Dulwich Hamlet 3 Whyteleafe 1

Dulwich Hamlet 3 Whyteleafe 1
Ryman Isthmian League Division One South
Tuesday 4th November 2008

On a blustery Tuesday evening Dulwich delivered a rapid riposte to their FA Trophy exit barely 48 hours earlier inflicting a sixth defeat in seven games upon perennial bogey boys, Whyteleafe.
Dulwich quickly seized the initiative and almost took the lead in the third minute when Walid Matata headed narrowly over the angle of post and bar from Daryl Plummer's cross. 'Leafe's Rob Tolfrey was by far the busier 'keeper and after cutting out a dangerous cross from Laurent Hamici, he denied Daryl Plummer when the winger was clean through. Shortly afterwards Matata squandered another gilt-edged chance when he got past Tolfrey, but allowed a defender to rob him with the goal gaping.
After that imposing if stuttering start, Dulwich went ahead in the 25th minute courtesy of Matata's maiden goal in pink and blue. Starting his first game since limping from the field early in the season opener, Matata was expertly poised to take advantage when Jamie Lunan's booming free kick into the post was flicked on by the head of skipper Marc Cumberbatch causing consternation in the 'Leafe six yard box. As 'keeper Rob Tolfrey scrambled to claw the ball away Matata was on hand to hook the ball into the net off the 'keeper's hand.
Whyteleafe threatened briefly when Denva McKenzie unleashed a fierce shot which was well held by Jamie Lunan, but we were soon pressing again and just before half-time Scott Simpson shot wildly over the bar when a fine run down the left by Plummer laid the foundations.
Dulwich were made to pay though for not taking further chances 'ere the second half had truly begun. Wide left, Andrew Martin larruped a deep ball across the box towards Nicky Greene, who had graced the Hill on Saturday in Fisher monochrome. Greene showed excellent poise to nick the ball past Billy Chattaway leaving him man to man with Jamie Lunan who stood not a ghost of chance as Greene pulled the trigger and bulleted the ball past him at close range.
Fears of a 'Leafe revival were not realised and with Laurent Hamici to the fore Hamlet went hunting their lost lead once more. The Hamlet's leading hitman danced a merry dance on the edge of the area, sent to the ground on the very brink of the box but the man in black gave naught but a shrug of indifference. A sniper's bullet from distance almost found its target but the range was off.
Call it greed, call it self-possession Hamici singlehandedly teased and twisted through the green wall, as effective as winter shrub. Lucky for the 'Leafe they had Tolfrey to rescue them as he blocked Hamici' initial effort. The rebound was seized upon, Tolfrey beaten with the drive but this time it was Adam Broomhead as saviour, the surly centre-half hacking the ball off the goal line.
In the 71st minute Matata struck once more to show the Hamlet faithful what they had missed. A free kick whipped across seemed too deep but Daryl Plummer rescued to surrender the ball to the by-line, keeping it in play, skipping around Asher Hudson before chipping the ball to the back of the six yard box. A crashing downward header from Cumberbatch was blocked on the line by Tolfrey but the loose ball was easy prey for the predatory Matata, smashed gleefully into the net from a few feet out.
Rampant Dulwich made victory certain with rare scares when Hamici's jet powered acceleration sent him free of a sluggish 'Leafe defence. Escaping down the left wing with green shirts floundering behind him, he bore down on the now exposed Tolfrey, the custodian powerless as bazooka boots sent a piledriver beyond his despairing dive and into the bottom far corner of the net.

Teams:
DHFC: Jamie Lunan; Ryan Bernard; Billy Chattaway; Benson Paka; Cedric Ngakam; Marc Cumberbatch; Daryl Plummer; Kevin Lott (Junior Kaffo 80); Laurent Hamici; Walid Matata (Gary Noel 80); Scott Simpson
Substitutes not used: Kyle Graham; Alim Sesay; Sheikh Ceesay

WFC: Rob Tolfrey; Asher Hudson; Michael Harney; Ali Reeve; Adam Broomhead; Jason Goodchild; Denva McKenzie; Sol Patterson Bohner (Ronnie Green 60); Andrew Martin; Paul Scott; Nicky Greene
Substitutes not used: Alhajie Jabbie; Cedric Kabongo; Michael Riley; Carlton Murray-Price

Goalscoring:
1-0 DHFC: Walid Matata 26th minute
1-1 WFC: Nicky Greene 48th minute
2-1 DHFC: Walid Matata 71st minute
3-1 DHFC: Laurent Hamici 83rd minute

Officials:
Referee: Mr John O’Brien
Assistant Referees: Mr Stephen Earl and Mr Mark Ford

Attendance: 170