THIS AFTERNOON'S PREVIEW - EASTBOURNE TOWN (AWAY) KO 3 PM

The South Coast in late December! Sounds like a rest and recuperation cure from Victorian days. Okay chaps, a brisk morning constitutional along the seafront then a refreshing dip in sea water cold enough to form ice in the blood stream! Still after the R&R of the postponement of last weekend’s home game with Walton Casuals, a hard-fought Surrey Senior Cup victory in midweek to restore confidence after defeat to Kingstonian then surrender to Corinthian-Casuals, manager Craig Edwards will be urging his troops on to a morale-boosting performance that could That recent dip in form for Dulwich was halted in midweek as troublesome Camberley Town were eventually dispatched in a 2-1 victory, narrow on paper if less so on the field of play, thanks to goals from Laurent Hamici and Shayne Mangodza. The game also marked a half-century of appearances for skipper Marc Cumberbatch. Tidy performances across the park from a number of players will also prove a handy boost in confidence for the Hamlet as they go into what promises to be a tough encounter, with Eastbourne harbouring promotion ambitions of their own after a difficult debut season last term. Town seem to be in a much more comfortable position this year, currently sitting in 13th spot, their 27 points seeing them five behind the Hamlet and just two wins off the last play-off spot. Though their form can be erratic, they have proved themselves tenacious opponents against some of the division’s top boys, beating Cray Wanderers at the Saffrons, holding Met Police on their own manor, doing likewise to Folkestone at home and only narrowly losing to the likes of Fleet and Ashford.
They certainly proved arduous opposition for Dulwich when the two clashed at quaint Saffrons, home to the Town since antediluvian days, on an afternoon when a latter-day Noah might have scurried for the gopher wood to construct a new Ark. Luck was certainly on the side of the Hamlet as Town held the upper hand but the goal had Dame Fortune fingerprints all over it, Peter Cooper’s speculative strike from distance slewing in at the post with Sheikh Ceesay unsighted. She had her revenge though, Eastbourne denied a brace of seemingly legitimate goals for offside offences either side of Junior Baker’s equaliser, the substitute on hand to tuck home the ball after Henry Darko’s skidding shot had beaten the ‘keeper only to spring back off the base of the upright to delight the soaked sopranos of the Hamlet Travelling Choir.
Dulwich intend to strike an end to their mediocre league form of late, 1 win in their last 4 nothing to proclaim from the rooftops with Edwards looking to build on that win in midweek and stymie talk of the Manger of the Month curse! That should be assisted by the return to goal scoring form, and in spectacular style too, of leading scorer Laurent Hamici netting his 18th goal of the season on Tuesday evening.
All the better for Edwards will have to call on every resource for today’s game, with suspension and injury taking its toll. Stanley Muguo and Daryl Plummer will both be suspended for today’s game, while Billy Chattaway is unavailable. Potential back up left back Kyle Graham is also likely to be out, injury meaning he was unavailable for the Camberley match, meaning Scott Simpson will be likely to cover this position, where he put in an surefooted if unheralded performance against Camberley. Injury prone right back Peter Martin could also be a doubt, injury keeping him out on Tuesday, Ryan Adams making his full debut in that slot that night. The injury list is certainly growing with Graham and Martin joining long-term absentees Walid Matata, Mo Coly and Charlie Taylor on the sidelines. Tirrell Grant is likely to be included in the squad, Adams might take the right back spot, but may face competition from Mangodza, should Cedric Ngakam drop back to centre half. Theo Fairweather-Johnson could re-take his position on the left wing.
Like Edwards his opposite number at the Saffrons, Ady Colwell, has a number of selection headaches primarily in the vanguard, where he lost striker Danny Leach in midweek after a disagreement. The former Albion trainee, joined Town from Eastbourne Borough in the summer, has scored seven goals for the Ryman Division One South side this season. Colwell will also be without striker Jamie Salvidge for Dulwich Hamlet’s visit as he has a knee ligament injury that could sideline him for a month. Defender Luke Denton is also on the injured list after needing 12 stitches in a head wound picked up in the 1-0 win over Chipstead earlier this month while centre half Lloyd Anthony is out as he is serving a 35-day ban after being sent off in a university match. Town’s squad is further stretched by the loss of Peter Featherstone with a thigh strain but Colwell welcomes back Matt Aldred. Speaking to the local Argus, Colwell said: “Matt is back from Loughborough University and he did really well for us last season over the Christmas period.
“He’s strong and fit as a fiddle. He can play defence or as a defensive midfielder and do a good job.”
The decimation of the forward line by injury and indignation is somewhat tempered by the arrival of striker Ethan Strevett, the young striker quick-footed and dangerous in the box. England Schools trialist James Norwood also boosts Colwell’s options in attack as the frontman is free to play during the holiday period.
Town slipped to a 2-1 defeat to Dulwich in the opening game of the season but Colwell is confident his side are capable of getting something from the return.
He said: “They had a purple patch when we played them but if we can cope with that high-tempo football they play for periods this time I am sure we can take something from the game.”
Today’s game’ kick off is at 3 pm at The Saffrons, Eastbourne.

Dulwich Hamlet 2 Camberley Town 1

Dulwich Hamlet 2 Camberley Town 1
Surrey Senior Cup – Second Round
Tuesday 16th December 2008

The faithful few of Champion Hill catch their breath in frozen bursts; the icy fingers of Jack Frost’s bony hands scratch open flesh and inject their chill contagion into thinning blood of thinning crowd. Upon the field of play, the Krooners have come to town. It must be Cup time for December is so littered with these, County Cups and League Cup and so it is, this time the Surrey Senior Cup, a competition of which Dulwich Hamlet are still proud holders of the record victories, despite the long embargo of the 70’s, 80’s and beyond. However the suburbanites of Sutton are creeping even closer to the Hamlet tally and the baton of maintaining that proud history of victory must pass to a new generation.
While Saturday’s torrents had given the Dulwich lads a weekend of early Christmas shopping, the Camberley Krooners pitch had passed muster in spite of the downpours and with a tumultuous 3-3 draw with Molesey behind them, one might have expected them to come into the game a little gingerly, with the weekend exertions still tweaking muscles, grinding joints. But with a strong record in league action, beaten just once, the feisty Krooners proved troublesome opposition all night, fighting back from a Laurent Hamici goal to draw level, until, with ten minutes left and the spectre of extra time, even penalties, looming, Shayne Mangodza pounced on a 'keeper's spillage to tuck away the winning goal. Victory sends Dulwich Kingsmeadow to take on AFC Wimbledon in the next round come early January 2009.
Camberley started the brighter and but for a fine Mangodza tackle might have scored as early as the second minute, Robert Lance craftily flicking a low drive in the penalty area back into the path of John Swift, the Camberley man stonewalled in the act of shooting by the big centre-half's crunching tackle.
Dulwich served notice of attacking intent in the fifth minute as Hamici seized upon a deflected Theo Fairweather-Johnson flicked cross, nipping in ahead of keeper Liam Stone seeing his low shot, drilling in from a acute angle end up in the back of the net. Sorry to say, the route to goal had been through a gap in the net, the game delayed as speedy repairs were implemented upon the offending breach.
Once the game had restarted it was hell-for-leather football. Form a corner Cedric Ngakam flicked a header on to Hamici, a clipped volley finding the ‘keeper hands. A swift breakout almost had Dulwich caught cold, Lance spearing the centre of defence, the goal looking before him until Fairweather-Johnson’s selfless saving tackle on the edge of the area.
On song, The Krooners were within a whisker of a not-undeserved lead as Ian Messenger, wide on the right, struck an angled ball across the face of goal, fractionally wide of the far upright.
Despite scales of chance weighing heavily in the Camberley balance it was Dulwich who took the lead on 35 minutes with a stunning finish from Laurent Hamici, the striker ending a frustrating drought of scoring as he latched on to a flicked pass from a low right wing cross to hammer the ball through 'keeper Liam Stone.
Sol Pinnock was denied five minutes from the break as a cleared corner dropped to his toes, a curled effort smartly tipped over the crossbar courtesy of a springy leap from Stone. The ‘keeper nearly blocked his copybook from the resultant corner as he fumbled the ball in the cauldron of the six yard box but was reprieved when the ball finally ping-ponged into his open hands.
A smart Sheikh Ceesay block from Adam Cornell kept Hamlet ahead going into the break and the second half early manoeuvres saw Dulwich blitzing the Camberley goal. The ball was swept out to Fairweather-Johnson, the tricky winger skipping inside, his shot smacking off a defender into the path of Hamici. His effort too was blocked, running to Ngakam but as if to reinforce ill-fortune the big Frenchman’s drive struck Stone, a defender’s boots finally rubbing out the danger. With Hamici curling a cracker wide of the far upright it seemed as if the Hamlet would make their higher status tell, particularly as Krooner after Krooner seemed to be feeling the effects of their high-octane opening.
However Camberley hit a high note 19 minutes in. A contentious free kick had Hamlet singing a song of protest, but to no avail, and the quick delivery found Dulwich's defence napping and Joe Johnson had the Hamlet rearguard snookered as he was the grateful recipient of a neat delivery, slicing a hole through the middle and firing a fine finish past Ceesay.
22 minutes a deep corner to the back stick saw a looped header from Hamici drop wide of the back stick. Soon after a weak clearance was snaffled up by Scott Simpson, a defence-splitting threaded pass finding Fairweather-Johnson but his scooped shot zipping wide of the far post. Pinnock similarly stuck one wide moments later.
Back and forth the game flowed, neither side able to finish off their chances with a killer touch until 10 minutes from time. Forced into a change as they defended a corner, Lance hobbling away to be replaced by Chris Roderick, Camberley cleared the ball only as far as Scott Simpson, playing at left back. A ferocious shot whistled through on goal, Stone down to block but the drive proved too tasty for the young custodian and snaffling up the loose ball was Mangodza to prod the ball home and spare all concerned an extra half hour in bone-chilling conditions.
The spark in Camberley hearts was still not snuffed out. If fans prayed for the warmth of the snug and the embrace of ale, players still hunted victory. Camberley’s quarry evaded then and at the last Hamlet might have had a fourth. The scent of goal in his nostrils, like the puma upon the pampas, Simpson sped through the tiring Krooner lines, a sweet strike to polish off the charge. Curmudgeonly defence blocked his effort, the ball running to Pinnock, a low curling drive bringing out the best of Stone as he turned the ball away low at the post.

