Sittingbourne 2 Dulwich Hamlet 3

Sittingbourne 2 Dulwich Hamlet 3
Ryman Isthmian League Division One South
Saturday 11th October 2008

Save the best for last seems to be the Hamlet mantra these days as the Dulwich recovered from a simply dire first 45 minutes when they threatened little and achieved less to record a famous victory and maintain their Indian sign over Sittingbourne whose fans must be suffering Pink and Blue nightmares after this fourth victory in as many games against the Brickies. Indeed the men of Kent must be dreading the sight of handmade Bourne Park where they have picked up a single, solitary point in all league matches this campaign in stark contrast to the 100% record on their travels around the Isthmian.
It all looked o good for the hosts as they stormed ahead when Richard Brady mesmerised Peter Martin on the left wing, swinging a low ball into the near post where Hicham Akhazzan got ahead of his marker to deftly flick the ball between upright and the diving Jamie Lunan.
With Sittingbourne defence, bolstered by a brace of new signing in Jack Haverson and the experience Rio Alderton, looking as solid as the bricks that once dried upon these Kentish fields Dulwich found openings few and far between, constantly frustrated by an offside trap sprung upon them. Even when Dulwich got themselves in promising positions the red and black walls closed in on them as Cedric Ngakam found when Daryl Plummer took possession of a quick free kick, making a beeline for the by-line before dragging the ball back to his colleague, a stinging shot unleashed only to be charged down with a tender part of the anatomy by Nick Reeves.
Disjointed Dulwich seemed easy prey for hungry Bourne who should have added to their advantage after 20 minutes when Akhazzan returned the favour to Brady, flicking Colin Richmond’s pass into the path of the former Hamlet striker, defence in his wake and with only Lunan in his way. Against the odds Lunan kept his composure, kept his committal to the very last moment, snatching the ball low as Brady attempted to slip the ball around him.
A rare chink of light for the Hamlet as Benson Paka ignited the afterburners, charging through the centre of the park before dispatch a pass to Hamici overtaking on his left. The goal opened up before the Hamlet’s leading hitman but his natural instinct for the spectacular washed over him as a burning strike was unleashed towards the top corner of the net when perhaps slipping the ball across the face of goal might have been the better option. Young ‘Bourne custodian Matt Reed’s save was dazzling though as he clawed the ball behind for a corner. In the mêlée that followed the deliver of the corner a number of Hamlet players attempted to stab the ball home but a red and balk morass engulfed each effort. On defensive foundations the Brickies built yet more attacks and on 33 minutes came a second, and so many might have thought, a killer goal. Once more it was Brady returning to haunt his former team, dancing and dazzling on the wing, his cross was perfect for Richmond lurking in the penalty area, Lunan without a ghost of a chance as the ball was slammed past him for m close range.
A change was called for and the sacrificial lamb was Gary Noel, engulfed and ineffective in attack. On came Tom Bolarinwa, the master plan altered as Dulwich reverted to a traditional 4-4-2. Containment first as the shackles were put on the Brickies raiding parties, then offence but time was against them and the best the Hamlet could offer was a exploratory low range missile from Plummer some 20 yards out that warmed the gloves of Reed as he got down comfortably to smother.
Rambling Act I “Waiting for a Goal” a play about 11 men who divert and disport themselves while they wait expectantly and unsuccessfully for something named a goal to arrive. The Hamlet band as discordant as a Stockhausen symphony, the sheet music torn up at the break swapping cacophony for harmony as the orchestra took the stage for Act II. “Where there is discord, may we bring harmony”, quoth the management! These grating first half caterwauls replaced by flowing strings, great arias as Hamlet the Opera took the Bourne Park stage but then great theatre requires great tension, building to a crescendo for humble beginnings. Such was the Dulwich rampage in the second half that but brief flashes of red and black it was painted all in Pink and Blue.
Hungry Hamlet lions licked their lips, snapped their jaws and bit into the ‘Bourne defence. An early free kick was hammered into the penalty area, a flurry of boots and bodies as Paka drilled a shot towards goal, the ball larruped away to safety as it seemed bound for the bottom corner of the net.
The chances came thick and fast as Dulwich rapped loudly open the ‘Brickies door. “Open the door little piggies or I shall huff and puff and blow your house down”. A swinging Scott Simpson cross from the left proved a fraction to high for Hamici in the middle but Bolarinwa met it with venom at the back of the box, Reed alert to push the ball over. A Dulwich corner was met with a power nod back across goal from Ryan Bernard to his defensive partner Marc Cumberbatch, his header across the face of goal punched away by the overworked Reed whops was back in action almost instantly, stretching to tap away a deep Simpson cross from the menacing Bolarinwa.
The Hamlet impetus was squeezing the ‘Bourne defence further and further back behind enemy lines and soon the pressure would have to tell as a breach was made. With men in numbers up for a corner, ‘Bourne found themselves unable to clear the ball away, Plummer snapping up the loose ball 8 yards and thwacking the ball through a forest of legs into the net.
Rattle, rattle, rattle came the Hamlet charges. Bernard swung the ball deep across the field, picking a Plum, Daryl that is; who spun off his marker but could not beat Reed low at his near post. Simpson set up Hamici for what should surely have been an equaliser but where a feather touch as needed a howitzer blast was exacted, the ball shaking the bounds of Bourne Park as it fizzed wide of the upright.
The energetic Simpson, a player who evokes such heated passion between detractors and adherents, showed both sides a powerful run that left defenders panting in his wake then dancing up a blind alley as the goal loomed, eventually squeezed out as defenders swarmed around him. Jack Haverson denied him the opportunity to make amends as with the very next attack, Simpson brought down the ball to hammer past a stranded Reed, only for the defender to kick the ball off the goal line.
Would these exertions tell upon the Hamlet? A brief fright as a Sittingbourne free kick was headed back into the danger area by Billy Manners, late of this parish and substitute replacing substitute. Richmond latched on the ball with a ferocious volley, the side netting tingling as he just missed the target. The alarums had been rung and Dulwich came hurtling back, Reed added another fine save to his burgeoning portfolio as he tipped over a Paka effort on the volley but he had no chance when his defence went AWOL allowing Plummer a clear dash goalwards. Ben Payne tried in vain to relieve the situation with a last ditch tackle but succeed only in hacking Plummer to the floor. The Man in Black, Mr Brook, showed leniency issuing only a caution to the miscreant, but Hamici would show no sure compassion. Bristling with confidence despite Akhazzan’s feeble sledging, a few steps up to the ball and, bam, Reed was diving away as the ball beat to his left.
Could a winner still be in the tank? Billy Chattaway’s cross was met with stunning Simpson scissor kick as he and Bolarinwa hunted the same ball, the effort skying over. But a minute later predator supreme Hamici completed the unlikely turnaround as a free kick dropped to his feet 12 yards out, the striker pirouetted with the grace of a Nijinsky before hammering the ball high into the top with the power of Tyson punch.
“Do anything, even the impossible; it may only take a little longer when a miracle is required” – Anonymous

