Walton and Hersham FC 1 Dulwich Hamlet 0

Walton and Hersham FC 1 Dulwich Hamlet 0
Ryman Isthmian League – Division One South
Saturday 25th October 2008

One of the less entertaining afternoons of the season, when autumn leaves put on a prettier show than the football on the field. It was afternoon when a number of sequences came to a conclusion; Dulwich finished their marathon stint away from Champion Hill, this match being their SIXTH on the road in succession. More noteworthy for the hosts was the fact that this match brought an end to a string of winless performances stretching back to early September, the victory celebrated gleefully by the knot of home supporters huddled beyond the running track.
Pretty it wasn’t but effective as Dulwich found themselves seldom able to wheedle they way through a swamp of red shirts packed deep in the Walton half, desperate to defend the lead given them after just 10 minutes when slipshod Dulwich defending allowed Phil Cramp to gallop away from the last line of defence and tuck the ball past a cruelly exposed Jamie Lunan. Cramp had earlier had a gaol disallowed for offside but there was no flag to rescue the Hamlet’s defence, wrapped in Lethe as the Swan’s attacker glided in and slotted the ball into the far corner of the net.
Charlie Taylor might have levelled matters three minutes after the goal but, having latched on to a weak back pass and knocked it past ‘keeper Richard Stroud sprawling across his feet, his honesty got the better of him as he stumbled on it pursuit of the ball only for it to creep over the back line before he could reach it.
A hairy moment for the home defence as the half hour approached, Lunan’s booming free kick, missed by his opposite number amid a flurry of bodies, Cedric Ngakam nodding a looping header towards goal. Somehow the red morass scrambled the ball away though not for long, Billy Chattaway rifling it back across the face of the six yard box. Scott Simpson’s acrobatic swing at the ball failed to connect and the home gaol remained intact. Mere moments later another ball hammered across the box tempted Laurent Hamici, back from suspension, but he too failed to apply a finishing touch.
Walton were forced into a change as redundant striker Zak Graham retired from the fray with a head injury to be replaced by one-time hero of the Hamlet, striker Sol Pinnock, newly arrived at Stompond Lane from Blue Square South side, Welling United. How Hamlet must have wished for a Pinnock of old in their ranks as they held the forward momentum only to fail to penetrate the red rearguard. Barely was Stroud truly tested though he had to be quick-reacting to get down and gather a Cumberbatch header after the big defender had flicked on a free kick.
The second half began with a rare spell of invention from the Swans, some neat footwork from Adam Moriarty out on the flanks capped by a cross to the far-post, from where Scott Hassell volleyed over. Moriarty charged forward to drive a shot in from the edge of the box only to see Luan untested as he fielded the effort comfortably. However those flights of fancy were grounded as Dulwich pushed them back to their nesting grounds. 13 minutes in and a stuttered clearance went straight to industrious Daryl Plummer, his arching effort to lob the ball back over the fast retreating ‘keeper in vain as it dropped wide of the mark. Next Hamlet raid and Taylor cracked an effort, the ball whirling away off a defender’s boot into the path of Plummer cantering up the right wing. Quick thinking Stroud was out like a flash to block at the Hamlet winger’s feet, the ball almost squirming from his grasp.
The chances came thick and fast, if only the autumn leaves mulched upon the turf had blown away as quickly. A third caution for the Swans as Mo Coly’s charge through the field was unceremoniously ended and a free kick in perfect position, central and 20 yards, clipped neatly over the wall by Taylor but floating on high over crossbar too.
Out of sorts Hamici was replaced by Gary Noel, a busy bee in attack at his best but frustrated by this red wall of Walton before him. To make matters worse, Coly was chopped from behind by a former Hamleteer, Sol Pinnock who has swapped the Kentish fields of Welling for Acacia Avenue and stockbroker Walton. The striker was fortunate not to added to the growing list of yellow brandished at the Swans, though was clear concern in his consoling pat on the back of his victim of a limping Coly was helped from the fray. A reshuffle for the Hamlet, but their defences had been weakened. Swans boss, Jimmy Bolton, espied the chink in the armour and brought on flying left-winger Sam Butler, the replacement’s introduction adding some colour to hosts’ bland display. Escaping down the flank with space to drive a number 13 bus, Butler rattled a cross into Cramp bearing down on goal. The second goal seemed certain but Cramp had reckoned without the fearless Chattaway eating up the ground twixt him and his quarry, a magnificent covering tackle sending the ball away for a corner just as the Walton man was preparing to strike.
As the game moved into stoppage time, Simpson hared into the penalty area, seemingly hauled back as he hurtle goalwards. The ball was hacked clear but Chattaway beat his opponent to the ball on the halfway line, hitting the afterburners as he sped up the touchline and unleashing a fearsome shot on the run that brought the best out of Stroud as he stretched to pluck the strike from the air. With all hands committed to attack, skipper Ryan Bernard up in the vanguard, it was inevitable that more gaps would appear behind. Once more Butler took advantage, a searing run down the by-line capped by a pinpoint cross towards Cramp, unmarked mere feet from goal. A simple tap in and a stamp was put on victory but somehow he scooped the ball into the air, Luna stretching a fist to punch the ball away as the striker tried to force in his own miscue. Not that it truly mattered for Dulwich had no time to mount a counter attack of note and defeat was sealed.

Teams:
W&HFC: Richard Stroud; Jon Boswell; Jordan Cheadle; Charlie Emery (Craig Dunne 58); Aaron Nowacki; Matt Elverson; Adam Moriarty; Rob Wilkinson (Sam Butler 77); Zak Graham (Sol Pinnock 32); Phil Cramp; Scott Hassell
Substitutes not used: Paul Sears; Louis Clark
DHFC: Jamie Lunan; Lemi Omogbehin (Mo Coly HT (Amine Djoumbe 70)); Billy Chattaway; Benson Paka; Ryan Bernard (Capt.); Marc Cumberbatch; Daryl Plummer; Cedric Ngakam; Laurent Hamici (Gary Noel 64); Charlie Taylor; Scott Simpson
Substitutes not used: Ryan James; Sheikh Ceesay (GK)

Goalscoring:
1-0 Phil Cramp 10th minute

Officials:
Referee: Mr Dan Austin
Assistant Referees: Mr Nigel Baker & Mr Barrie Small

Attendance: 123