DHFC: Sheikh Ceesay; Ryan Adams; Scott Simpson; Benson Paka (Daryl Plummer 77); Shayne Mangodza; Marc Cumberbatch; Theo Fairweather-Johnson; Cedric Ngakam; Laurent Hamici; Junior Kaffo; Sol Pinnock
Substitutes not used: Famoud Sonko; Stanley Muguo; Tirrel Grant; Jamie Lunan (GK)

CTFC: Liam Stone; Dale Webb; Darren Barnard (Darren Redwood 81); John Swift; Julian Sills; Ian Messenger; Craig Parker (Jack Keenan 59); Jefferson Gowland; Robert Lance (Chris Roderick 80); Adam Cornell; Joe Johnson
Substitutes not used: Paul Barry; Nathan Sayers

Goalscoring:
1-0 DHFC Laurent Hamici 35th minute
1-1 CTFC: Joe Johnson 64
2-1 DHFC: Shayne Mangodza 80

Officials:
Referee: Mr Eamonn Smith (Mayford)
Assistant: Mr Shaun Farrer (Redhill) & Mr Paul Burton (Redhill)
Fourth Official: Mr Martin Cook

Attendance: TBC

Corinthian-Casuals 2 Dulwich Hamlet 1

Corinthian-Casuals 2 Dulwich Hamlet 1
Ryman Isthmian League Division One South
Tuesday 9th December 2008

Dulwich lost back to back Isthmian League games for the first time since August 2007 as the hair of the dog, following the hangover of Friday defeat to the K's, proved no tonic on a chill night on King George's Field.
It was a heartening start for the Hamlet with Billy Chattaway going close early on, snatching up a feeble clearance and clipping a long-range effort from 30 yards out back over the head of a stranded Colin Harris, the floater beating the 'keeper but landing on the roof of the 'net.
However Dulwich shot themselves in the foot soon after when poor defending gave Corinthian-Casuals a gift start after they had weathered the early Dulwich assault. Kane Sergeant deserted by his marker as a rightwing cross dropped at his feet, Jamie Lunan powerless as a close range effort was hammered home into the far corner.
Matters got worse on 20 minutes when Hamlet's stuttering defence cleared the ball straight to Sergeant, the winger as surprised as any in the sparse crowd as his cross cum shot sailed over the head of Lunan and into the far top corner of the net.
Scott Simpson rolled a decent chance just wide of the far post as the half hour approached then four minutes later Sol Pinnock was hauled to the floor five yards from the edge of the penalty area. The culprit, Casuals' skipper Chris Horwood, was cautioned, but Pinnock delivered further punishment as he delightfully curled the ball over the Chocolate and Pink wall beyond the fingertips of the diving Colin Harris. A rare bright light in otherwise drab Hamlet half, but one that was almost extinguished shortly before the break, when Sergeant came within a whisker of a first half hat-trick as a 15-yard drive narrowly missed the upright.
At least the second half was an improvement but resilient Casuals set up stall to batter away the Dulwich offence. Shayne Mangodza's speculative drive from distance flicked off the head of a defender but instead of deceiving Harris it fell neatly into his hands. A moment later Hamici's run set up Daryl Plummer overlapping on the right, his shot bazookaed low away the six yard box with nary a Hamlet man within range. The Casuals custodian later denied the same player hacking away an angled drive with an outstretched foot.
A quarter hour hammering against the door of the Casuals came to naught and Hamlet suffered a further blow as Pinnock hobbled off. Despite all the possession the Hamlet never truly convinced. A number of decent chances went begging. Laurent Hamici stabbed the ball wide with only 'keeper Harris to beat, and a low cross from Daryl Plummer had the Casuals defence in disarray but none of our players could apply the finishing touch. Harris also made important saves from Sol Pinnock and Laurent Hamici. Later Cedric Ngakam headed wide from close range following a free-kick from Benson Paka. Despite a couple of substitutions a hoped for late rally never materialised.
Counterattacking Casuals might easily have extended their lead as the defence, rudimentary yet effective, did its job. Late substitute Joe McNerney should have claimed a third for his side when the ball was delivered all but gift-wrapped at his feet, a powerful run and shot only denied a goal when Lunan scrambled the ball behind at the base of the upright. Not that it mattered for Hamlet were sinking in a sorry slough of despond, self-inflicted. The red-faced man on the touchline was none too jolly, incandescent with rage.

DHFC: Jamie Lunan; Shayne Mangodza; Billy Chattaway; Benson Paka; Cedric Ngakam (Mamadou Meite-Sissocko (79); Marc Cumberbatch; Daryl Plummer; Sol Pinnock (Dominic Weston 69); Laurent Hamici; Junior Kaffo (Ryan Adams 79); Scott Simpson
Substitutes not used: Fasineh Koroma; Ryan Adams; Sheikh Ceesay

CCFC: Colin Harris; Daniel Sintim; Byron Brown; Jamie Reive; Chris Horwood (Capt.); Tyrone Myton (Eseosa Omoregle 63); Tom Jelley; Joe Funicello; Joe Nwoko; Sam Robinson; Kane Sergeant (Joe McNerney 77)
Substitutes not used: Joe McNerney; Ryan Hughes; Arran Bufton

Goalscoring:
1-0 CCFC: Kane Sergeant 11th minute
2-0 CCFC Kane Sergeant 20th minute
2-1 DHFC Sol Pinnock 36th minute

Officials:
Referee: Mr Alex Neil
Assistant Referees: Mr Simeon Potter and Mr Stefan Malczewski

Attendance: 81

Corinthian-Casuals 2 Dulwich Hamlet 1

Corinthian-Casuals 2 Dulwich Hamlet 1
Ryman Isthmian League Division One South
Tuesday 9th December 2008

Dulwich lost back to back Isthmian League games for the first time since August 2007 as the hair of the dog, following the hangover of Friday defeat to the K's, proved no tonic on a chill night on King George's Field.
It was a heartening start for the Hamlet with Billy Chattaway going close early on, snatching up a feeble clearance and clipping a long-range effort from 30 yards out back over the head of a stranded Colin Harris, the floater beating the 'keeper but landing on the roof of the 'net.
However Dulwich shot themselves in the foot soon after when poor defending gave Corinthian-Casuals a gift start after they had weathered the early Dulwich assault. Kane Sergeant deserted by his marker as a rightwing cross dropped at his feet, Jamie Lunan powerless as a close range effort was hammered home into the far corner.
Matters got worse on 20 minutes when Hamlet's stuttering defence cleared the ball straight to Sergeant, the winger as surprised as any in the sparse crowd as his cross cum shot sailed over the head of Lunan and into the far top corner of the net.
Scott Simpson rolled a decent chance just wide of the far post as the half hour approached then four minutes later Sol Pinnock was hauled to the floor five yards from the edge of the penalty area. The culprit, Casuals' skipper Chris Horwood, was cautioned, but Pinnock delivered further punishment as he delightfully curled the ball over the Chocolate and Pink wall beyond the fingertips of the diving Colin Harris. A rare bright light in otherwise drab Hamlet half, but one that was almost extinguished shortly before the break, when Sergeant came within a whisker of a first half hat-trick as a 15-yard drive narrowly missed the upright.
At least the second half was an improvement but resilient Casuals set up stall to batter away the Dulwich offence. Shayne Mangodza's speculative drive from distance flicked off the head of a defender but instead of deceiving Harris it fell neatly into his hands. A moment later Hamici's run set up Daryl Plummer overlapping on the right, his shot bazookaed low away the six yard box with nary a Hamlet man within range. The Casuals custodian later denied the same player hacking away an angled drive with an outstretched foot.
A quarter hour hammering against the door of the Casuals came to naught and Hamlet suffered a further blow as Pinnock hobbled off. Despite all the possession the Hamlet never truly convinced. A number of decent chances went begging. Laurent Hamici stabbed the ball wide with only 'keeper Harris to beat, and a low cross from Daryl Plummer had the Casuals defence in disarray but none of our players could apply the finishing touch. Harris also made important saves from Sol Pinnock and Laurent Hamici. Later Cedric Ngakam headed wide from close range following a free-kick from Benson Paka. Despite a couple of substitutions a hoped for late rally never materialised.
Counterattacking Casuals might easily have extended their lead as the defence, rudimentary yet effective, did its job. Late substitute Joe McNerney should have claimed a third for his side when the ball was delivered all but gift-wrapped at his feet, a powerful run and shot only denied a goal when Lunan scrambled the ball behind at the base of the upright. Not that it mattered for Hamlet were sinking in a sorry slough of despond, self-inflicted. The red-faced man on the touchline was none too jolly, incandescent with rage.

DHFC: Jamie Lunan; Shayne Mangodza; Billy Chattaway; Benson Paka; Cedric Ngakam (Mamadou Meite-Sissocko (79); Marc Cumberbatch; Daryl Plummer; Sol Pinnock (Dominic Weston 69); Laurent Hamici; Junior Kaffo (Ryan Adams 79); Scott Simpson
Substitutes not used: Fasineh Koroma; Ryan Adams; Sheikh Ceesay

CCFC: Colin Harris; Daniel Sintim; Byron Brown; Jamie Reive; Chris Horwood (Capt.); Tyrone Myton (Eseosa Omoregle 63); Tom Jelley; Joe Funicello; Joe Nwoko; Sam Robinson; Kane Sergeant (Joe McNerney 77)
Substitutes not used: Joe McNerney; Ryan Hughes; Arran Bufton

Goalscoring:
1-0 CCFC: Kane Sergeant 11th minute
2-0 CCFC Kane Sergeant 20th minute
2-1 DHFC Sol Pinnock 36th minute

Officials:
Referee: Mr Alex Neil
Assistant Referees: Mr Simeon Potter and Mr Stefan Malczewski

Attendance: 81

Dulwich Hamlet 0 Kingstonian 3

Dulwich Hamlet 0 Kingstonian 3
Ryman Isthmian League Division One South
Friday 5th December 2008