Teams:
SFC: Matt Reed; Nick Reeves; Joe Dowley (Capt); Jack Haverson; Ben Payne; Rio Alderton; Colin Richmond; Bryan Glover; Tom Bradbrook (Dave Milton 53 (Billy Manners 72); Richard Brady; Hicham Akhazzan
Substitutes not used: Ian Varley; Joe Horlock; Joe Plant

DHFC: Jamie Lunan; Peter Martin; Billy Chattaway; Benson Paka; Ryan Bernard(Capt); Marc Cumberbatch; Daryl Plummer; Cedric Ngakam; Laurent Hamici; Gary Noel (Tom Bolarinwa 40); Scott Simpson
Substitutes not used: Kyle Graham; Henry Darko; Junior Kaffo; Sheikh Ceesay (GK)

Goalscoring:
1-0 SFC Hicham Akhazzan 6th minute
2-0 SFC Richard Brady 33rd minute
2-1 DHFC Daryl Plummer 60th minute
2-2 DHFC Hamici 82nd minute (penalty)
3-2 DHFC Laurent Hamici 87th minute

Officials:
Referee: Mr Carl Brook (St Leonards-on-Sea)
Assistant Referees: Mr R Joss (Ramsgate) & Mr K Stone (Maidstone)

Attendance: 171