Merstham 1 Dulwich Hamlet 4

Merstham 1 Dulwich Hamlet 4
Saturday 23rd August 2008
Ryman Isthmian League Division One South

Perched atop the rolling North Downs Merstham’s Moatside Ground is a oasis of green a bottle’s throw from the dreary dream of the post-war planners whose architectural reveries to restore bomb-blitzed Britain have long dissolved into concrete grey and indifferent inhabitants. No wonder the recent rise of the Moatsiders has brought such joy to the townsfolk and two games into their debut season in the Isthmian League the newcomers had acquired themselves well, winning at squeak down in the Valley at Whyteleafe, before inviting Sittingbourne into their home in midweek only to see the men from Kent run away with the best silver courtesy of a late Richard Brady goal. That match was first defeat in more than 40 games, an eye-opener for Merstham but worse was to follow as Dulwich Hamlet rode into town to inflict upon their gracious hosts their heaviest competitive defeat since late August 2006 when Wembley slammed four unanswered goals past a porous defence. No such porosity for nearly two years though the home defence might hold its head high for quality was etched in Dulwich goals from the moment Jon Paul Collier’s screamer opened the scoring to ripping volley from Scott Simpson that cemented emphatic victory.
The Walton wobbles still clear in the mind, Craig Edwards was relived top welcome back Steve May at his customary right back role whilst Laurent Hamici had recovered from opening day injury to reclaim his place in the vanguard. However it was a new face that would have the greatest impact, tricky midfielder Collier, captured in midweek would make a telling impression but more of that later.
Despite the promise the warning lights were on early to alert the Dulwich defence as bullish Merstham set out their stall in the Hamlet half, forcing a succession of early corners and setting Hamlet hearts a-fluttering as the twin destroyers of the Merstham attack, Kevin Lock and Kwabena Agyei, laid into the Hamlet rearguard with merciless intent of a Russian heavyweight. A jab here, a haymaker there but the scoring punches were missing, the experienced Lock particularly wasteful as his header from a Michael Morgan cross failed to hit the target, then a shot on the run sending restful pigeons from their roosts in the poplars behind the goal. Agyei should have profited when presented with the ball by dithering defenders, a charge on goal halted by a timely tackle from Marc Cumberbatch.
Hamlet’s threats had barely registered on the scale when out of the blue Dulwich claimed a 17th minute lead with a bazooka of a drive from debutant Collier ripped low past the diving Ian Chatfield, a bullet of a strike that sent the strong travelling support into early raptures.
The pendulum had truly swung into the favour of the Hamlet. A storming run from Hamici laid the foundations for Collier to chance his arm for a second barely three minutes later, his curling effort swinging just over the crossbar. Another stunning strike left the hoardings quivering as it singed the outside of the woodwork. Not to left out Simpson outjumped defenders to attack a freekick, awarded after Billy Chattaway’s run had been terminated on the fringes of the area, the striker’s header flying over the crossbar.
It should have been two in 37th minute when Laurent Hamici's determined charge upfield set up Daryl Plummer whose precise drive beat Chatfield, only to cannon back off the bar. Worse was to follow as Dulwich were caught cold on the rebound and when David Smith whipped over a superb cross from the right wing, the experienced Kevin Lock was lurking at the back stick to bring the ball under control and lam it under the body of Jamie Lunan.
The spark was lit in Merstham once more and but for Lunan’s swift charge from his line, Agyei might well have snatched up a ball in behind defence, the burly striker faltering the Hamlet custodian as he cleared and earning a caution for his persistence.
Dulwich picked themselves up from the disappointment of the goal and not long before the break came within a whisker of restoring their advantage as Simpson sent in a sweet curling strike that had Chatfield clambering across his goal to claw the ball away at the angle of post and bar.
Seven minutes after the restart Dulwich had a lead they would not relinquish again. Stick-thin he may be but bravery was etched on his soul as Daryl Plummer threw himself at the ball after his skipper Ryan Bernard had nodded a free kick back across the face of the six yard box. Plummer's bullish marker had no answer as a header from the Hamlet winger looped over a stranded Chatfield and into the net. Plummer’s bravery meant a lengthy session with the Dulwich physio and a dearth of sympathy from his colleagues, one of whom remarked “first time he scores and he gets injured”! But the ringing applause of the travelling hoard must get aided the recovery process.
Merstham might have drawn level once more but Billy Chattaway was on hand to kick a Chris Boulter header off the line as the Merstham man rose highest at a corner. Agyei too wasted a great chance, leaping tall at the back of the back only to flick his header away from the mark. Chances aside Dulwich continued to torment their hosts and some meaty challenges underlined how home defence failed to control Hamlet attack, Boulter and Hassan Nyang both tasting the referee’s ire and cautioning them for reckless tackles that could have seen dismissals from less indulgent officials. The latter gave Collier another opening, his freekick penetrating the wall and bouncing off the body of Chatfield; unfortunately no one was on hand to pounce. Agyei was once more denied by Cumberbatch’s saving tackle, the big man missed a clear header after a deep left wing cross, Lock’s experience deserted him as substitute Greenhouse flicked on the ball into his path, a wise mind succumbing to young hotheadedness as power was scarified for pretty, a delicate chip floating harmlessly over Lunan’s bar.
Having beaten away these Merstham chances, at last Dulwich bolstered their advantage as they broke out of defence, Simpson's industry paving the way for Hamici to drive a scuffed shot low in the far corner of a late-reacting Chatfield's net. In the fourth minute of stoppage the tireless Simpson gained his reward too as a hoofed ball forwards was headed skywards by a defender, the patient Simpson waiting for the ball to drop before larruping it on the volley in the now-rippling net.

Teams:
MFC: Ian Chatfield; Kristian Hale; Matt Francis; Chris Boulter; Craig Vernon (c); Chris Read; Michael Morgan (Hinga Amara 81); Hassan Nyang (Glen Garman 89); Kwabena Agyei; Kevin Lock; David Smith (Nick Greenhouse 69)
Substitutes not used: Dean Gunner, Chris Kennedy
Cautions: Kwabena Agyei, Kristian Hale; Chris Boulter; Hassan Nyang

DHFC: Jamie Lunan; Steve May; Billy Chattaway; Alex Fiddes; Ryan Bernard; Marc Cumberbatch; Jon Paul Collier; Stanley Muguo; Laurent Hamici (Junior Kaffo 86); Scott Simpson; Daryl Plummer (Liam Wright 74)
Substitutes not used: Gary Noel; Dan Nwanze; Danny Baldwinson
Cautions: Billy Chattaway; Stanley Muguo

Goalscoring:
DHFC: 1-0 Jon Paul Collier 17th minute
MFC: 1-1 Kevin Lock 38th minute
DHFC: 2-1 Daryl Plummer 52nd minute
DHFC: 3-1 Laurent Hamici 80th minute
DHFC: 4-1 Scott Simpson 94th minute

Officials:
Referee: Mr Charles Breakspear (Walton-on-Thames, Surrey)
Assistants: Mr Adam Bakalarz (Bromley, Kent) & Mr Jeff Lengthorn (New Eltham, Kent)

Attendance: 190