“Ah! Well a-day! What evil looks, had I from old and young! Instead of the cross, the Albatross About my neck was hung.” The curse of the Manager of the Month cast its spell over the Hill as before a Friday night congregation of 400 or more, Craig Edwards Dulwich Hamlet had their long run sans defeat crushed in controversial style by a Kingstonian side who made a man advantage of more than a half tell to their profit, though it took until the dying minutes, as the cloying ground sapped the last dregs of energy from valiant Hamlet, for a brace of goals to put a victorious sheen upon a tenuous lead that Dulwich threatened to erase for large chucks of a pounding second half.
Four hundred plus at the Hill, the credit crunch forgotten for a night, the promotion crunch the topic for conversation as a judder of electric excitement crackled through the chill air of East Dulwich. Newly crowned Manager of the Month Craig Edwards ranged against the XI of Alan Dowson and his table topping K’s, the former keen to extend his charges’ stampede into the promotion places, the latter anxious to end a winless spell that had seen the chasing pack snap ever closer of the heels of his team. Edwards called upon the same starting eleven that had frustrated and fustigated Fleet Saturday last, Dowson shuffled his pack bringing in erstwhile Hamlet hero Jason Turley to stiffen a rearguard that had proved so porous lately, experience too added at the back with the promotion of old hand Wayne Finnie from the bench.
The pessimistic might have feared a nervous, tentative opening from trepidatious teams eager not to lose points to fellow promotion protagonists. the naysayers slunk back to their darkened dungeons of despondency as the game sprung into animated action ‘ere the first frozen peep from referee Mr Smith had drifted up into the dank dark skies of South London, the game a pulsating amalgam of bulldozer and Ferrari. Dulwich had the better of the early openings, best of the chances from the booming boot of Jamie Lunan as his free kick dropped into the Kingstonian area, flicked on to Shayne Mangodza, the defender nodding the ball goalwards over K’s ‘keeper Luke Garrard but left to watch in agony as the header loping a fraction over the crossbar.
The K’s rejoindered as Carl Wilson-Denis, a flash of summer lightning in a brief Hamlet career before larger purses beckoned, motored past Billy Chattaway at left back, cutting inside and laying a ball sweetly upon the toes of Simon Huckle, the K’s midfielder wasting the opening with shot ballooned over the crossbar.
What might have been a calamitous clearance from Garrard proved the precursor for the evening opening goal 12 minutes in. K’s claiming the sliced hoof in the middle of the park, the ball spread out to the wing and Liam Collins with the turbocharger at full chat. A delivery to Tommy Williams, all peroxide tonsure and bohemian beard, the veteran midfield stroking a sweet strike that deserved to find the back of the net as Lunan was left spellbound. A brief relief as the ball cannoned back from angle of post and bar but all too brief as Wilson-Dennis snuck ahead of the last defenders and tucked the rebound home as he lurked on the edge of the six yard box.
Were it not for Lunan, the deficit might have been rapidly doubled as the diminutive Jamie Byatt switched on the afterburners once more, penetrating Hamlet defences on the left wing after dragging down a steepling crossfield ball. Beating a brace of defenders, Lunan remained his last obstacle but one he could not beat, the Dulwich custodian blocking a close range attempt.
A riposte from the Hamlet as despite slipping on the treacherous turf, Junior Kaffo kept a steady leg to poke the ball into the path of Laurent Hamici, the forward’s bazooka blast rippling the side netting as Garrard flung himself across goal. Moments later and the K’s defence was breached once more, a booming delivery from the right and Benson Paka picking out Daryl Plummer ghosting in behind a heavy-footed Turley. Plummer skipped back Garrard as the ‘keeper prostrated himself before him, but the angle to goal had contracted almost to nothing. Still Plummer got away a shot on target, the ball beating the covering defender but bouncing back into play from the base of the upright before being propelled stratospherically to safety.
Science blended with pugilism on muddied fields, antagonists all as the sides traded chances, K’s the clearer of them with Bobby Traynor, usually a deadly assassin in front of goal, sending Collins rightwing delivery spiralling over the bar after he had stretched out a foot ahead of a diving Lunan. Seconds later and the leprechaun of the left was playing his tricks upon the Hamlet defence but Lunan was once more his nemesis out to block.
A loud plaint from the Hamlet as Lunan’s free kick caused consternation in the visitors’ penalty area, Marc Cumberbatch shoved to the floor as he went in pursuit of a loose ball. A rapid breakout from the men in hoops and a last ditch attempt at a tackle on the edge of the area, the man in black cautioning offender Plummer but Williams’ free kick hardly worthy of the name as the wall absorbed the first attempt and the rebound larruped well wide. Left in a wilderness of midfield, Byatt set sights on goal but a weak effort proved little danger to Lunan.
Eight minutes from the break, the game took a pivotal turn in favour of the hosts. A clash on the half way line say Junior Kaffo sickeningly crumple to the floor, Mr Smith ignoring matters for a moment until drawn to the motionless Kaffo, summoning assistance from the bench. As he was doing so, the furies were unleashed as players rushed from all corners to “discuss” the incident. Turley spat out disparaging words upon the horizontal Kaffo, but it was mild compared to the wrath erupting around him. Amidst the mêlée, harsh words were exchanged, the officials impotent as players played peacemakers amidst the tension. Mr Smith stepped back, summoned his assistants from their distant posts before dispensing long-drawn-out justice. The sentences might not match the time taken to mete out the punishment. Eventually a red card to Stanley Muguo was flourished. K’s Adam Johnstone was summoned top the bench then Laurent Hamici – a yellow card for each. Contrasting reactions from home bench and away, Edwards incandescent, the world against him and his men once more, Dowson a Cheshire Cat grin upon his face as his men escaped the noose. A further caution as 45 minutes rang up, Wilson-Dennis booked as a quickly free kick was blasted against the back of his legs, meant interminable additional time but further chances failed to materialise.
The second half, we mused, might well be the Alamo. K’s were out bouncing around the pitch ahead of the second half long before their hosts, locked in spirited discussion in the dressing room as they planned second half retaliation. Yet it was the K’s who were first to show after the break. Amidst a penalty area mêlée, Simpson’s tackle on Collins draw wails of complaint from red clad warriors but Mr Smith evened his tally of rebuffed appeals, brushing away the pleas.
Missed chances continued to dog the K’s but diminished Dulwich were not prepared to lay down and die. Halftime had seen Chattaway withdrawn with industrious Simpson dropping back to cover that role albeit with an attacking portfolio still to carry. Replacing Chattaway on the field and Simpson in the vanguard was Sol Pinnock, the prodigal son making his return to the Hamlet after errant ways had seen him move from tenants Fisher, down to Kentish Welling and over to suburban Walton & Hersham, but South London’s call could not resisted by the prodigious urban sophisticate, Acacia Avenue switch for Lordship Lane.
The sending off late in the first half proved to much for Dulwich who failed to create any clear cut chances in the second half resorting to long range efforts gaining a few corner kicks at most, which were subsequently wasted. The missing man left gaps, in space if not in heart, and Hamlet pushed ever onwards a bevy of corners forced as the pressure was upped. K’s defence, reinforcements from all over the field called upon when the pink and blue wave drove on, held firm, Dulwich unable to scramble one through, Paka, Hamici and Cumberbatch all trying but failing.
Hamlet spirit could have been bottled in the persona of Kaffo, who strove manfully even when hampered by cramp until replaced by Fas Koroma midway through the half. As the syrupy pitch tugged even harder at tiring limbs, a killer blow came from Byatt with 8 minutes remaining, painfully within moments of a Hamlet attack being thwarted, the pocket-sized wingman with a cudgel blow to Hamlet hopes as he spied a space to shoot and unleashed an unerringly drive low into the bottom corner of the net beyond the fingertips of the plunging Lunan. Byatts’s maiden goal for the K’s saw the winger submerged under a shower of so many kisses one wonder if mistletoe was dangled from the Dulwich bar!
If one hex had not been enough, the moment the Voice of Champion Hill crackled into life to announce Lunan’s merited award as Man of the Match, the Hamlet custodian found himself picking the ball from the back of the net. The game had already moved into stoppage time but K’s with a cushion chose an offensive option for a corner, the ball swung deep across the box to the Simon Huckle, awaiting alone at the back of the box, and taking a single touch to bring the ball upon his spell before letting loose a firecracker strike into the roof of the net.

Teams:
DHFC: Jamie Lunan; Shayne Mangodza; Billy Chattaway (Sol Pinnock HT); Benson Paka; Cedric Ngakam; Marc Cumberbatch; Daryl Plummer; Stanley Muguo; Laurent Hamici; Junior Kaffo (Fasineh Koroma 83); Scott Simpson
Substitutes not used: Dominic Weston; Mamadou Meite-Sissocko; Sheikh Ceesay (GK)

KFC: Luke Garrard; Jason Turley; Jon Coke; Adam Thompson; Wayne Finnie; Simon Huckle; Liam Collins; Tommy Williams; Bobby Traynor; Carl Wilson-Denis (Jon Neal 67);Jamie Byatt
Substitutes not used: Jamie Beer; Neil Lampton; Rob Sheridan; Luke Naughton (GK)

Goalscoring:
1-0 KFC Carl Wilson-Denis 12th minute
2-0 KFC Jamie Byatt 83rd minute
3-0 KFC Simon Huckle 90+1 minutes

Officials:
Referee: Mr Robert Smith (Croydon, Surrey)
Assistant Referees: Mr Stephen Earl (Mitcham, Surrey) & Mr Roger Wells (Coulsdon, Surrey)

Attendance: 413

Fleet Town 0 Dulwich Hamlet 0

Fleet Town 0 Dulwich Hamlet 0
Ryman Isthmian League Division One South
Saturday 29th November 2008

Football played by the Queensbury Rules, two teams battling through the mud of Calthorpe Park, each endeavour and straining to land just one knock-out blow upon the other but finding it cracking down upon a rock hard chin that would not buckle, would not yield, would not surrender. Oft when one takes the Sunday journals and reads of goalless draw, egality all, the scribe intones that neither side deserved to win but on an afternoon that began soggy, ended sodden, both sides deserved to don the laurels of victory. ‘Twas a shame the referee could not hold aloft the arm of all combatants in triumph and award full points to all.
Fleet brought back long-serving goal machine Eddie Smith to terrorize the Hamlet once, having risen from the bench to strike a goal that killed off a Hamlet revival on Dulwich last trip beyond the Surrey boundaries and into Hampshire but changed nowt else from the XI that had squeaked past Eastbourne in midweek thanks to an own goal. Dulwich too had triumphed in similar narrow yet comprehensive style, coincidently against Sussex foes, albeit on enemy territory. Like his counterpart Andy Sinton, Craig Edwards chose but a sole change to the starting squad with Billy Chattaway returning on the left, whilst Peter Martin on the right dropped to the bench.
December may be just around the corner but Calthorpe Park still wears it autumn dubs, dying leaves fluttering down from the tree lined surrounds of this quaintly rustic setting, a world away from the local high street where lonely Christmas shoppers flittered from half-full shop to market stall. Their festive reveries might have been shattered by the full-bloodied battle going on beyond the arboreal curtain.
Attacking down the treacherous slope, Fleet burst from the blocks, a blue tide flowing onwards but crashing against the breakwater of Hamlet’s defence, the colossi of Marc Cumberbatch, Cedric Ngakam and Shayne Mangodza a red wall before the freer-scoring Fleet offence. There was little to truly trouble either ‘keeper in the opening exchanges, Fleet’s finishing more troubling to perching wildlife than to Jamie Lunan, opposite number Paul Smith protected well by a defence whose redefinition of gamesmanship would draw harrumphs of disapproval from stuffy boardrooms where the G&Ts flow and the retired colonels roost.
Having fended off the blows of there Fleet attack, Dulwich might well have sneaked ahead on 22 minutes when Mark Paterson’s header back in the direction of Paul Smith proved tempting to the chasing Scott Simpson, the Hamlet man almost poaching the ball from the arms of the home custodian as he came to gather. A quick rejoinder from the Fleet as a misplaced crossfield pass proved beyond the reach of Stanley Muguo, Eddie Smith snaffling up the pass and setting his sights on goal. It looked odds on that the Fleet striker would add another to his long tally of goals but he reckoned without the tenacity of Jamie Lunan, who refused to commit himself until his protagonist did, a fine block keeping out Smith effort.
Fleet fingers tightened around the game’s epiglottis. Three minutes after that save, Lunan once more came to the Hamlet’s rescue with a save that gasps of admiration and frustration in equal measures. A fleet-footed move from the Blues, the ball flicked from boot to boot through the Dulwich defence saw Steve Hemmings with the goal at his mercy. Trying to flick the wide of Lunan into the far corner of the net, Hemmings found himself thwarted as the big Dulwich custodian struck out a leg as he dived the opposite way, the ball ricocheting away to safety. Steepling shots from dominant Fleet failed to give the Hamlet custodian the chance to showcase his shot stopping skills as Dulwich crept back into contention as the half waned away. Five minutes before the break Benson Paka’s free kick caused chaos in the area as Cumberbatch nodded a deep delivery back across the six yard box, a tumbling Ngakam’s stabbed effort loping over a prostrate Paul Smith but nodded away from in front of goal by the alpha defender, Mark Paterson. Fleet broke swiftly a booming clearance aimed for Mark Anderson, in the dropping ball in the custody of Chattaway until a wicked bounce took it away from him and left Anderson bearing in on goal until the young defender recovered his ground to make a stunning saving tackle on the brink of the box. Eddie Smith went hunting for the loose ball but went tumbling in an attempt to purloin a penalty when the chance to tuck the ball away was there.
Though the industrious Junior Kaffo rocketed a long range effort wide, half time talk of a pulsating if barren half paled as Simpson was harshly cautioned in the final minute, drawing to shoot as the whistle blew for a skinny offside.
Half time, a pause to catch the breath, the once more onto the breach, my friends, once more. Fleet maintained the upper hand early on, despite now climbing the mountainous slope to Lunan’s goal. An early free kick found the head of Anderson but his header whilst firmly placed inside the back stick lacked the impetus to fluster Lunan. Soon after a towering clearance saw Laurent Hamici impeded within millimetres of the edge of the leaf strewn penalty area. Inside or outside, Mr Cook went for the latter, some supporters demurred. Dulwich did not, an overworked free kick manoeuvre saw Simpson slip the ball to Hamici, a fierce drive whistling wide of the far upright.
As the rain began to stair rod from the heavens and twilight turned to darkest night, the tempo never wavered. The old hands of Fleet might have been expected to enervate, vigour sapped by the gluepot pitch and the constant harrying of Edwards’ young brood. Not nay, thrice. In offence they still threatened, somehow James Field failed to find the trap snatching upon the ball 12 yards out but smacking a low drive across goal and beyond the back stick.
The medieval tonsure of custodian Paul Smith had had the Hamlet troubadours in full, cacophonic, voice but he proved himself back on time when he made a fine save on 55 minutes, denying Hamici as the striker attempted to finish off a sweeping move across the face of the penalty area. However the ‘keeper had no cunning plan, just a prayer and a thank you to the underside of crossbar, when Kaffo came within a whisker of smacking home a header after Simpson’s head had bulleted back a cleared corner into the heart of the six yard box.
The pendulum had now swung firmly in the favour of the visitors. Simpson’s sizzler went wide of the mark, even the defenders were getting in on the act with Mangodza striking a well struck effort from 15 yards out a fraction the wrong side of the post. Fleet players began dropping like flies, Billy Boylan, Paterson inter alia needing treatment as the Hamlet battering continued, but the Blues refused to throw in the towel. Unbelievably the same 22 that started the in the grey afternoon ended in the gloom of evening, though Hemmings vociferous protests at every injustice, every tackle, every contentious decision might have earned reprobation from less tolerant officialdom. In stark contrast, a discordant word from Muguo after a disputed 90th minute throw-in award saw him gain the contest’s third technical caution. Five interminable minutes of stoppage time ensued but goals did not arrive. Fortunately for that would have been stark reward for the effort of all.

