HENDON FC 2 DULWICH HAMLET 1

HENDON FC 2 DULWICH HAMLET 1
The FA Cup Sponsored by E.On – Second Qualifying Round Replay

(at Earlsmead, Harrow Borough)
Wednesday 1st October 2008

The dream has died and Dulwich are out, ninety minutes of full-pelt football but over 180 minutes of play not enough to see off the Wandering Dons. The Wembley Arch o'erlowered the journey to Earlsmead, hosts to itinerant Hendon for this rematch of the sleeping giants, taut reminder of what might be, what might be should some oligarch come rapping upon the door. But then to Earlsmead where bright lights burn out the suburban slumber, casting shadows around a ramshackle ground that so often had been the graveyard of Hamlet hopes. Would tonight be different? The first twenty minutes said nay. Daryl Plummer cross from the wing in the very first attack squirmed from the hands of Berkeley Lawrencin. Over the line? The eagle-eyed Hamlet ramble said yay, the assistant referee demurred. On seven minutes the Greens had the lead as Dulwich’s reshuffled defence, still without Ryan Bernard and missing Steve May, trapped by London Transport, succumbed to penetrative thrusting from their “hosts”. Glenn Garner fed the electric Harry Hunt, the young striker hitting the gas to escape the clutches of Billy Chattaway, driving to the by-line and pulling a low ball across the face of the six yard box. Not a touch from defender nor attacker until at the back of the box Dave Diedhiou changed in to smack the ball home at the back stick despite Jamie Lunan’s desperate dive.
Dulwich threatened when a long through ball had Laurent Hamici, still suffering the twinges of injury but fast enough to outpace a trio of defenders, in pursuit but Lawrencin was aware enough to rush from his line and snatch the ball from the toes of the Hamlet hitman. Soon after a corner was one, skipper Marc Cumberbatch in the ascendancy as he rose to meet it but on guar at the back stick Lubomir Guentchev nodded the ball away.
Having rarely threatened since grabbing that advantage, Hendon spotted a chink in Hamlet’s rearguard and exploited it ruthlessly. Regular right back May had been severely delayed by transport trouble (oh for Pericles Johnson and his Athenian vision of London to be born in flesh; each man his own chariot and steed!) and Fasineh Koroma, drafted into that position in his stead had looked uncomfortable in an unfamiliar role. Guentchev flowed past him like a fine Bulgarian wine, Koroma struggling his opponent nipped past and rolled the ball back to the lurking Hunt. No second invitation for the predatory youngster who larruped the ball high past the hands of Lunan and into the roof of the old onion bag.
The ease with depleted Dulwich had been fleeced on the flanks had older supporters calling for the smelling salts as nightmares of a 10-1 mauling by Hendon back in their sixties golden age cam flooding back. However the Hamlet lads, unhampered by ancient memories, girded the loins and came back snarling back at the Dons. From 25 yards out Hamici spun of a brace off green-shirted markers sending a rifled drive a foot over the crossbar. From a corner Lawrencin spilled the ball under pink pressure, amid the melee Junior Kaffo’s stabbed effort deflected wide. The tricky Gray Noel produced a three point turn on the corner of the penalty area that left his markers prostrate upon their posteriors, an angled cross to the back stick nodded back across goal by Plummer but plucked from the head of Kaffo by the alert Lawrencin. A moment later Scott Simpson drove in a bobbling strike from distance that had the Hendon custodian scrambling across his goal as the ball bounced wide of the far upright.
Injury forced Hendon into a change at the break as Rakatahr Hudson was pulled off, James Burgess replacing him. Others might have wished it were them as Dulwich rampaged at them from the off, infused with stirring words from management. “Forward, the Light Brigade! Charge for the guns' he said: Into the valley of Death rode the six hundred.” Six hundred might only have been eleven but to the started Dons, rabbits in the headlines of the chundering Hamlet juggernaut. “'Forward, the Light Brigade!' Was there a man dismay’d? Not tho' the soldier knew some one had blunder'd: Theirs not to make reply, theirs not to reason why, theirs but to do & die.”
Three minutes in and a great chance for Mo Coly but from 10 yards he stabbed the ball into the body of the cowering ‘keeper. The pink and blue wave crashed down again and again until at last the defence buckled. On the hour mark the defenders stuttered, chances to clear went begging and the ball ran to Noel wide on the right of the area. With eyes only for goal, the tyro striker unleashed a ferocious rising drive for the smallest of targets, Lawrencin powerless as the ferocious strike zipped past him into the top corner of the net.
Hendon might have hit back with immediate effect when Garner was allowed a free run to the by-line, pulling the ball back for Guentchev but from close range he found only the side netting. Like a Polar Bears in Marrakech, that chance sat alone. Dulwich roared into attack, Chattaway’s impetus taking him through tackle after tackle before he was felled ten yards from the area. Hamici swept up the loose ball, rattled a shot goalwards that deflected off a defender, cannoned off Noel and looking to be heading for the bottom corner until Lawrencin pounced upon it. Route one for the Hamlet as Lunan bombed a free kick into the penalty area, Coly turning to try and hook the ball home only to find Lawrencin there to block his path.
The Hamlet brought Tom Bolarinwa for Hamici, also pushed Junior Kaffo into a more advanced role as they strove for that elusive equaliser.
Hendon’s Polar Bear found a friend when a lunging tackle saw the Dons awarded a free kick mere yards from the brink of the box, Hamici booked for his protests. However timid execution of the dead ball saw the ball knocked to Guentchev, who found the whole Dulwich army upon him before he let off a shot of note. A Dulwich corner nodded back across goal by the towering Cumberbatch snatched away from Bolarinwa, and then with the tie ebbing from them came glorious opportunity. Simpson was released in an acre of space on the left flank, delivering the most tempting of cross towards Kaffo, dissecting the Hendon centre halves. From five yards out the script had been written for that glory moment but, to the horror of the Hamlet horde, he somehow scooped his header over the crossbar. Like a punctuated balloon, the oxygen drained from the Hamlet. Hendon played keep ball, frustrating Chattaway who was booked after an altercation with an opponent. More frustrating though that Dulwich had succumbed after all their second half endeavours.

