Godalming Town 0 Dulwich Hamlet 0

Godalming Town 0 Dulwich Hamlet 0
Ryman Isthmian League Division One South
Tuesday 14th October 2008

A musty air hung over Wey Court as Dulwich Hamlet were held scoreless by Chuck Martini’s Godalming, a side branded “too nice” by their manager after an FA Trophy humbling by Enfield Town in their last home outing but responding by going from nice to “noughty”! Whether it was good defending or poor finishing must depend to whose standard one nails the colours for Dulwich must have been disappointed not to greater exploit the flanks where the wing twins of Tom Bolarinwa and Daryl Plummer found enough space and time to reseed the potatoes that had earlier been lifted from a uneven pitch, made slick by early evenings showers.
Dulwich started Edwards Martini III (this time it’s managerial!) with the XI that had began the fight back at Sittingbourne, Bolarinwa coming into the starting line-up in the stead of Gary Noel. Likewise the hosts made just a single change from their valiant FA Cup exit at Havant and Waterloovile, prompting a shiver of anticipation amongst the home support, a tremor of trepidation amongst Hamlet’s travelling band, as leading scorer Kenny Ojukwu reclaimed his place in the Godalming vanguard.
First to make his mark was fecund Laurent Hamici, anxious to sign off on a goalscoring note before his season’s indiscretions forced into sojourn for the Hamlet’s forthcoming Trophy tie at the Met Police. Unlocking the offside trap with the dexterity of a seasoned goal burglar, Hamici snuck in to drive a shot across the body of ‘keeper Rodney Chiweshe but beyond the back stick. Early warning not of Godalming threat but of a bizarre display of refereeing from the man in black Mr Robinson came as the Dulwich goal was subjected to intense pressure from a sustained Godalming assault. All the while the assistant referee remained stock-still with flag aloft in indication of a hoist offence. Just as Brahim Eloumani rifled a shot in on goal, the referee waved play on, apparently signalling a Dulwich advantage, Fortunately Jamie Lunan was well-placed behind Stanley’s shot for Mr Robinson might have found himself buried beneath a barrage of protests from every direction.
Eight minutes and Graeme Purdy failed to punish the Hamlet as he missed a most glorious opening, flinging himself to get ahead of Ryan Bernard to Andy Ottley’s rightwing cross and connect with a diving header, only to send the ball wide of the back stick by a country mile.
The fancy feet of Daryl Plummer set up Benson Paka, the midfield maestro swinging the ball wide to Tom Bolarinwa scampering down the right. A deep cross was well met by the head of Scott Simpson, but his header skimmed wide of the upright. Hamici was but a fraction from giving Hamlet the lead after the quarter hour as he stole the ball from the toes of Simpson, his snapshot leaving Chiweshe clawing at the ether, but cracking against the outside of the post.
Ojukwu’s muscular charge into the area setting up Purdy but his shot on goal failed to trouble Lunan. Likewise a Marc Cumberbatch header as the big defender rose highest through the forest of defenders to flick on Lunan’s free kick.
Having traded punches for a breathless if untidy 20 minutes, the combatants took stock, eased off the gas and began to probe rather than punch, looking for that one chance to land a haymaker. Mr Robinson’s whistle began to take centre stage; one half expected the Notting Hill Carnival to parade through the stockbroker belt. Cue angry letters to the Daily Mail!
Having been cancelled out by their hosts, Dulwich gained an upper hand as half time drew closer. A sweeping move, up hill, down dale and along furrow saw the ball wed its way out to Plummer on the left wing. The wingman cut the ball back inside to Hamici, the striker jinking past a flatfooted defender but throwing emulsion upon a meisterwerk when a simple signature was required, the ball blazed harmlessly wide of the far upright. A moment later the chance to atone fell to Bolarinwa, the nippy winger hurling himself headlong ahead of G’s skipper Richard Taylor to connect with a valiant header but the ball brushed the near post.
The balance of opportunity slightly weighted in hosts favours as round two began, but the scales of chance all but bare. Eloumani threatened once more but his shot skewed wide from 15 yards. Plummer’s tempting ball across the box had no takers.
Officialdom gained fewer friends as Godalming believed they had made the breakthrough come the 58th minute. Taylor’s throw towards Carl Hutchings, lurking on the backline, was nodded back into the heart of the six yard box by the one-time Tooting man but as he did so the assistant’s flag went up and the whistle blew. Purdy had a simple task of dispatching the ball past Lunan, but whistle already sounded Dulwich relaxed. Frustrated Godalming protested in vain, believing the ball had not passed out of play before Hutchings had returned it. The Frustration manifested itself in such meaty challenges as yellow cards sprayed about in directions like a host of golden daffodils.
Bombardier Lunan’s free kick rattled the home defence, Godalming struggling to clear after Cumberbatch had flicked the ball on. Bolarinwa inter alia tried but failed and to the relief of the hosts the ball was finally cleared.
Rigid defence denied Godalming few openings, leaden footed offence easy prey for a well-executed offside trap. When the trap did fail, Luna proved adequate cover, denying the ubiquitous Eloumani in a one-on-one after Ojukwu had muscled Peter Martin off the ball and swung the ball in from the flanks. From thee resultant corner Ottley’s drifted delivery found Purdy, a shot rattled off goalwards only to be palmed onto the crossbar by the quick reacting Lunan before being cleared after Stanley shot the rebound into a mass of players. Dulwich tried for a break and might have done so had Purdy’s scything tackle not derailed Martin in flight. A caution followed.
Ojukwu tormented young Martin, spinning off and firing in a strike from the angle but ell high of the target. Glen Stanley also shot wide from an excellent position. Spared Dulwich girded the lions for one last attack as sands slipped through the glass. Two minutes over and Paka’s rifle shot brought a save of pure class from the under tested Chiweshe, his absence from action unapparent as he went full length to batter the shot away. Still time for nervous moments in defence as Taylor’s booming throw into the heart of the penalty area reached substitute Kristian Webb, a dinked head sailing beyond Ojukwu’s forehead and harmlessly beyond the back post.
Come Valentine’s Day 2009, Edwards Martini IV at Champion Hill, tonight’s phoney war will have long faded from memory by then.

Teams:
GFC: Rodney Chiweshe; Andy Ottley (Shaun Elliott 84); Brahim Eloumani; Carl Hutchings; Damien Matthews (Chris Wales 68); Richard Taylor (Capt.); Glen Stanley; Victor Kiri; Graeme Purdy (Kristian Webb 81); James Mariner; Kenny Ojukwu
Substitutes not used: Adam Haddad, Garry Aulsberry (GK)

DHFC: Jamie Lunan; Peter Martin; Billy Chattaway; Benson Paka; Ryan Bernard; Marc Cumberbatch; Daryl Plummer; Cedric Ngakam; Laurent Hamici; Tom Bolarinwa (Fasineh Koroma 78); Scott Simpson
Subs not used: Gary Noel; Junior Kaffo; Mohamed Coly; Sheikh Ceesay

Officials:
Referee: Mr Tim Robinson
Assistant Referees: Mr David Gordon & Mr Tony Foster

Attendance: 108

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