Teams:
FTFC:
Paul Smith; Will Salmon; Tom Bird; Billy Boylan; Mark Paterson; Steve Hemmings; James Field; Jamie McClurg; Mark Anderson; Eddie Smith; Nathan Smart
Substitutes not used: Peter Hibbert; Bernard Asante; Ben White; Darren Campbell; Dave Smalley (GK

DHFC: Jamie Lunan; Shayne Mangodza; Billy Chattaway; Benson Paka; Cedric Ngakam; Marc Cumberbatch; Daryl Plummer; Stanley Muguo; Laurent Hamici; Junior Kaffo; Scott Simpson
Substitutes not used: Peter Martin; Gary Noel; Fasineh Koroma; Mamadou Meite-Sissocko; Sheikh Ceesay (GK)

Officials:
Referee: Mr Daniel Cook (Gosport, Hampshire)
Assistant Referees: Mr Chris Miles (Southampton, Hampshire) & Mr Brian Francis (Southampton, Hampshire)

Attendance: 176

Burgess Hill Town 0 Dulwich Hamlet 1

Burgess Hill Town 0 Dulwich Hamlet 1
Ryman Isthmian League Division One South
Tuesday 25th November 2008

As the 300 Spartans did at the Battle of Thermopylae, so the Hamlet when ranged against the world, or at least the perceived injustice of three points lost through the supposed carelessness of administrators rather than upon the field of play. But unlike the valiant men of King Leonidas, Craig Edwards’s little band of men emerged triumphant once more and reclaimed those three points after narrow triumph against a Burgess Hill side languishing in the lower reaches of the table. How the Hillians had ploughed such a trough of despair remains a mystery to your scribe for on a strangely balmy evening at a sparsely populated Leylands Park, the hosts dug into their hearts to delve out an attitude and endeavour that might have brought them something other than another defeat against less determined opponents. Early chances spurned had they been converted might have brought an end to their seemingly interminable barren run but served only to inspire a Hamlet side to slim victory, though had the woodwork not played such a role as twelfth man that triumph might have been more pronounced.
With Billy Chattaway serving the second of his one match suspensions, Dulwich supremo Edwards made changes in the rearguard with the newly-returned Shayne Mangodza, skipper Marc Cumberbatch and Gallic colossus Cedric Ngakam building a defensive wall across the back. This freed up Peter Martin for a more prominent attacking role down the flank whilst Scott Simpson was able to unleash his attacking bent upon the defence of the Hillians. In midfield the prosaic belligerence of Junior Kaffo came in for the poetic artistry of Theo Fairweather-Johnson. Despite their demolition at the hands of Fleet at the weekend, Burgess Hill boss Jamie Howell put in trust in his players, with the only change from that rout the return of Matt Piper to the starting line-up in the stead of Reuben French.
If the points deduction was sinking in it certainly showed in the lacklustre opening from the Hamlet with Burgess Hill, keen to shake off the heavy chains of that winless run, displayed an aggression and attacking intention that cheered the hearts of their long-suffering support. Three minutes in and, after excellent footwork, a delightful chip back from the by-line by Richard Hudson found an unguarded Ben Johnson in the middle but he could only dink his header over the crossbar. Moments later Jamie Lunan’s clearance was nodded back in the path of Hudson by Johnson, returning the favour, but despite cantering away from his markers, the Hillian skewed his shot wildly wide of the target bringing a collective groan from the Burgess Hill Moaners’ Step.
Dulwich rejoindered, albeit with a friendly helping boot from their hosts. A free kick swung in deep to the back of the box might have skipped harmlessly wide but Scott Harris decided to help it on his way, a hefty wallop destined to sneak inside the near post until Craig Stoner reacted smartly to push the wayward strike behind though too late to spare the flush from his colleague’s cheeks. Hamlet pressed, forced a corner and amidst the mêlée Simpson stretched out a toe to stab the ball against the crossbar.
Industrious Hillians matched loftier opponents blow for blow, Danny Gainsford a goliath for the Hill to beat away the Lunan Launches when they rained in, errant shooting from the assiduous Hudson and partner in crime Dan Beck to blame for an untroubled net at the opposite net. A scrambled corner saw Gainsford’s powder-puff header easily cleared off the line and though Johnson pounced upon the loose ball, weight of numbers saw his follow-up blocked.
In dying moments of the half, Martin zipped up the right wing curling in a cross from the corner flag that swung across the six yard box to be met by Daryl Plummer, strangely anonymous til now, but tortuously twisting as he met the ball on the volley, only for Nick Fogden to throw his body ‘twixt goal and ball. Like a good foot soldier he repeated the feat as Laurent Hamici snaffled up the loose ball and unleashed a bazooka blast towards Stoner’s goal. For a moment Dulwich were caught cold and having won the ball from Ngakam in dubious circumstances, retribution was exacted by Stanley Muguo to halt the Hillians’ skipper as he threatened to burst through the last line of defence. Muguo’s act earned him a caution but it was not in vain for the danger had been quashed.
Barely had the second half began and Dulwich had cracked home a stunning goal. Quickly quaffed ale saw the travelling troubadours of the Hamlet out in time to witness Simpson motoring through No Man’s Land, Hamici to the left of him, Benson Paka to the right of him. The Hill must have expected him to go to his strike partner but instead he slipped the ball wide right to the galloping Paka, the midfielder turning on the gas to beat his marker on the outside and from an improbable angle threaded the ball through the eye of the needle, lashing the ball a millimetre inside the near post of Stoner as he watched, incredulous.
The night now belonged to the Hamlet. A Paka free kick was met by Cumberbatch, Gulliver amongst the Lilliputians, a looping head lopping the top of the crossbar. Danger signals for the Hillians once more as right wing cross evaded all to be nodded back across the face of the six yard box by Plummer, Harris furiously lashing the ball clear as the Pink hoard bore down on him. Harper skidded a low-drive free kick wide of Lunan’s upright as Burgess Hill searched for an equaliser but once more they had the woodwork to thank for keeping the Hamlet within range, as Hamici broke free of the offside trap, beating a statuesque Stoner with a curled effort, the ball cracking against the crossbar.
A reoccurrence of injury forced Martin from the field and meant a switch in tactics, if not ambition, for the Hamlet. On for the wingback came Gary Noel, relieving Simpson of his striking duties, Simpson dropping back to cover the left back spot. Noel came close to announcing his arrival in clarion style, a slip by Gainsford letting him in on goal but the fast reacting Stoner denied him getting down swiftly to smother a shot.
Burgess Hill played all their jokers, though the openly laugh came at the expense of referee Mr Woodward who rather harshly cautioned Hillians sub Jon Lansdale for tug on Plummer. Still there was time for Hillians’ star performer, Mr Woodie Woodwork to get in on the act once more, this time denying Hamici for a second time, the Hamlet hitman clipping in an amusing free kick, floating over Stoner but bouncing off the top of the crossbar. It seemed as if Hamlet had done enough but then a carelessly conceded free kick gave the hosts one last throw of the dice, the ball blasted in and met with a full-bodied header from Hudson, but so wide of the mark this scribe wondered why the referee was awarding a goal kick rather than corner!
Defeat perhaps unjust for valiant Hill, but with phantoms haunting the Hamlet at every turn, the exorcism of lost points has begun.

Teams:
BHTFC: Craig Stoner; Nick Fogden; Matt Piper; Scott Harris (Ashley Carr 60); Danny Gainsford; Zac Beda (Peter Martin 85); Steve Harper (Capt); Lloyd Cotton; Richard Hudson; Dan Beck; Ben Johnson (Jon Lansdale 74)
Substitutes not used: Rueben French; Colin Hunwick

DHFC: Jamie Lunan; Peter Martin (Gary Noel 64); Shayne Mangodza; Benson Paka; Cedric Ngakam; Marc Cumberbatch; Daryl Plummer; Stanley Muguo; Laurent Hamici; Junior Kaffo; Scott Simpson
Substitutes not used: Theo Fairweather-Johnson; Nick Ogbanufe; Mamadou Meite-Sissocko; Sheikh Ceesay

Goalscoring:
1-0 DHFC Benson Paka 47th minute

Dulwich Hamlet 1 Walton and Hersham 1

Dulwich Hamlet 1 Walton and Hersham 1
Ryman Isthmian League Division One South
Saturday 22nd November 2008

