Worthing 2 Dulwich Hamlet 1

Worthing 2 Dulwich Hamlet 1
Ryman Isthmian League Division One South
Friday 21st March 2008

Good Friday. Buttered Hot Cross Buns on the pantry table, hot cross Craig Edwards on the Dulwich bench as defeat left Hamlet’s play-off pretensions hanging by the slenderest of gossamer threads. But for the hosting Rebels, burdened by the portentous, pre-season prognostications of their dapper dug-out despot, Alan Pook, who “could virtually guarantee promotion from the division below...” An albatross around his neck, as the Rebels struggled with injuries and upstart teams who failed to bow down before them, a late season run of victories, now 6 from seven and marred only by a mystifying defeat away to fellow challengers Kingstonian, leaves them in pole position amongst the dogfight for that priceless final play-off position. However for Dulwich, minds must be gradually turning towards 2008-2009, five points a gap not insurmountable but others hold better hands, the Hamlet as much reliant now on the kindness of strangers as for their own endeavours upon the field of play.
“He who dares wins, Rodders. He who dares wins”. Dulwich dared to change. After the young custodian’s nervy performance against Leatherhead, Sheikh Ceesay sat out his first league match since wresting the gloves from the veteran, and inveterate, Chuck Martini. In his stead between the sticks came Jamie Lunan, from North of the Thames, once of Grays, Redbridge, Leyton inter alia. Meanwhile the hosting Rebels welcomed back from injury the versatile Andy Alexander, signed as a striker, but proving a solid rock in defence since switched there in early-season emergencies, whilst Lloyd Skinner and Ben Johnson swapped placed on bench and pitch respectively.
Bright sunshine dappled Woodside Road as the contest began in earnest, never sterile, ever edgy, defeat not an option. Wind at their backs, Worthing flowed forwards on the breath of Zephyrus, Lunan’s goal besieged but unbreached despite spirited assaults from the red-clad Rebels. Nippy and nimble, midfielder Jerahl Hughes almost punished early uncertainty twixt defender and neophyte ‘keeper, finding a spurt of gas in an attempt to intercept an underhit back pass.
The busy Rebels kept coming, Alexander coming closed to capping a dream return from his injury woes with a cracking volley that kept Lunan on his toes with a smothering save. Soon after in came a free kick and skipper Ben Andrews came close to turning the ball home, Lunan shadowing the ball past his back stick. But then the perfidious Anemoi would conspire to deal a deadly blow to Hamlet thoughts of victory. A puff of wind gathered a long pass from midfielder, the ball floating beyond stranded defenders to the feet of Andrews, wide on the right of the Dulwich area. Providence or prodigy, only the Rebels skipper knew for sure as a chip, meant for a colleague charging into the far post perchance but, carried by the wind, left powerless Lunan leaden-footed as it drifted over his head and plopped into the net behind him.
Fired-up Hamlet launched a quick salvage operation but as he ball dropped to Charlie Taylor in the six yard box from Ryan Bernard’s header, the whistle blew for a foul perhaps, the striker’s frustrations manifest and a yellow card brandished.
Amidst the hustle and bustle, the chances were far from clear-cut though the balance of opportunity weighted heaviest on the Worthing scales. But for a piece of inspired improvisation from Lunan, Jamie Brotherton might have doubled the Worthing lead. Alexander’s clumsy pass fooled all but the lively Hughes who nipped past his marker as he collected the ball, getting off a shot, going wide until Brotherton’s interception diverted the ball towards the bottom right hand corner of Lunan’s net and cheered on its way home by the homesters until Lunan stuck out a foot to turn the ball away at the base of his upright.
How Dulwich did not draw level come the 38th minute will remain a mystery to all. Bernard’s precision pass released Benson Paka beyond the defence to gallop into the right pocket. A low driven ball was helped on by the most delicate of touches from Taylor to help the ball on its way to Stanley Muguo thundering in to the back post to connect with venom, but from an English ell the ball slammed against the hoardings, rather than rippling the net. “Flippin’ ell”, chorused the travelling troubadours of Champion Hill.
With Hamlet’s next raid, man mountain Bernard plunged forwards into the penalty, bundled his way past persistent markers but unable to get more than a mild stab on the ball to more than inconvenience Rikki Banks, Worthing’s guardian of the goal. But as if to remind Dulwich who held the whip hand the red tide flowed swiftly back up field with Brotherton again the foil for the raid, a hooked shot to cap the move dropping wide of the woodwork.
A storm would hit Woodside Road at the very start of the second half, its name was Muguo. Barely had 60 seconds ticked by from the restart and, as fans traipsed back into the ground from supping the last of the interval drinks, than the ball dropped to the Dulwich midfielder half a league and more from goal. None expected a shot, least of all ‘keeper Banks, though to be blessed with foresight might have the only saviour of his side, as Muguo smote the ball with a howitzer boot, straight and true into the top corner of the net as Banks clawed in vain at the drive’s steaming vapour trail.
Cue the Hamlet revival, borne on the wind that howled across the field of combat. As if to reinforce Worthing’s worries, the sky blacked. Where once late winter sun had dowsed the arena, now clouds, jet-black, heavy with rain, swept in from the Sussex Downs, dumping their heavy cargo upon Woodside Road and sending the last of the hardy fans scuttling for cover wherever they could find. No such respite though for the players, battling against elements and opponents, as the sheets of rain blocked out the light. Atrocious conditions did not dampen the ardour of the man in black for his book, with both Bernard and Ricky Dobson added to his Dulwich collection in the foul-spotter’s notebook.
Aided by the wind Dulwich yomped through the puddles into Worthing territory. A series of corners threatened but came to naught. From the right, the ball came in to be flicked on by Shayne Mangodza, leaping ahead of Banks but with the ‘keeper lost in Non Man’s Land, Marc Cumberbatch, eight yards out, could not direct a stooping header on target. A cracking header from Nugent, hanging in the air at the back of the six yard box, bounced a foot wide of the back post
Upon a skiddy surface, neither side seemed able to poke its head above the parapet, each afeared that the slightest error might lead to a goal that would condemn them to disastrous defeat. Then a Worthing replacement came within a fraction of breaking the impasse. Johnson, on moments earlier for Skinner, aquaplaned a pass through to Karly Akehurst, darting inside to help on his return cross on to Hughes but the midfielder crowned the cake with a sour cherry as he lamped the ball straight at Lunan. But this was merely a recce, as the teenage midfielder, a local lad on loan from Yeovil, popped up two minutes later to provide the killer blow and drive a stake in Hamlet hearts. Akehurst once more carved open the opportunity, the youngster latching on to the pass, cutting inside on his left foot, tucking the ball close and low beneath the diving Lunan.
Dark clouds parted from Worthing heads, but from the Dulwich bench thunderous rumblings. The brawn of Bernard made way for the pace of Plummer as Darryl rose from the bench. However Worthing, cemented by the returning Alexander, remained impenetrable in defence. Key tackles from the devils in red tormented Dulwich as they searched in vain for an equaliser. Dulwich’s increasing incursions laid bare their defence though further goals might have been harsh on the Hamlet, Brotherton and Akehurst both going close late on before the latter made way for Mark Pulling in the 90th minute. Extended injury time merely prolonged the agony, Dulwich’s season now on life-support whilst Worthing glance up the coast to Hastings as they seek to emulate their surprise success at last season’s post season play-off party.

