball into the heart of the penalty but with just too much juice on for the lurking Henry Darko. Moments later Hamlet’s second half of the ex-Cray twins, Lumumba Amena, chanced his arm with a hooked volley from 25 yards out, fizzing past the right hand upright with Knight static.
Worrying moments for Dulwich as Sebastian Schoburgh crept towards the touchline, clearly suffering. Lengthy treatment later required but where the flesh might have been weak, the spirit was willing, Hamlet’s Will-O'-The-Wisp perhaps running at 33⅓ rather than 78 but still running. Schoburgh was still straining at the bit on the touchline as reward at last for the Hamlet came on 36 minutes, Carpe diem Darko, the young striker seizing the moment to remind all of his explosive power. Beveney having laid the foundations, stalwartly holding up the ball against muscular Cray pressure, the baton and ball was passed to the diminutive Darko, a young saplings o’ershadowed by ancient oaks but delightfully tricking his way through the Cray defensive lines, he sped to the edge of the penalty area from whence he unleashed a guided missile of a strike, pummelling his drive just inside the left-hand post of Knight, diving across goal but all in vain.
As if to compound their misery, influential defender Mark Willy was injured as he and Beveney diving in for the same ball close to the touch. Whilst Beveney dusted himself off, Cray’s Willy, who had been outstanding in their promotion challenge this term lay flaccid on the turf as both physios came to his aid. However a severe gash to the leg had curtailed the big man’s participation, further off field treatment proved fruitless and as the game moved into a prolonged bout of stoppage time Willy was officially pulled off, a reshuffle in order as left-back Tyrone Sterling came on in the stead of the centre-half. The understudy almost had an instant impact, playing first fiddle on a fluent move down the left wing before supplying Power with the pass from which he drove a low strike in towards goal, deflected by the outstretched boot of skipper Jamie Wood, a glancing blow that might have deceived a less alert ‘keeper but not Ceesay, diving to his left to pluck the bouncing ball out of the ether.
Cautious Cray cast aside that mantle in a second half that threatened goals time after time but curmudgeonly officialdom would starve the Dulwich fans of that feast all that awaited them would be that late, unfortunate equaliser that would deflate Hamlet spirits almost at the death. Gnashing teeth Dulwich tore into their guests from first whistle. Misfortune haunted them though as first Beveney, a shot from 20 yards out deflected beyond the frame of the goal, then Darko twice in quick succession thwarted by first officialdom then by a tackle of supreme bravery. Ryan Royston was blessed by fortune when his hideous attempt to hook a wayward cross field ball to safety instead sent Darko galloping away clear on the goal of Knight, only to be stalled in his tracks as assistant referee Gareth Mays flagged him offside. Soon after Paka slipped an exquisite pass into Darko, hammering forward, but as he pulled the trigger on his strike, Day slid in to block that fierce shot eight yards out. The corner, delivered deep to the back of the six yard box, was met by the brave Baker, flying high, but crashing a header a foot too high before smashing himself into the post. Some sickening sounds from the prone Baker but treatment stilled painful thoughts.
Failure to score is an alien thought for Cray this term but when Lewis Wood misfired from close range after a rightwing cross had been chested down into his path, the shot flashing across the face of Ceesay’s goal, that notion took wings in Amber minds. Darko slipped the leash of the offside trap, chasing down a long ball beyond the last line of defence, stabbing below the body of the diving Knight but watching in agony as the ball slither crept wide of the post.
A Dulwich corner caused a kerfuffle in the Cray box, Baker’s brushed header dropping to Darko but as he attempted to juggle the slippery critter, Knight harvested the ball from his toes. Cray, now with added Jamie Kempster, began to test the Hamlet’s defence on a more regular basis and it took a fine tackle from Cumberbatch to steal the ball from the feet of Lewis Wood as he punched a hole in the Dulwich rearguard. The corner met the head of Day but his effort slithered over the crossbar. Lewis Wood was threatening again moments later as he hit a sizzling volley from close range that perhaps deserved better than to zip a foot too high.
Not that Hamlet were resting for a trio of chances came and went in quick succession as they countered well, Knight ripping the ball from the feet of Beveney after former teammate Steve Aris had been left for dust. The alert Knight denied Darko in similar fashion not long after but he had to eternally grateful to Royston as Schoburgh outpaced the backline to stab the ball through the prostrate custodian, Schoburgh seemingly a certainty to score as the ball squirm out from under Knight, only to be thwarted as Royston flung himself into a game-saving last-ditch tackle. As if to emphasis the import of his heroics, Royston, prolific with the goals in previous incarnations at Maidstone and Thamesmead, let rip with a 35 yard rising drive that cannoned against the crossbar, leaving the woodwork quivering like a débutante at he opening of the season. That bar was still all aquiver when Cray attacked once more this time to deadly effect. The pair of Woods, Lewis and Jamie, teamed up to set the stage, creating the opening for Power to slash a drive hard and low into the heart of the Hamlet area and in his exigency to clear the ball to safety, the luckless Cumberbatch could only divert the ball into his own net.
Still celebrating Cray were almost caught cold as Dulwich sought instant atonement, Darko nodding a cross into the path of Baker but the new boy snatching at his moment of glory to hammer the ball into orbit. Continuing to push forward in search of redemption and three points, Dulwich almost found themselves surrendering the single point they possessed as the Cray Rapid Reaction Force went into overdrive, instigated by a miskicked clearance that set up a leftwing raid ending at the feet of Lewis Wood, unguarded at the back of the box. However Dame Fortune scowl had become a smile and the Cray man rashly shovelled wide his chance to win the game.
Frustration, mixed with disappointment but seasoned with pride, Dulwich’s hearts beat a little stronger this morning as promotion remains firmly within their grasp. Come May a repeat of this match might decide that.

Teams:

DHFC: Sheikh Ceesay; Sol Patterson-Bohner; Ricky Dobson; Benson Paka; Shayne Mangodza; Marc Cumberbatch; Shawn Beveney; Sebastian Schoburgh (Scott Edgar 90+2); Henry Darko; Lumumba Amena; Junior Baker
Substitutes not used: Billy Chattaway; Jason Hawes; Vitor Tavares; Tim Roberts

CWFC: Glen Knight; Aaron Day; Colin Luckett; Danny Chapman; Mark Willy (Tyrone Sterling 45); Ryan Royston; Steve Aris; Lewis Wood; Jamie Wood; Michael Power; David Hall (Jamie Kempster 66)
Substitutes not used: George Fenwick; Dean Morris; Joby Thorogood

Attendance: 369

Match Officials:
Referee: Mr Ryan Atkin (Sydenham Hill, London)
Assistant Referees: Mr Robert Allum (Addiscombe, Surrey) & Mr Gareth Mays (Epsom, Surrey)

Goalscoring:
1-0 DHFC Henry Darko 36th minute
1-1 CWFC Marc Cumberbatch (OG) 81st minute