What a grey day for the Hamlet. Overcast, sullen skies above and stolid football on field. Walton and Hersham have a plan, one that has stood them in stead as they recovered from the recent stutters that saw an early season lead whittled away as the pack swallowed them up.
Little of note happened in a cagey first half. Walton's Zak Graham headed over from close range when well placed after 13 minutes before a spark of life briefly blazed with visiting custodian Antony Hall magnificently leaping to turn over a screaming 20 yard strike from Laurent Hamici. Not long after a Jamie Lunan free kick was nodded down by Marc Cumberbatch, the ball dropping to Scott Simpson but under pressure he lifted the ball over the crossbar from 12 yards out.
Best effort of the half for the Swans came when Jordan Cheadle chanced his arm with a long range cross shot on the run that had Lunan scrambling down to the base of his left-hand post to shovel away as Phil Cramp lurked, waiting to pick up any scraps. Before a breath could be drawn Dulwich were attacking but the returning Theo Fairweather-Johnson failed to capitalise on a weak header from Dan Nwanze, hooking the ball wide after his opponent had nodded down a cross into his path. Already without regular left back Billy Chattaway due to suspension, Simpson lost to offence as he slotted into cover, Dulwich then lost right back Peter Martin after a hamstring twinge, manager Craig Edwards forced into a reshuffle at the back as Shayne Mangodza cam on in his stead. Not long after a Benson Paka free kick flew tantalisingly across the face of goal, Cedric Ngakam a whisker away from connecting with a header. As the half moved into stoppage time, Daryl Plummer was chopped down on the run by Scott Hassell, the foul earning the Walton man a caution but Dulwich failed to take advantage of a free kick a couple of yards outside the area, Simpson larruping the ball over.
It was a testy start to the second half, Stanley Muguo and Hamici booked in quick succession by Mr Breakspear of Walton-on-Thames, the man in black cautioned Muguo for dissent then, perhaps leniently, putting Hamici's name in the book after the striker had reacted to a lunging tackle from substitute Paul Sears in front of the Walton dugout.
With the hour ticking by a deep cross from the right wing was miscontrolled by Hassell to present Hamici with the sort of half-chance he thrives on, but the Hamlet striker snatched at the gift, a low drive from outside the box dragged wide.
Having negated Hamlet's threats for so long, Walton boss Jimmy Bolton had played the first of his jokers, former Hamlet hitman Sol Pinnock adding a breath of fresh air and attacking ambition to the Swans' offence. Indeed Pinnock might have created a goal against his old employers, capitalising on a slip in defence to drag the ball past Lunan and chip back across goal towards his waiting skipper Nwanze. However Ngakam was there first to nod the ball away from under the crossbar, the big centre half fouled or so Mr Breakspear thought.
On 65 minutes a dropping speculative half-volley from Plummer, standing five yard outside the area, almost caught Hall flatfooted but the ball flopping onto the roof of the net. However six minutes later the stalemate was finally broken with a goal of sublime brilliance from Hamici. Tough tackling robbing Walton of the ball in the middle of the park, a sliderule pass sending Hamici scampering away from the leaden footed last line of defence. Hall made full use of his mighty girth in narrowing the angle, but Hamici was unfazed drilling the ball under the corpulent keeper to give Hamlet the lead.
Walton responded by finally breaking cover, the darting Troy Ferguson off the bench and the perfect foil for Pinnock. At last the contest came alive. Plummer on another day might have scored as he trapped Paka's pass in, turning Hassell first this way then that but lacking the power on his shot to beat the alert Hall. Such is fortune though that Dulwich, the width of a coat of paint from going 2-0 as Hamici smacked a strike against the inside of the upright, found themselves dragged level seconds later. A lightning fast break, Dulwich caught unawares as the ball was swiftly sent upright, a chipped pass in behind defence, twixt Cumberbatch and Lunan and with neither committing was meat and drink for Pinnock, the substitute putting past loyalties behind as he dinked a chip over the fast retreating Lunan and into the net.
If blame could be attached to the 'keeper, he atoned himself in magnificent fashion three minutes later. Midfield fed Pinnock, the ball quickly tapped back to strike partner Ferguson who hit a stunning first time volley from fully 25 yards that looked a goal all the way until Lunan, twisting and stretching somehow found the extra inches to tip the ball away and over from under his own crossbar.
Right at the death one last chance from Dulwich to stretch their winning league run to six on the spin as Plummer whipped in a cross from the leftwing, substitute Junior Kaffo unable to connect as the ball swung across the six yard box and, at the back of the box, Paka unable to turn the ball home as it bounced awkwardly up against him.
Whether this was a point earned or two lost will be a matter to debate over the ales, but Walton will prove tough nuts to crack for more experienced teams than the Hamlet lads.

Teams:
DHFC: Jamie Lunan; Peter Martin (Shayne Mangodza 39); Scott Simpson; Benson Paka; Cedric Ngakam; Marc Cumberbatch; Daryl Plummer; Stanley Muguo; Laurent Hamici; Gary Noel; Theo Fairweather-Johnson (Junior Kaffo 67)
Substitutes not used: Famoud Sonko; Fasineh Koroma; Sheikh Ceesay

W&HFC: Antony Hall; Scott Hassell; Jordan Cheadle; Craig Dunne; Louis Clark; Matt Elverson; Adam Moriarty; Rob Wilkinson (Paul Sears 45); Zak Graham (Troy Ferguson 73); Phil Cramp (Sol Pinnock 54); Dan Nwanze (Capt.)
Substitutes not used: Matt Martin; Sam Butler

Goalscoring:
1-0 DHFC Laurent Hamici 71st minute
1-1 DHFC Sol Pinnock 80th minute

Officials:
Referee: Mr Craig Breakspear (Walton-on-Thames)
Assistant Referees: Mr Dave Sheldrake (West Molesey) & Mr John Ryan (Worcester Park)

Beckenham Town 2 Dulwich Hamlet 3

Beckenham Town 2 Dulwich Hamlet 3
London Senior Cup – Second Round (at Champion Hill)
Tuesday 18th November 2008

Noël, Noël, born is the King of Champion Hill. Gary Noel was the hero of the hour as he bagged a fine second half hat trick to see off Champion Hill FP, AKA Beckenham Town of the Kent League, the Hamlet fighting back from a first half deficit inflicted by one of their own, Danny Ward.
For a game switched from Beckenham’s Eden Park Avenue, currently undergoing modernisation works, Dulwich’s boss Craig Edwards made a number of changes from the side that had triumphed so emphatically at the weekend, with only skipper Marc Cumberbatch, his fellow centre-half colossus Cedric Ngakam and midfielders Fas Koroma and Stanley Muguo remaining. But tonight was a night for the squad men to show their metal, those that have anxiously twitched on the sidelines, champing at the bit for the opportunity to impress the management. In addition to the understudies, there was promotion albeit to a non-playing role on the bench, for a couple of the youth team’s bright stars, Tom Pratt and Louis Sprosen.
Ranged across from the Hamlet, a plethora of familiar faces in the Cambridge blue of Beckenham, from Michael Holder between the sticks to the combative Ward in the centre of the park. With others once of the Fish, now of this parish, Millwall inter alia there is a strange aura around the Becks, an inkling that these players should be plying their trade in the flurry of promotions battles in loftier reaches not down among the dead men in the depths of county football.
Transmogrified Hamlet stuttered to start as players were alien to one another in the heat of battle, the blood of young hearts pumped fast but the brains and boots of those wilier in the ways of the game thwarted the early attempts of the Hamlet to make a breakthrough. That was until the eighth minute when Famoud Sonko set off on a determined run in from the flanks, letting loose with a mighty wallop on the run, the long-range effort battered away by Holder. Junior Kaffo snaffled up the rebound but in a trice Nick Curran had pinch the ball off his toes.
A pedantic official meant frustrated fans and players alike, his decisions comprehensible to some not all, least of all Kaffo who seemed seriously nonplussed by his caution on the quarter-hour.
On 17 minutes a free kick found the head of Ngakam, a flicked header for the back stick hacked away to safety from the fast-closing Cumberbatch. However, having had the better of the opening exchanges, matters took a turn for the worse on 20 minutes. Ngakam conceded a free kick, booked to add to his woes, then, as if to heap further pain upon the Hamlet, Ward, hardly one for the aerial dogfights, was allowed to sneak in and deflect the ball past Sheik Ceesay. If the young scamp was to be believed the shoulder was provide the final impetus. Typically ebullient Ward’s post goal celebrations earned him a caution but of greater concern to the Hamlet was the disappearance of Ngakam down the tunnel. Had he received a second caution for an injudicious word or a not so bon mot? Seven minutes later an answer came swirling through the fog of confusion as Benson Paka cam on to replace Ngakam who it transpired had sustained an abrasion to his mouth in the lead up to the goal.
Dulwich struggled to get back on terms as the half wore on, unable to break down a resilient Beckenham defence but that all changed soon into the second half. Noel was unfortunate not to bring matters level six minutes in when some tricky skills took him into a great shooting position, Holder getting barely a hand to the Hamlet striker’s effort but rescued as Curran hacked the ball off the goal line behind him. However there was to be no such relief two minutes later when Noel galloped away from the last line of defence to hammer home the equaliser. On fire, the teenage hitman came close to adding his and Dulwich’s second soon after, his intricate footwork bamboozling the Becks defence but Holder paddling his strike. Once more though a chance proved precursor to a goal and again it was the pace of the young pup that proved too much for the old boys of Beckenham. Noel turned on the gas as the rearguard hesitated, cantering in on goal and firing the ball into the net low off the upright.
Just when it seemed as if Dulwich had the game by the scuff of the neck, frenzied defending at a free kick, a loose leg and a tumbling attacker gave Beckenham a lifeline to level as Mr Rowbury pointed to the spot. Ceesay guessed right but Joe Healy showed the touch of an old pro, low, hard and true into the bottom corner and parity reigned once more. Cometh the hour, or cometh the 59th minute, cometh the man, Noel claiming his maiden Hamlet hat trick with the sweetest of finishes, collecting a pinpoint free kick, turning on a sixpence and drilling the ball in low and hard across the goalkeeper and in via the far post.
No way back for the “hosts”, Dulwich rampant might have claimed more but for valiant keeping from Holder, reduced to one hand after a wrist sprain but playing through the agony with some telling blocks. Goalscorer Ward too suffered injury, carted from the field to warm applause after crocking himself as he flung himself in the way of a goalbound effort.
Next up in the competition will be Erith and Belvedere and Dulwich will once more be at Champion Hill, albeit this time in the more familiar role as hosts.

Teams:
BTFC: Michael Holder; Danny Gorman (Darren Wise 52); Nick Curran; John Maloney (Capt.); Luke Milner; Durrand Jemmott; Charley Hearn (Alex Tiesse 20); Danny Ward (Danny Lawson 76); Joe Healy; Danny Hunwick; Chris Hubbard
Substitute not used: Michael Ebanks

DHFC: Sheikh Ceesay; Femi Omegbehin; Kyle Graham; Junior Kaffo; Marc Cumberbatch (Capt.); Cedric Ngakam (Benson Paka 29); Fasineh Koroma; Stanley Muguo; Gary Noel; Famoud Sonko; Nick Ogbanufe
Substitutes not used: Tom Pratt; Laurent Hamici; Louis Sprosen; Jamie Lunan

Goalscoring
1-0 BTFC Danny Ward 22nd minute
1-1 DHFC Gary Noel 53rd minute
2-1 DHFC Gary Noel 58th minute
2-2 BTFC Joe Healy (penalty) 66th minute
3-2 DHFC Gary Noel 69th minute

Officials:
Referee: Mr John Rowbury (Orpington, Kent)
Assistant Referees: Mr Baresh Kebar & Mr Andreas Anastasiou

Attendance: 121

Crowborough Athletic 0 Dulwich Hamlet 7

Crowborough Athletic 0 Dulwich Hamlet 7
Ryman Isthmian League Division One South
Saturday 15th November 2008