Teams:
WFC: Rikki Banks; Joe Keehan; Andy Alexander; Stuart Axten; Ben Andrews (Capt.); Dominic Douglas; Jerahl Hughes; Karly Akehurst; Jamie Brotherton (Mark Pulling 88); Scott Kirkwood; Lloyd Skinner (Ben Johnson 66)
Substitutes not used: Enzo Benn; Chris Morrow; James Hancock

DHFC: Jamie Lunan; Steve May; Ricky Dobson; Benson Paka; Shayne Mangodza (Capt.); Marc Cumberbatch; Sebastian Schoburgh; Ryan Bernard (Darryl Plummer 82); Meshach Nugent; Charlie Taylor; Stanley Muguo
Substitutes not used: Billy Chattaway; Henry Darko; Osman Sesay; Sheikh Ceesay (GK)

Attendance: 312
Goalscoring:
1-0 WFC Ben Andrews 14th minute
1-1 DHFC Stanley Muguo 46th minute
2-1 WFC Jerahl Hughes 74th minute

Officials:
Referee: Mr G M Smith
Assistant referee: Mr A Colwell & Mr D Lyons

Dulwich Hamlet 3 Leatherhead 3

Dulwich Hamlet 3 Leatherhead 3

Ryman Isthmian League Division One South

Friday 14^th March 2008

"How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavoured to form?"

