Dulwich Hamlet 0 Bury Town 3

Dulwich Hamlet 0 Bury Town 3
The Carlsberg FA Trophy – Second Round
Sunday 2nd November 2008

This game was all but over as a contest almost before the quarter hour was out as dozy Dulwich surrendered three goals in the first 18 minutes allowing Bury Town a comfortable cushion which was never truly threatened despite Dulwich territorial domination for much of the remainder of the game. Daredevil defending, tackling timed to perfection, and confident ‘keeping from Marcus Garnham kept the Hamlet at bay and sent the visitors into the 3rd Round of the Trophy and another trip south, this time to Hampton & Richmond Borough.
Lackadaisical defending gifted Bury a lead after just three minute. Michael Steward whipped in a low cross from the right flank and with Dulwich’s defence impersonating a Madame Tussaud’s exhibit, striker Sam Reed zipped into the space behind them and tucked the ball past a wrong footed Jamie Lunan.
Excellent cover tackling from the much-vaunted Tom Bullard in defence thwarted a promising Hamlet attack, but then heartbreak for the Hamlet as Reed, under the watching eye of a Derby County scout, let fly from fully 35 yards out, Lunan slow to react as the ball beat him low at his left hand upright.
A third goal on 18 minutes completed Hamlet’s nightmarish opening. Reed was a whisker away from a hat trick as he flung himself at Stewart’s tempting ball in from the flanks. The ball was trapped on the backline by Lee Reed, his initial effort beating Lunan but cleared off the line by Cedric Ngakam. However the ball fell kindly for the same player and this time Reed made no mistake.
Thoughts of a cricket score troubled the mind, but perhaps with an eye on a big pay day awaiting them in the FA Cup six days hence, Bury took their foot off the gas, content to soak up Dulwich pressure, magnificent defending squeezing the life from each Hamlet threat. Marc Cumberbatch popped a close range header over the crossbar from Kevin Lott’s free kick. Laurent Hamici, hardworking but with a constant blue shadow, briefly shook off Bury shackles to latch on to Scott Simpson’s nod down but larruped his volley over the crossbar. As halftime approached Billy Chattaway’s threaded pass seemed inch perfect for Simpson but Sam Nunn, a constant minder, forcing him off balance at the key moment.
Three minutes after the restart an excellent opportunity for Hamlet to snatch a lifeline. Simpson hooked effort had Garnham clawing at the air, Hamici looping a header over him. Daryl Plummer went in pursuit but up went the flag for offside.
Walid Matata came on in place of Amine Djoumbe, playing out of position in the cursed right back role, a striker replacing a makeshift defender. A free kick awarded on the edge of the area once more presented Hamlet with hope. Plummer drove the ball low and goalwards but the blue wall went unbreached.
A fine save from Garnham to batter away Plummer’s volley, Matata with time, too much time, and placing his effort wide of the mark from 8 yards out. The Hamlet pressure unrelenting, the Bury defence unyielding. Hamici delivered, Cumberbatch rose and fell meeting the ball with a firmly planted header but Garnham was down to smoother. Even when Garnham was at last beaten, the referee’s whistle came to his rescue, the ‘keeper impeded as he came for a free kick, Ngakam taking advantage to nod the ball in but in vain. The young custodian was back in flying form soon after as Hamici’s rocket volley was clawed away at the near post in spectacular fashion.
Dulwich stacked the cards, strikers Junior Kaffo and Gary Noel on in place of midfielders Lott and Plummer, a fifties throwback with such a forward laden line-up. One goal might have unnerved the blue boys but resilience remained even when the loss of midfielder Lee Smith saw them play out the game with just ten men.

Teams:
DHFC: Jamie Lunan; Amine Djoumbe (Walid Matata 55); Billy Chattaway; Benson Paka; Ryan Bernard; Marc Cumberbatch; Daryl Plummer (Gary Noel 85); Cedric Ngakam; Laurent Hamici; Kevin Lott (Junior Kaffo 78); Scott Simpson
Substitutes not used: Alim Sesay; Sheikh Ceesay

BTFC: Marcus Garnham; Stuart Walker; Ben Coker; Gavin Johnson; Sam Nunn; Tom Bullard; Lee Smith; Michael Steward; Sam Reed (Andrew Wood 85); Liam Barrett (Steve Bugg 73); Lee Reed (Ashley Sloots 85)
Substitutes not used: James Paterson; Dean Greygoose (GK)

Goalscoring:
1-0 BTFC Sam Reed 3rd minute
2-0 BTFC Sam Reed 9th minute
3-0 BTFC Lee Reed 19th minute

Officials:
Referee: Mr Andy Parker
Assistant Referees: Mr Glen Tilley & Mr Jeff Stanley

Attendance: 245