Crow shooting season is officially open, newcomers to the Isthmian League cruelly put to the slaughter by a rampant Dulwich on golden late autumn day in the Weald. Not since Hungerford have the Hamlet’s travelling band been treated to such a massacre,
A golden day for Laurent Hamici, the rosbif with Gallic flair. The silent assassin leading the charge with a sublime hat trick, the goals of the Hamlet leading hitman sweetly complemented by an excellently finished quartet from his colleagues. But for the heroics of the overworked Mark Oldroyd between the sticks for the hosts the scoreline might have flown into double figures, a new mark chalked up in the annals of Hamlet history.
The Crows have had a heady baptism in the Isthmian League, just three victories to their credit in the current campaign though on their last outing they had stunned impecunious Folkestone upon their own turf. That triumph had instilled new hope in Steve Johnson’s men though ill fortune struck when injury robbed them of leading scorers Wayne Clarke and Gavin Gordon, whose shared 23 goals out of 32 had provided a rare chink of light in a mostly barren season.
The Hamlet were without Walid Matata, forced off in victory against Chipstead, Fasineh Koroma coming into an otherwise unchanged starting XI.
Dulwich began with majestic football, intuitive, quick touches on a shaggy pitch, already in its winter coat and dotted with fallen autumnal leaves, tricky perhaps but not for the Hamlet men who darted here and there, rhythmic, a tad faster than their hosts. Hamici knew it was to be his day. His body language cried out confidence. Lithe and fluent, a touch of arrogance, Six minutes passed and out of nowhere, Hamici opened the scoring. There seemed little opportunity, little danger when a slither of passes saw the ball end at the feet of Hamici fully thirty yards from goal. Without a second thought the Dulwich striker, his eyes on the prize, turned and rifled a shot low and hard towards goal. Perhaps surprised Oldroyd reactions were delayed, ball zipping low inside his right hand post as he belated flung himself across goal but in vain.
Hamici’s gluttony for goals has polarised some but his value cannot be weighted in goals alone. Had Oldroyd not battered out the close range effort of Scott Simpson, it might have been scored one made one, as Hamici lashed the ball low across the face of the six yard box to his strike partner. Electric Hamlet were buzzing, the heavy battalion thrown forward for a corner, industrious defending at last clearing the ball after the ball bounced bagatelle-like across the six yard box. With the Lunan Launch much in evidence, the home goal came under aerial bombardment on a regular basis, Oldroyd marking a brave block at the feet of Cedric Ngakam. Soon through the defence would be breached once more. Daryl Plummer found an extra gear to power past Crows’ skipper Justin Harris, the one-time Lewes defender, left in the wake of the flying winger and the gentlest of tugs upon the shoulder of Plummer sent him tumbling to the turf as burst into the box. Harris’ protestations of innocence bore no truck with referee Mr Rendell, and a yellow card was flashed in the face of the Crowborough captain. All the while Hamici had been awaiting his moment, the ball parked on the penalty spot as Oldroyd ruin through the gamut of Grobbelaar-esque distraction techniques, walking to the ball to confront his protagonist before taking his place on the goalline, springing like Zebedee on acid. Unfazed Hamici took a step up to the ball, no more no less, and calmness personified rolled the ball low into the bottom left hand corner of the net.
Five minutes before the break a needlessly conceded free kick saw Plummer’s name enter Mr Rendell’s pocket book. A somnambulating defence almost paid double as full back Dave Soutar glided in at the back of the six yard box, his first time strike on target but comfortably gathered low by Jamie Lunan.
On the stroke of half-time Dulwich drove an almost fatal stake into the heart of Crows hopes. The big boys were up for a corner, won by the steadfast refusal of Simpson to surrender a lost cause as he chased an overhit pass to the back line. Ngakam worried the defence with his towering presence to ball eventually dropping to his skipper, Marc Cumberbatch who swung a mighty boot at the ball as it dropped to him, Oldroyd scrabbling fingers getting a touch on the burning ball but only to divert it into the roof of the net.
There was no let up for the Crows after the break but to their credit they were not swayed from the philosophy of football. The teams of Steve Johnson and his partner in crime on the bench, Harry Smith, nine years and counting in the hot seat, have always reflected in belief in the game as she should be played, with style, with elegance, with honesty, a fatal error today perhaps. The Crows may have called upon the services of the Sussex journeymen, men of good heart, but these are not of yeoman stock, calloused palms, iron lungs, who in past lives might have had those same lungs blackened by the smog of the forge as they manned the bellows. Artist not artisans swell the ranks of the Crows but against the Hamlet’s thundering herd, those same artists were made as if to be the naifs of the playground, not the masters of the Uffizi and the Prado. Mesmerised but never seemingly demoralised, brief glimpses of a Crowborough fight back swirled out of the gloom that had enveloped the home faithful. Dulwich goal under early siege but lifted swiftly as the Hamlet broke those shackles, Benson Paka floating in a deep, deep cross to the back of the box where it found the unlikely head of Plummer, a looping header leaving Oldroyd clutching at the ether as it dropped into the net behind him.
‘Ere the hour mark had slipped by, the Crows were in tatters, the RSPCA’s hotline burning red as fewterer Edwards unleashing his pack upon the cowering hosts. Quicksilver in his boots, adrenalin pumping, Hamici tore into the blue flank with the savagery of a deerhound upon a wounded stag. Low and hard he drilled the ball across the face of the penalty area Koroma gleefully pouncing upon the ball to larrup it high into the net past Oldroyd, Aunt Sally in a fairground pitch’n’toss.
Centre-stage once, the spotlight fell upon Hamici as he completed his hat trick 5 minutes later, powering away from the last line of defence before tucking the ball past an exposed Oldroyd.
A brutal challenge left Plummer curled in agony upon the floor, the tackle made more distasteful for the dearth of bad blood in the game. One aging wag in the crowd took umbrage, threatened harm upon the referee’s car, his threat greeted with a grin and the revelation said car belonged to ‘er indoors. However the brutality of the Hamlet offence was more shocking, Gary Noel replaced the injured Plummer and moments later was a deflection away from making it seven. Paka galloped away down the left as Crowborough scanned the touchline for offside flag that never came, his effort beaten out by Oldroyd straight to Noel who swung a leg at the rebound only for a defender’s limb to send the ball curling wide. Still the replacement would not have long to add another notch to Hamlet history. Lunan’s free kick seemed overhit as Crowborough pushed their defence up high but Cumberbatch had slipped under the radar, harrying Oldroyd as he fumbled the bouncing ball. With the custodian struggling to regain his ground, Cumberbatch swivelled and slipped the ball across the goal to where Noel was waiting to spank the ball into the net. The rout was complete but time still remained. The Crows threatened briefly, perhaps dissuading the gentleman upon the dressing room for taking a leap, his depression lifted a little by a sterling display of close range shot stopping from Oldroyd, denying Simpson with an acrobatic low one-handed save, repeating the feat within a minute, the saves sandwiching a Hamici drive that whizzed past the far post. Reward for Oldroyd’s busy day and bulging net was man of the match, testimony to the dominance of the Red Army as belligerent in attack as Moscow’s finest, its play as melodious as its most excellent choirs.

Teams:
CAFC: Mark Oldroyd; Tom Boddy; David Soutar; Justin Harris (Capt.); Andy Ducille; Matt Foreman; Kieran Wilson; Luke Gedling; Luke Fontana; John Sinclair; Brendan Sebulida (Ross Campbell 66)
Substitutes not used: James Pallett, Craig Bishop

DHFC: Jamie Lunan; Peter Martin; Billy Chattaway (Kyle Graham 77); Benson Paka; Cedric Ngakam; Marc Cumberbatch; Daryl Plummer (Gary Noel 65); Stanley Muguo; Laurent Hamici; Fasineh Koroma (Junior Kaffo 82); Scott Simpson
Substitutes not used: Famoud Sonko; Sheikh Ceesay

Goalscoring:
1-0 DHFC Laurent Hamici 6th minute
2-0 DHFC Laurent Hamici 33rd minute (penalty)
3-0 DHFC Marc Cumberbatch 45th minute
4-0 DHFC Daryl Plummer 51st minute
5-0 DHFC Fasineh Koroma 60th minute
6-0 DHFC Laurent Hamici 65th minute
7-0 DHFC Gary Noel 72nd minute

Officials:
Referee: Mr Lloyd Rendell
Assistant Referees: Mr Anthony Rawlings & Mr Michael O’Keefe

Dulwich Hamlet 2 Chipstead 1

Dulwich Hamlet 2 Chipstead 1
Ryman Isthmian League Division One South
Tuesday 11th November 2008

“We ought to give thanks for all fortune: it is good, because it is good, if bad, because it works in us patience, humility and the contempt of this world and the hope of our eternal country”
Dulwich Hamlet sit proudly in third place in the table after this victory over troubled Chipstead, deserved in execution, fortunate in opportunity for the Chips had none of their own, striking the frame of the goal no fewer than a quartet of times during the course of the contest.
It was a shaky start for the Hamlet against a side whose cup exploits had perhaps o’ershadwed the paucity of their league performances that had seen they slip inexorably into the relegation slots. Not that they had relegation written upon their faces as they sparked into life and posed the greater threat in the opening quarter hour. With greater fortune, they might have built themselves a comfortable cushion of goals before Dulwich had engaged engines. The poor butt of Dame Fortune’s jests was Josh Smith, the nippy young winger left wondered he that detour he had taken through the Battersea Black Cat Sanctuary and Looking Glass Emporium on the way to Champion Hill had been such a good idea.
In 11th minute of the eleventh day of the eleventh month Smith spun inside Billy Chattaway and struck a shot beyond the hand of a diving Jamie Lunan only to see it cannon back off the base of the upright. Dulwich were similarly spared just four minutes later when a shot from lively if luckless Smith took a deflection off a Dulwich defender, arched over a stranded Lunan but rebounded back from the crossbar. As the half roiled on, Dulwich finally decided to take part. A booming long clearance was gathered by Daryl Plummer, the winger scampering clear in the inside-left channel and hitting a fearsome volley on the run, however veteran Chipstead 'keeper James Wastell produced a fine save to batter the ball away well low down to his right. Shortly afterwards, Scott Simpson shot wide from the angle when well placed eight yards out. Three minutes later Plummer was sent away on the left, centring for Walid Matata, free in the middle, to tuck home under Wastell, but much to the display of the wingman, the flag had long been raised against Plummer.
On song this evening Plummer continued to provide the chances. Looking lively on the wing, he found Laurent Hamici with a precise pullback, the striker pulling the trigger on a stinging snap shot but denied by the ever-alert Wastell, though ‘twas a pity there was no one in a Pink and Blue short on hand to profit from the ‘keeper’s parry.
O Fortuna velut Luna statu variabilis, semper crescis aut decrescis;
O Fortune, like the moon you are changeable, ever waxing and waning;
Fortuna waxed for the Hamlet, waned for the Chips as, on the stroke of half-time, Dulwich profited from her favours Jamie Lunan juggled the ball along the top of his own crossbar as he wrestled with a header from a Chips corner.
Manager Craig Edwards made a change at the break for Matata was struggling once more with his persistent injury. He drew Simpson across from the flank into the vanguard, bringing Nick Ogbanufe on for a delayed debut to fill the vacant wide berth.
Was it the change that lit up the Dulwich offence? Of course and who would argue with Mr Edwards! Eight minutes into the half with a masterpiece of a goal, but like all masterpieces, it is not just the signature of the master that makes the work. This was a fine goal, elegant in composition upon the canvas as first Chattaway, then Benson Paka and finally Plummer built the foundations. A neat flick in from the wing from Plummer as if to hand the brush and palette to Hamici, the final brushstroke, the final flourish belonging to the hitman as he shifted the ball to his right foot and from just inside the area drilled a shot with little backlift but almost infinite power beyond the defenceless Wastell.
The lead was short lived however when Simpson gave away a sloppy free kick five minutes later. From the free kick Laurence Buchmann swung in a pinpoint delivery, aided and abetted by a Dulwich defence that went AWOL as the unguarded Fred Fleming rose to head in past Jamie Lunan and off the underside of the crossbar.
Stung into action, Dulwich almost regained the advantage straight from the kickoff as the ball was played out into the left pocket, a chipped cross shot rising just over the bar. Dulwich continued push forwards looking for the winner and a goal-bound header from Marc Cumberbatch, getting on the end of Paka’s delivery, was deflected behind. The best move of the match secured victory for Dulwich when a fine pirouette on the halfway line by Paka enabled him to play a pinpoint pass into Hamici's path, the leaden footed Chips defence vainly pleading for offside. Bearing down on goal the striker had selflessness to turn the ball inside to Simpson in space, who shrugged off the challenge of Fleming to slam the ball home from close range.
Two minutes later, Chipstead were once again left cursing their misfortune when the ill-fated Smith beat the advancing Lunan only to see his shot strike the underside of the bar and ricochet back into play.
Deflated Chips threatened little after that. Dulwich could, nay should, have extended that lead, made it comfortable. A Lunan launch was nodded on by Cumberbatch, Cedric Ngakam swinging a leg at the loose ball, Wastell bravely blocking amidst the flying boots. The corner found the head of Ced but this time he was wide of the far stick. So well were Hamici and Simpson working as a double act, the BBC will soon be commissioning their Christmas special. The pair exchanged dinky passes on the edge of the area to create the opening, shame though that the shot was snatched at and always rising over the bar.