Floating fans making a Friday night pilgrimage to Champion Hill, bearing not the baggage of allegiance to Hamlet or Tanners might have purred with glee at the fruitful fare laid before them. A half-a-dozen goals surely enough to pleasure the proletarian but for the purist only weeping and gnashing of teeth at a hotchpotch contest riddled with clangers, peppered with snatched passes, one neither custodian would care to recall come the cold light of day.

The rag-tag, threadbare throng of travelling Tanners must have feared the worst as a mini stampeded saw Dulwich came hammering at Leatherhead's door from the off. Incisive Hamlet versus desperate Tanners. A whipped Sebastian Schoburgh cross nodded out to Benson Paka, a crowd of green shirts swarming around him to snuff out that threat but then Meshach Nugent latching on the ball, muscling past a marker a striking a sweet shot from outside the area a fraction wide of 'keeper Aaron France's right hand upright. Keystone Kops defending, all pie in the face, banana skin tackles, swinging boots into thin air. Apt then that that the opening goal would come coating with the lacquer of luck, though that it came from the boot of the enigmatic Schoburgh, one is in half a mind that invention outweighed intention. In came a throw bound for the near post and Nugent, but nodded out by a high-climbing defender. The ball reached Schoburgh, lurking on the edge of the area, and with a swing of the boot, the ball was hooked skywards, looping beyond the frozen figure of France, rooted to the spot as the ball arced over him and dropped into the far top corner of the net.

The goal should have been the clarion call for a cavalry charge towards goal from the men in Pink and Blue, but fortune favoured the Green battalion, who survived by hook or by crook, Dulwich frustratingly unable to build upon their lead and ultimately paying the cost as defensive blunderings turned that goal advantage lead into a goal deficit with two crazy minutes. Conceding a needless free kick wide on the left wing, five yards inside their own half, Dulwich readied themselves for Billy Marshall's delivery, green and white jostling with pink and blue. Pelted deep into the penalty area Marshall's free kick seemed to be a textbook gather for Sheikh Ceesay, but his hands failed him as the ball slipped through his grasp and into his net. The travelling gaggle seemed unmoved. A second goal two minutes later similarly failed to rouse them, perhaps inured by the capricious play of their team this term. This time it was collective culpability within the Dulwich defence as Steve McNamara scurried away down the left wing, whipping a low drive into the six yard box, Carl Gibbs the beneficiary as defender and 'keeper vacillated, the Tanners' striker stealing in between the dithering duo to stab the ball across goal and into the far corner of the net.

The balance of global gaucherie was swiftly restored as Leatherhead's France presented Dulwich with an equaliser upon a silver salver 'ere 60 seconds had swept by. In came a free kick, a powder-puff punch from France as he fearfully flapped like a turkey confronted by Bernard Matthews with a smile and a chopper. Amidst the flurry, the ball was knocked across to Charlie Taylor and the tyro striker continued to mine his current rich vein of form, gathering the ball to hook past the discomfited France as he tried to undo his error. Still he managed to reprieve himself as Schoburgh puncture a porous wall with low drilled free kick that the cautious custodian gathered to his breast as a mother might a found child.

The game blended brilliance and bungling, incisive runs from wingers all to provide the panache, defenders and attackers slamming a custard pie in its face with tentative tackles and faltering finishing. The turnaround saw Hamlet fortunes flicker as quick fire start to the second half saw them come so close to restoring that lost lead. First minute and Schoburgh, left alone on the right periphery of the area, flayed a low drive across the face of goal. Taylor went hunting for the ball at the back stick as France was beaten but could not provide the killer touch as the ball zipped the wrong side of the far post. Moments later Taylor was looking to make amends battling his way into the box but with the resilient Ryan Palmer in close attendance he could not fire off a shot in anger.

