Walton Casuals 1 Dulwich Hamlet 0

Walton Casuals 1 Dulwich Hamlet 0
Ryman Isthmian Division One South
Saturday 16th August 2008

Perhaps the wrong kind of balls as the yellow footballs made a premature appearance, though the driving rain that battered a goodly crowd for this outpost of the Isthmian League made for winter weather. A fifty-fifth minute goal from Victor Asombang was all that it took to divide the sides in a bruising battle beside the Thames, the summer weather fit only for ducks and waiting, ever waiting, for the cricket to start. Both hosts and visitors welcomed season debutants into the ranks of the starting XIs, former AFC Wimbledon hero Rob Ursell, shorn of the adulation of those fans turned out in orange whilst Dulwich had Dan Nwanze returning, albeit in an unfamiliar position as strike partner to Scott Simpson as the Hamlet forward jinx claimed another victim in the shape of Laurent Hamici. Had first half chances been taken a goal feast might have been on the cards but neither side exploited the openings that came their way. Sonny Farr drilled a shot into the midriff of Jamie Lunan, an opportunity that might have cemented the Stags early dominance though Dulwich too went close after an audacious back heel from Scott Simpson set up Alex Fiddes, and a sweetly struck side footed drive curling barely fractions of an inch over Craig Bradshaw's goal. A last ditch interception stopped Nwanze claiming a goal scoring return as John Ambridge sneaked in front of him to get a vital touchback to his 'keeper after Tyran James had whipped in a tantalising cross low into the six yard box. 20 minutes gone and Matt Weston should have broken the deadlock as the Dulwich defence was sliced open, the nippy young forward latched on to the ball ahead of Ryan Bernard, nicking it past a stranded Jamie Lunan but somehow lifting the ball over as the goal loomed open before him. Asombang would join him in the hall of infamy soon after when he somehow drove the ball across the face of goal from the left of the area when the target was tantalisingly close. Punishment almost came instantly as Daryl Plummer zipped in behind a dozing defence, a cheeky attempt at a lob over the stranded Bradshaw wasted as the ball was lifted far too high. With the wind and rain at their backs Dulwich pushed, half chances abounded, Bernard unable to connect with a stinging free kick across the face of goal. Cries of "penalty" rang out when Plummer went tumbling as he nipped in after the ball, touching it past the diving Bradshaw before going to ground, but the official decision went the way of the custodian. Having struggled early on Dulwich had gained the upper hand as the half wore on. A galloping run from Billy Chattaway down the left cut a swathe through the orange flank before an intelligent pullback picked out Simpson lurking 12 yards from goal. Time to pick out a shot, perhaps too much as a Walton leg was flung out to block the strike. Poor Simpson for moments later, snatching up a weak clearance and juggled the ball into position, a fine strike was deflected on to the base of the far upright by a hand no less but a Dulwich one. As if to reinforce the so near yet so far nature of the half Walton signed off the first 45 with a floated cross that left Lunan standing as it bounced back off the crossbar before being larruped to safety.
Talk of missed opportunity and frustrating officialdom dominated the half-time chatter over the Bovril. Yellow balls and not a hint of snow. Did the man in black know something others did not? Global warming? Nay, Ice Age once more. Sell Sun Tan Oil, Buy Oilskins. But more seriously was his inconsistency in punishment, technical offences punished, foul play ticked off at the most. In the same vein he started the second half Walton’s Rico Morris’s mouth rather than his feet earning his club’s second caution of the evening. Still that had been forgotten by the time the evening’s only goal arrived ten minutes into the half. A Dulwich attack broke down and with Boreas at his back launched the ball deep into the Dulwich half. Beneath the dampened turf, the ground still lay summer dry and a booming bounce deceived Cumberbatch, who despite his spring, was left powerless as the ball bounced over him. Asombang, ever the poacher, was on his marks and dashed in like an ebony whippet to nick the ball past Lunan, left leaden footed, and turn the ball into the empty net.
“Protect the lead” came the rallying cry and Dulwich limbs felt the force of a Walton side unwilling to surrender a lead as they had done at Ashford two days previous in heartrending fashion. Borderline tackles incurred the wrath of the Hamlet faithful though Mr Scott erred on the side of leniency, particularly when the crack of boot on shin echoed around Waterside Drive as Weston felled Plummer, surviving with a mere caution. A less elegant foul, if a foul could be so, saw Michael Cayford concede the free kick in a threatening position, a yard or tow from the edge of the area. A low curling drive from Sol Patterson-Bohner drew gasps of pain as it swung low around the wall but a foot the wrong side of the upright.
The changes were rung, muscle in midfield, pace in attack, Fas Koroma for Fiddes, Carlton Murray Price for James, then Nwanze made way for Junior Kaffo. Urgency rang through as Dulwich strove for an equaliser though that opened up gaps behind and Hamlet had to call upon Lunan’s reflexes to prevent Weston knocking in the game killer.
A frantic final few minutes, drawn out by almost six minutes o added time, failed to see Hamlet steal in for a share of the points though they went mightily close. A right wing cross powerfully head on by Murray-Price found Simpson hared to the junction of the six yard box. Under pressure he scooped the ball goalwards from an acute angle but was =unable to beat Bradshaw who clawed the ball away at his near post. A corner ensued, a hurly-burly of boots and bodies in the box, but the ball scrambled away for a corner once more. Again delivery into the fiery furnace of the penalty area, again players went pell-mell after the ball but at the back post it was stabbed wide. Still hamlet hammered away but for all those late endeavours reward would elude them and last word belonged to Walton as Dulwich were almost caught out with two men arrived unchecked at the back of the box for a rightwing cross only for the ball to be skewed crazily off target.

Teams:
WCFC: Craig Bradshaw; Michael Cayford; Rico Morris; Craig Lewington (Capt); Jack Francis; John Ambridge; Rob Ursell; Liam Grier; Matt Weston; Victor Asombang; Sonny Farr
Substitutes not used: Elliot Ransom, Jamal Carr, Steve Douglas, James Kelch, Chris Kiganda

DHFC: Jamie Lunan; Sol Patterson-Bohner; Billy Chattaway; Alex Fiddes (Fas Koroma 70); Ryan Bernard (Capt); Marc Cumberbatch; Tyran James (Carlton Murray-Price 70); Stanley Muguo; Scott Simpson; Dan Nwanze (Junior Kaffo 80); Darryl Plummer
Subs not used Peter Martin; Danny Baldwinson (GK)

Scoring:
1-0 WCFC Victor Asombang 55th minute

Officials:
Referee: Mr Shaun Scott (Guildford, Surrey)
Assistant Referees: Mr Luis Pinto Nunes (Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey) & Mr Liam Walshe (Northwood,Middlesex)

Attendance: 106