Teams:
DHFC: Jamie Lunan; Peter Martin; Billy Chattaway; Benson Paka; Cedric Ngakam; Marc Cumberbatch; Daryl Plummer; Stanley Muguo; Laurent Hamici; Walid Matata (Nick Ogbanufe HT); Scott Simpson
Substitutes not used: Junior Kaffo; Gary Noel; Kyle Graham; Sheikh Ceesay

CFC: James Wastell; Jamie Findlay; Laurence Buchmann (Shane Graham 82); Andrew Wareing; Fred Fleming (Capt.); Daryl Coleman; Nathan Campbell; Alec Brown (Aaron Cole-Bolt 74); Liam Oxley; Jamal York; Josh Smith
Substitutes not used: Chris Head; Gavin Quintyne; Barry Coleman

Goalscoring:
1-0 DHFC Laurent Hamici 53rd minutes
1-1 CFC: Fred Fleming 58th minute
2-1 DHFC Scott Simpson 65th minute

Officials:
Referee: Mr Matt Foley
Assistant Referees: Mr Dele Sotimirin and Mr Roger Wells

Attendance: 224

Dulwich Hamlet 3 Croydon Athletic 2

Dulwich Hamlet 3 Croydon Athletic 2
Ryman Isthmian League Division One South
Saturday 8th November 2008

Having conceded a brace of goals within the opening ten minutes for the second time in less than a week, Dulwich pulled themselves up by the bootstraps to record a third league victory in succession and move to the brink of the play-off positions. Victory looked a distant dream after a nightmarish start when Shabazz Baidoo cut in from the left wing, toying with Ryan Bernard before curling a crisp shot into the far corner of the net. Things got even worse four minutes later when Baidoo's deep cross in from the flanks was neatly nodded down by Danny Waldren giving Sean Rivers the simplest of tap-ins albeit from a suspiciously offside looking position. Premature chants of "Easy, easy" echoed from beneath the far terrace where the Croydon faithful had thronged.
Come the 12th minute and Dulwich began the uphill task of reducing the arrears with a goal from a textbook corner. Scott Simpson provided the delivery. Marc Cumberbatch battled to the near post to flick the ball across the face of a statuesque Nick Gindre and there at the back stick, sneaking in behind a dilettante Rivers, was Bernard guiding his header into the net.
In treacherous conditions, the pitch only passing muster after sterling work from volunteers, some surprisingly slick football was on show from both sides, the struggling Rams belying their lowly league status. Indeed with more accurate finishing Sam Clayton might have restored his side's two goal advantage but having broken through the last line of defence his finishing was wayward, the shot skidding wide of the far stick.
On the stroke of half-time came an equaliser courtesy of the Dulwich not-so-secret weapon, the Lunan Launch. Dulwich were awarded a free kick inside the Croydon half, the visitors curmudgeonly attempts to delay the kick in vain. A booming delivery into the heart of the penalty area, Gindre vainly attempting to punch through a thicket of own defenders, failing in his attempt and leaving Cedric Ngakam to loop a header over the 'keeper's air punch and into the unguarded net.
Dulwich brought on Peter Martin for Bernard at the break, the punchy young right back eager to reclaim that troublesome berth. His impetus and enthusiasm was reflected in a Hamlet onslaught. Simpson had the chance to give the Hamlet the advantage but he dragged a left strike against the falling body of Gindre.
It seemed as if time might prove the ultimate enemy as dusk settled upon Champion Hill but eight minutes from time cam a blockbuster gaol from the boot of Benson Paka to snatch victory from the early jaws of defeat. Martin and Laurent Hamici linked up well in the right corner, the ball flicked across to Paka lurking on the brink of the box. A quick juggle on to a deadly right foot, Paka packing a punch with a sizzling drive into the far corner, Gindre helpless as he flung himself across but all for naught.
Not content to sit upon their hard-won lead, Dulwich had the scent of goals strong in their nostrils. Moments later the rampant martin had a corker of drive battered away by a fast reacting Gindre. Paka zipped a low drive wide of the upright as the efforts rained in. but further goals were absent.
Sweet victory indeed but marred at the last by the controversial dismissal of Billy Chattaway for a second caution. First yellow had been rash, the young left back reacting in haste to a heavy challenge by erstwhile team-mate Tom Bolarinwa. However a pedantic official had him inconsolable, shocked as, having placed a free kick for Lunan, on his way from goal to take it, Chattaway booked for time wasting as walked away.

Teams:
DHFC: Jamie Lunan; Ryan Bernard (Peter Martin HT); Billy Chattaway; Benson Paka; Cedric Ngakam; Marc Cumberbatch (Capt.); Daryl Plummer; Stanley Muguo; Laurent Hamici; Walid Matata (Gary Noel 69); Scott Simpson
Substitutes not used: Junior Kaffo; Kevin Lott; Sheikh Ceesay

CAFC: Nick Gindre; Danny Boxall; Luke Adams (Nathan Green 89); Simon Osborn; Richard Blackwell; Bradley Duke; Tom Bolarinwa (Lamin Ojo 70); Danny Waldren; Sean Rivers (Adam Greenway 81); Shabazz Baidoo; Sam Clayton
Substitutes not used: Ryan Myers; Jeremiah Olusanya

Goalscoring:
1-0 CAFC Shabazz Baidoo 4th minute
2-0 CAFC Sean Rivers 8th minute
2-1 DHFC Ryan Bernard 12th minute
2-2 DHFC Cedric Ngakam 45th minute (+2)
3-2 DHFC Benson Paka 82nd minute

Officials:
Referee: Mr Constantine Hatzidakis
Assistant Referees: Mr Gareth Mays & Mr Stefan Malczewski

Attendance: 194

Dulwich Hamlet 3 Whyteleafe 1

Dulwich Hamlet 3 Whyteleafe 1
Ryman Isthmian League Division One South
Tuesday 4th November 2008

On a blustery Tuesday evening Dulwich delivered a rapid riposte to their FA Trophy exit barely 48 hours earlier inflicting a sixth defeat in seven games upon perennial bogey boys, Whyteleafe.
Dulwich quickly seized the initiative and almost took the lead in the third minute when Walid Matata headed narrowly over the angle of post and bar from Daryl Plummer's cross. 'Leafe's Rob Tolfrey was by far the busier 'keeper and after cutting out a dangerous cross from Laurent Hamici, he denied Daryl Plummer when the winger was clean through. Shortly afterwards Matata squandered another gilt-edged chance when he got past Tolfrey, but allowed a defender to rob him with the goal gaping.
After that imposing if stuttering start, Dulwich went ahead in the 25th minute courtesy of Matata's maiden goal in pink and blue. Starting his first game since limping from the field early in the season opener, Matata was expertly poised to take advantage when Jamie Lunan's booming free kick into the post was flicked on by the head of skipper Marc Cumberbatch causing consternation in the 'Leafe six yard box. As 'keeper Rob Tolfrey scrambled to claw the ball away Matata was on hand to hook the ball into the net off the 'keeper's hand.
Whyteleafe threatened briefly when Denva McKenzie unleashed a fierce shot which was well held by Jamie Lunan, but we were soon pressing again and just before half-time Scott Simpson shot wildly over the bar when a fine run down the left by Plummer laid the foundations.
Dulwich were made to pay though for not taking further chances 'ere the second half had truly begun. Wide left, Andrew Martin larruped a deep ball across the box towards Nicky Greene, who had graced the Hill on Saturday in Fisher monochrome. Greene showed excellent poise to nick the ball past Billy Chattaway leaving him man to man with Jamie Lunan who stood not a ghost of chance as Greene pulled the trigger and bulleted the ball past him at close range.
Fears of a 'Leafe revival were not realised and with Laurent Hamici to the fore Hamlet went hunting their lost lead once more. The Hamlet's leading hitman danced a merry dance on the edge of the area, sent to the ground on the very brink of the box but the man in black gave naught but a shrug of indifference. A sniper's bullet from distance almost found its target but the range was off.
Call it greed, call it self-possession Hamici singlehandedly teased and twisted through the green wall, as effective as winter shrub. Lucky for the 'Leafe they had Tolfrey to rescue them as he blocked Hamici' initial effort. The rebound was seized upon, Tolfrey beaten with the drive but this time it was Adam Broomhead as saviour, the surly centre-half hacking the ball off the goal line.
In the 71st minute Matata struck once more to show the Hamlet faithful what they had missed. A free kick whipped across seemed too deep but Daryl Plummer rescued to surrender the ball to the by-line, keeping it in play, skipping around Asher Hudson before chipping the ball to the back of the six yard box. A crashing downward header from Cumberbatch was blocked on the line by Tolfrey but the loose ball was easy prey for the predatory Matata, smashed gleefully into the net from a few feet out.
Rampant Dulwich made victory certain with rare scares when Hamici's jet powered acceleration sent him free of a sluggish 'Leafe defence. Escaping down the left wing with green shirts floundering behind him, he bore down on the now exposed Tolfrey, the custodian powerless as bazooka boots sent a piledriver beyond his despairing dive and into the bottom far corner of the net.

Teams:
DHFC: Jamie Lunan; Ryan Bernard; Billy Chattaway; Benson Paka; Cedric Ngakam; Marc Cumberbatch; Daryl Plummer; Kevin Lott (Junior Kaffo 80); Laurent Hamici; Walid Matata (Gary Noel 80); Scott Simpson
Substitutes not used: Kyle Graham; Alim Sesay; Sheikh Ceesay

WFC: Rob Tolfrey; Asher Hudson; Michael Harney; Ali Reeve; Adam Broomhead; Jason Goodchild; Denva McKenzie; Sol Patterson Bohner (Ronnie Green 60); Andrew Martin; Paul Scott; Nicky Greene
Substitutes not used: Alhajie Jabbie; Cedric Kabongo; Michael Riley; Carlton Murray-Price

Goalscoring:
1-0 DHFC: Walid Matata 26th minute
1-1 WFC: Nicky Greene 48th minute
2-1 DHFC: Walid Matata 71st minute
3-1 DHFC: Laurent Hamici 83rd minute

Officials:
Referee: Mr John O’Brien
Assistant Referees: Mr Stephen Earl and Mr Mark Ford

Attendance: 170

Dulwich Hamlet 0 Bury Town 3

Dulwich Hamlet 0 Bury Town 3
The Carlsberg FA Trophy – Second Round
Sunday 2nd November 2008