That cantankerous goal machine Dave Stevens, loved and loathed at Leatherhead as both loyal Tanner and soldier of fortune, as much so at the Hill, once more endeared himself to the locals as he and Ceesay exchanged heated words amidst a cockpit awaiting a corner. For a moment, an ugly scene bubbled at the brink of eruption as the spat sucked into others, but calm won over even though the two antagonists had to suffer the indignity of a schoolmasterly lecture from baby faced referee Mr Austin and cautions. Perhaps Hamlet were suffering the hangover of this scuffle when they were caught out by a first rate counter attack down their left flank mere moments later. Ricky Dobson beaten, the ball was pulled back and absentee defending gifted Leatherhead the go-ahead goal again, with late-arriving midfielder Matt Jones, as lonely as a leper on the edge of the penalty area, met a low ball from the right sweet and true to beat Ceesay low at his near post.

A free kick frittered away as Schoburgh lashed at the ball to send it spinning wide, its architect one of three to be sacrificed with 25 minutes left as Dulwich chased wraith-like victory. Schoburgh, Billy Chattaway and Ryan Bernard all made way with Osman Sesay, Darryl Plummer and Stanley Muguo respectively entering the fray with the requisite urgency injected. Deep throw to the near post, Nugent thrusting past his marker and firing in a shot from tight angle that almost crawled over the supine 'keeper. Having instigated the opening with a pass to Paka, Taylor should perhaps have done better than to hook a shot off target from 8 yards out when Benson Paka's shot deflected off Meshach to him.

Dulwich's requisite "penalty that got away" reared its ugly head soon after when Nugent appeared to be manhandled as he burst in the box, pawing hands trying to pull him back as had the goal in his sights, failing to send him tumbling but doing enough to ensure the final shot crashed into the side netting. Honesty not the best policy methinks.

That injustice was all but forgotten when Dulwich claimed another equaliser just two minutes later. Again providence would play its part. Paka's pass cannoned off the man in black, any recriminations swiftly turned to cheers as the ball fell at the feet Nugent on the edge of the D. Still there was much work to be done, Nugent thundering like Suffolk dray past a brace of powerless defenders, penetrating the penalty area and lashing a low, hard, angled drive beyond the fingertips of the diving France, the ball making a cosy nest in the corner of the net.

It should have been 4-3 two minutes when Nugent trotted into the right pocket, pumping in a pitch-perfect cross right on to the head of Taylor, unattended by lackadaisical defenders 5 yards from goal, but with time to think, maybe too much time, and place the ball the prolific young striker stooped to nod the ball past France but a gnat's breath too high.

The procrastinating tactics of the visitors, eager to hang on to a much-valued point, almost came back as, even at the death, there was a chance for a winner as with the 90^th minute ticking past, Taylor slipped the ball wide to Plummer hurtling up the left but this time France redeemed himself with a fine block low at his near post.

Perhaps another nail has been drilled in the play-off coffin but with a quartet of six-pointers remaining for the Hamlet, their fate still remains within their own hands. However for the management the hand scratching remains. Once frugal defence now philanthropic to goal-starved adversaries, pusillanimous attack now tigerish. "Faites vos jeux, Mesdames et Messieurs", the roulette wheel is spinning.

Teams:

DHFC: Sheikh Ceesay; Steve May; Ricky Dobson; Benson Paka; Shayne Mangodza (Capt.); Marc Cumberbatch; Sebastian Schoburgh (Osman Sesay 65); Ryan Bernard (Stanley Muguo 65); Meshach Nugent; Charlie Taylor; Billy Chattaway (Darryl Plummer 65)

Subs not used: Henry Darko, Tim Roberts (GK)

LFC: Aaron France; Asher Hudson; Ryan Palmer; Steve McNamara (Adam Bernard 82); Iain Hendry (Captain); Matt Jones (Lynvall Duncan 90+2); Stewart Holmes; Gareth Graham; Carl Gibbs; Billy Marshall; Dave Stevens

Substitutes not used: Glenn Boosey; Charlie Marshall; Dan Dean

Attendance: 289

Officials:

Referee: Mr Daniel Austin (Bognor Regis, West Sussex)

Assistant Referees: Mr Graeme Thornley (Harrow, Middlesex) & Mr Reuben Simon (Hounslow, Middlesex)

Goalscoring:

1-0 DHFC Sebastian Schoburgh 7^th minute

1-1 LFC Billy Marshall 30^th minute

1-2 LFC Carl Gibbs 32^nd minute

2-2 DHFC Charlie Taylor 33^rd minute

2-3 LFC Matt Jones 52^nd minute

3-3 DHFC Meshach Nugent 78^th minute