Dulwich Hamlet 1 Chatham Town 1

Dulwich Hamlet 1 Chatham Town 1
Saturday 12th January 2008
Ryman League Division One South

One-one. One-one. One-one. Suffering a post-Christmas hangover, Dulwich’s recent form resembles a broadcast from the BBC Light Programme, Neddy Seagoon and his cronies bursting across the ether with their seminal brand of surreal humour. However Champion Hill was not laughing, frozen more in a rictus smile as the visiting Men of Kent resisted stoutly before conceding to a wonder strike from Sebastian Schoburgh, only to punish Hamlet profligacy before the net, rising up at the death to snatch a goal of their own and a share of the points, deserved more for strength than for style.
A brace of new faces graced the starting line-up with Corey Ellis, a recent arrival from Barkingside, handed the right-back role and attacking midfielder Dewayne Clarke added to the engine room. Though Steve May was still absent, Sol Patterson-Bohner was once more available though he would have to bide his time on the sidelines before making a telling appearance after the break.
As the only team with the scalp of leaders Dover on their mantelpiece, Chatham would surely be a team to be wary of but, as of yore, their schizoid form saw them languishing in the lower reaches of the table. A lack of adventure in attack perhaps the reason for they seemed content to let the Hamlet sweep down upon them, only to thwart those attacks, blunting Dulwich’s strike force with agricultural tackling, crude but effective. Few chances befell either side in the opening exchanges. Clarke showed Hamlet “Dewayne” to goal only to smack the ball into keeper Miroslav Oravec when well-placed whilst a rare forward foray from the Chats saw Tom Binks welly an effort wide when well placed.
Already afflicted by a virus that had seen managerial duties passed from the absent Steve Binks, Chatham suffered a further blow when Pat Bishenden limped from the field of battle after 20 minutes. Five minutes later and Schoburgh, hammering down the right wing, lofted over a deep cross to the back of the six yard box that Binks did well not to smack into his own net as he turned the ball behind for a corner. The electric Schoburgh again tore a hole down the flank moments later, sending the ball into Shawn Beveney galloping in on goal, Oravec cowering before him. Into the tackle dove Binks, taking out Beveney on the penalty spot before he could let loose with a shot. The perpetrator swung round to protest his innocence to the man in black, resisting a sardonic smile as he dawned on him that the official had seen naught amiss. The Dulwich faithful roared in vain for a spot-kick but, as in so many games before, those pleas failed to move. Not since April 7th last year have the Hamlet been awarded a penalty. Methinks the cub should be on the hotline to the Guinness Book of Records!
Dulwich continued to heap pressure upon pressure upon their unadventurous guests, without reward. Beveney brought a stunning “Weetabix save” out of Oravec after latching on to a lackadaisical throw out from the Chatham custodian, but the scales had lifted from Mr Buck’s eyes and he spotted a handball from the Hamlet skipper. A flicked header from a free kick, courtesy of Shayne Mangodza, failed to worry Oravec, though he had to be alert not long after when Schoburgh once more lit the afterburners on a charge down the flank, cutting into the box and drilling a low scudding shot goalwards.
As the half trundled to its conclusion, an even louder shout from the terraces greeted Ricky Benson’s drive in from the left win, changed down by a defender’s hands but once more deemed legitimate by Mr Buck. Next time the old Jag hops the lights, one hopes the man in black is the man on the bench!
The second half saw the return of Patterson-Bohner reclaiming the right-back spot into which he has comfortably slotted, though with the floodlights failing to flicker into action, he would be cast into shadow until his moment in the spotlight ten minutes in.
The Artful Dodger, Schoburgh was at his mercurial best, leading his markers a merry dance time after time. Five minutes in his wizardry set up Beveney, the big Guyanese tabbing the ball wide of Oravec, prostrating himself before him, but the ball ran wide of the goal with Clarke unable to make up the ground to turn the ball home. Twisting and turning in the box, Beveney tried in vain to shake off the limpet-like defenders, losing the ball in a tangle of feet in the process. A steamer of a strike from Schoburgh, tight to the right, had Oravec grasping at air as the ball crashed back off the crossbar. However relief for the guests was but fleeting. Benson Paka chased a deep ball down towards the corner flag, tucking the ball back for Patterson-Bohner in his wake. Patterson-Bohner winged in a peach of a cross first-time from the right wing to met with a ferocious boot from an aerial Sebastian Schoburgh, hovering like a hummingbird before smashing the ball home.
That goal fanned the flames but despite maintaining the upper hand Dulwich failed to convert that dominance into goals. Sharp as knives in the build-up, the openings were created but the finishing lacked the finesse of the approach work. A ripping run from Schoburgh, the shot, spooned over the crossbar, an ugly splodge on a masterpiece. Twice Oravec had a reprieve after shots had wriggled under him, only to be cleared from the goalline, first Beveney then substitute Billy Chattaway the unfortunates. Paka chanced his arm from distance, the strike fizzing wide of the top corner. However Chatham had been building momentum, drawing strength and inspiration from Dulwich’s failure to send any hopes of a point to the gallows.
Perseverance paid its premiums and amidst the late winter gloom, Chatham exacted their punishment upon squandering Hamlet. As the 90th minute ticked over, substitute Nathan Ballin, making his debut pounced on the ball just outside the box, striking a low crisp drive that squeezed its way though the dive of Sheikh Ceesay, who had been all but redundant for the past hour and a half.

Teams
DHFC: Sheikh Ceesay; Corey Ellis (Sol Patterson-Bohner HT); Ricky Dobson; Benson Paka; Marc Cumberbatch; Shayne Mangodza; Shawn Beveney (Capt.); Dewayne Clarke; Scott Edgar (Billy Chattaway 65); Stanley Muguo; Sebastian Schoburgh (Lumumba Amena 84)
Substitutes not used: Junior Baker, Tim Roberts (GK)

CTFC: Miroslav Oravec; Tom Binks; Ross Finn; Daniel Larkin; Robert Goodger; Tom Davey; Darren Smith (Nathan Ballin 72); Mark Brooks; Pat Bishenden (Justin Ascheri 20); Matt Solly; Shane Suter (Craig Govey 90+3)
Substitutes not used: Steve Best, John Whitehouse (GK)

Attendance: 353

Officials
Referee: Mr David Buck (Istead Rise)
Assistant Referees: Mr Gary Dodd (Walton-on-Thames) & Mr Scott Lovell (Surbiton)
Goalscoring:
1-0 DHFC Sebastian Schoburgh 54th minute
1-1 CTFC Nathan Ballin 90th minute