This game was all but over as a contest almost before the quarter hour was out as dozy Dulwich surrendered three goals in the first 18 minutes allowing Bury Town a comfortable cushion which was never truly threatened despite Dulwich territorial domination for much of the remainder of the game. Daredevil defending, tackling timed to perfection, and confident ‘keeping from Marcus Garnham kept the Hamlet at bay and sent the visitors into the 3rd Round of the Trophy and another trip south, this time to Hampton & Richmond Borough.
Lackadaisical defending gifted Bury a lead after just three minute. Michael Steward whipped in a low cross from the right flank and with Dulwich’s defence impersonating a Madame Tussaud’s exhibit, striker Sam Reed zipped into the space behind them and tucked the ball past a wrong footed Jamie Lunan.
Excellent cover tackling from the much-vaunted Tom Bullard in defence thwarted a promising Hamlet attack, but then heartbreak for the Hamlet as Reed, under the watching eye of a Derby County scout, let fly from fully 35 yards out, Lunan slow to react as the ball beat him low at his left hand upright.
A third goal on 18 minutes completed Hamlet’s nightmarish opening. Reed was a whisker away from a hat trick as he flung himself at Stewart’s tempting ball in from the flanks. The ball was trapped on the backline by Lee Reed, his initial effort beating Lunan but cleared off the line by Cedric Ngakam. However the ball fell kindly for the same player and this time Reed made no mistake.
Thoughts of a cricket score troubled the mind, but perhaps with an eye on a big pay day awaiting them in the FA Cup six days hence, Bury took their foot off the gas, content to soak up Dulwich pressure, magnificent defending squeezing the life from each Hamlet threat. Marc Cumberbatch popped a close range header over the crossbar from Kevin Lott’s free kick. Laurent Hamici, hardworking but with a constant blue shadow, briefly shook off Bury shackles to latch on to Scott Simpson’s nod down but larruped his volley over the crossbar. As halftime approached Billy Chattaway’s threaded pass seemed inch perfect for Simpson but Sam Nunn, a constant minder, forcing him off balance at the key moment.
Three minutes after the restart an excellent opportunity for Hamlet to snatch a lifeline. Simpson hooked effort had Garnham clawing at the air, Hamici looping a header over him. Daryl Plummer went in pursuit but up went the flag for offside.
Walid Matata came on in place of Amine Djoumbe, playing out of position in the cursed right back role, a striker replacing a makeshift defender. A free kick awarded on the edge of the area once more presented Hamlet with hope. Plummer drove the ball low and goalwards but the blue wall went unbreached.
A fine save from Garnham to batter away Plummer’s volley, Matata with time, too much time, and placing his effort wide of the mark from 8 yards out. The Hamlet pressure unrelenting, the Bury defence unyielding. Hamici delivered, Cumberbatch rose and fell meeting the ball with a firmly planted header but Garnham was down to smoother. Even when Garnham was at last beaten, the referee’s whistle came to his rescue, the ‘keeper impeded as he came for a free kick, Ngakam taking advantage to nod the ball in but in vain. The young custodian was back in flying form soon after as Hamici’s rocket volley was clawed away at the near post in spectacular fashion.
Dulwich stacked the cards, strikers Junior Kaffo and Gary Noel on in place of midfielders Lott and Plummer, a fifties throwback with such a forward laden line-up. One goal might have unnerved the blue boys but resilience remained even when the loss of midfielder Lee Smith saw them play out the game with just ten men.

Teams:
DHFC: Jamie Lunan; Amine Djoumbe (Walid Matata 55); Billy Chattaway; Benson Paka; Ryan Bernard; Marc Cumberbatch; Daryl Plummer (Gary Noel 85); Cedric Ngakam; Laurent Hamici; Kevin Lott (Junior Kaffo 78); Scott Simpson
Substitutes not used: Alim Sesay; Sheikh Ceesay

BTFC: Marcus Garnham; Stuart Walker; Ben Coker; Gavin Johnson; Sam Nunn; Tom Bullard; Lee Smith; Michael Steward; Sam Reed (Andrew Wood 85); Liam Barrett (Steve Bugg 73); Lee Reed (Ashley Sloots 85)
Substitutes not used: James Paterson; Dean Greygoose (GK)

Goalscoring:
1-0 BTFC Sam Reed 3rd minute
2-0 BTFC Sam Reed 9th minute
3-0 BTFC Lee Reed 19th minute

Officials:
Referee: Mr Andy Parker
Assistant Referees: Mr Glen Tilley & Mr Jeff Stanley

Attendance: 245

Dulwich Hamlet 4 Whitstable Town 3

Dulwich Hamlet 4 Whitstable Town 3
Ryman Isthmian League – Division One South
Tuesday 28th October 2008

“Hold fast to dreams, For if dreams die, Life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly, Hold fast to dreams, For if dreams go, Life is a barren field, Frozen with snow”
"Pah to global warming" said Mother Nature, as the first flakes of winter’s snow fluttered down upon Champion Hill, chilling the extremities of those braving the stroke of her chill fingers upon their frail bodies. For warmth the footballing faithful gathered around a fast and furious dogfight, a cauldron of a contest, bubbling over with carefree play and like a filling winter stew laced with drops of fortifying football and dotted with fulsome dumplings, tasty goals that will live long in the memory of those for whom the snow flurries held few fears. Previously impecunious in offence, the Oystermen of Whitstable splurged as their own goalscoring credit crunch were but a myth, twice battling from behind, snatching a lead mid way through the second half, only to surrender to a barrage of breathtaking bullets, first from Benson Paka then from the silent assassin, Scott Simpson, his 80th minute winner breaking the hearts of the Men of Kent.
Master mason Craig Edwards had been out in pursuit of new building blocks for the house of Hamlet, adding the experienced midfielder Kevin Lott, once of mighty Dover, to bring a cool head to the midfield crucible. The new boy introduced himself to his classmates in fine fashion after barely three minutes had elapsed. As smooth as a professional billiards hustler, his pass laid the foundations for Laurent Hamici’s opening goal, Picking up a cleared corner, he rolled the ball into Hamici lurking on the brink of the penalty area, the Hamlet hitman swinging around to leave his marker ghostwatching before drilling the ball low across the diving Kevin Fewell and into the far bottom corner of the net. Second half Hamlet had started a little earlier than expected, but the Oystermen were unfazed. Five minutes had passed and a free kick carelessly conceded wide on the left. Jack Tanner’s delivery a food [parcel to starving men and his skipper feasted, Liam Quinn climbing highest to delicately flick his header beyond the statuesque Jamie Lunan, the ball nestling inside the far post.
As the thermometer slid down, the temperature on field rose. Whitstable won a free kick a couple of yards beyond the Dulwich box, a crashing drive cannoning back off the Pink and Blue wall. Billy Chattaway larruped the ball out of harm’s way, his clearance the catalyst for a Hamlet breakout as Hamici outsprinted the defence. Fewell though was on the mark with a smart save to deny Hamici a second.
Call it naivety; call it candour, Whitstable’s open, free flowing play, a stark contrast to stale, timid Walton, played into the hands of the Hamlet. Eight exciting minutes, another Hamlet corner and amidst the melee, a sliced attempt at clearance cannoned down at an angle from the belly of the crossbar. Howls of anguish from the knot of fans behind the assistant referee as he failed to flag for a goal. The flow of pink and blue became an inexorable tide. Simpson unleashed a screaming free kick, none of your namby-pamby curled but a full blooded belter that left scorch marks on the woodwork as it ripped past. Hamici set up Simpson moments later, this time the shot hammered just over. A booming Cedric Ngakam throw finds Hamici; all hands to the pump as Whitstable block his effort.
A brief respite from defensive duties for the travellers with Danny Dolton’s audacious long-range effort spinning mere millimetres over the crossbar of Lunan. However it would be Hamlet reaping the rewards as they finally converted a chance, albeit in suspicious circumstances, to regain the lead on 32 minutes. The momentum came from Chattaway, in full flow up the left flank, his pass picking out Simpson, possessed of stallion speed turning on the power as he charged into the area. His cross shot beat Fewell and was turned in on the goal line by Daryl Plummer, who cast a nervous glance towards the assistant, but when no flag came began an embarrassed jig of joy. Embarrassment was writ large upon the faces of the Hamlet defence as once more he lead erased in quick and easy fashion. Ian Pulman’s wing wizardry was a joy to behold, but tackles were as ethereal as angel’s breath, Peter Martin brushed away, big Ryan Bernard humbled, Pulman dancing his way through before coiling the ball past Lunan.
Profligate Hamlet may well have restored a lead warranted by opportunity if not execution when 5 minutes before the break, a left wing cross was dropped into the penalty area. Simpson bounced off Hamici as his colleague won the battle for the ball, spinning to smack in a drive from the corner of the six yard box, a fearsome drive that brought the best from Fewell as he clawed away the stinging shot at his near post.
The dressing rooms must have been surreal places at the break, both managers presumably elated at the offensive performances of their respective charges yet apoplectic at defensive laxity on both XI’s parts.
An early Hamlet push that saw Hamici a fraction away from Paka’s drive across the face of goal was all in vain as the Oystermen were allowed to take the lead for the first and only time of the evening. Architect of their opener Tanner escaped on the right, taking his time before whistling a cross into the area. The chances to clear were there but half-hearted and it would take a man of substance to impose order. Unfortunately that man wore red; Paul Ainsworth controlled the wayward ball, pipping a pass to the prolific Dan Wisker who needed no second invitation to crack away his fourth goal in successive games.
An infusion of ambition fuelled the Men of Kent. Despite their lowly league position and the need for points, they resisted the temptation to shrink back into their shells and hide that precious pearl, three points. Pulman could have added to the Whitstable advantage not long beyond the hour mark, a crisp tackle in the middle of the park paving the way for a rampant Pulman to steam away from Bernard and Marc Cumberbatch, only deprived of a second goal by Luna’s smart save low to his right hand post.
Dame Fortune had a hand in the Hamlet’s equaliser coming in the 73rd minute. Simpson’s electric run set the night alight. A lay back to Hamici who pulled the trigger on what should have been a shot but instead it flew into the path of Paka, charging at full pelt towards goal. A first time drive from a chain away pinged down from the underside of the crossbar and this time there was no doubt the ball had crossed the line.
No surrender from either bench, from either XI. Hamlet brought on Walid Matata for his long-awaited debut, Whitstable bolstered the midfield with the experience of Clint Gooding. The night though would belong to a man who had been in the fray from first whistle to last. Ten minutes remained, the snow was flurrying around the Hill. Simpson in space on the left was the beneficiary of a mischievous back heel from Hamici. Red shirts swarmed around him but strength told, Simpson switched the ball to his supposed weaker right foot and lifted a curling, twirling drive over and above the fumbling fingers of Fewell and into the net.

Teams:
DHFC: Jamie Lunan; Peter Martin; Billy Chattaway; Benson Paka; Ryan Bernard; Marc Cumberbatch; Daryl Plummer; Cedric Ngakam; Laurent Hamici; Kevin Lott (Walid Matata 76); Scott Simpson
Substitutes not used: Junior Kaffo; Gary Noel; Ryan Bernard; Sheikh Ceesay (GK)

WTFC: Kevin Fewell; Gary Sayer; Danny Tipple; Liam Quinn (Capt.); Marcos Perona; Rob Thomas; Jack Tanner; Mark Munday (Sam Denley 90+1); Dan Wisker (Clint Gooding 76); Ian Pulman; Danny Dolton
Substitutes not used: Mick Lingham; Dan MacVickar

Goalscoring:
1-0 DHFC Laurent Hamici 3rd minute
1-1 WTFC Liam Quinn 5th minute
2-1 DHFC Daryl Plummer 32nd minute
2-2 WTFC Ian Pulman 37th minute
3-2 WTFC Dan Wisker 56th minute
3-3 DHFC Benson Paka 73rd minute
4-3 DHFC Scott Simpson 80th minute

Officials:
Referee: Mr Peter Georgiou (Earlsfield)
Assistant Referees: Mr Luis Pinto Nunes (Kingston-upon-Thames) & Mr Vince Penfold (Addlestone)

Attendance: 223