Teams:
HFC: Berkley Lawrencin; Kevin Maclaren; Craig Vargas; Marc Leach; Mark Kirby; James Bent; Lubomir Guentchev; Dave Diedhiou (Frank Wilson 90); Harry Hunt; Rakatahr Hudson (James Burgess HT); Glenn Garner (Charlie Mapes 71)
Substitutes not used: Festus Mansaray; Richard Wilmot (GK); Danny Dyer; Kayan Kalipha

DHFC: Jamie Lunan; Fasineh Koroma; Billy Chattaway; Mohamed Coly; Junior Kaffo; Marc Cumberbatch; Daryl Plummer; Charlie Howard; Laurent Hamici (Tom Bolarinwa 76); Gary Noel; Scott Simpson
Substitutes not used: Kyle Graham; Peter Martin; Tyran James; Nicholas Ogbanufee; Steve May; Sheikh Ceesay

Goalscoring:
1-0 HFC Dave Diedhiou 8th minute
2-0 HFC Harry Hunt 22nd minute
2-1 DHFC Gary Noel 60th minute

Officials:
Referee: Mr Richard Kendall
Assistant Referees: Mr Liam Walshe & Mr Boris Zbirka

Attendance: 139

Dulwich Hamlet 2 Hendon FC 2

Dulwich Hamlet 2 Hendon FC 2
The FA Cup Sponsored by E.On – 2nd Qualifying Round
Saturday 27th September 2008

The road to Wembley is a highway littered with many corpses of the hopeful and the hopeless but today Dulwich did not join them, as heart and spirit saw them through to a replay with embattled Hendon. All this despite the loss of Mo Coly to a contentious second caution three minutes before the break. By then Dulwich seemed doomed, already a goal down to a cracking Rakatahr Hudson strike on 23 minutes and playing insipid, directionless football enlightened only by the rapier-like raids of Benson Paka down the right wing. Stirring words stirred failing hearts and stiffened sinews. More controversy as a second Hendon goal was chalked off, much to the chagrin of a vociferous green clad horde from north of the Thames, then from the bench arose a hero in the shape of Gary Noel, whose goal 2 minutes after arriving in the fray levelled matters. Captain Fantastic Marc Cumberbatch snaffled up a rebound from the crossbar after ‘keeper Berkley Lawrencin had lost the ball in the unseasonably bright sun and in the blink of an eye the game had been turned on its head. Victory against the odds seemed on the cards but the Dons found a hero of their own in the industrious Harry Hunt who struck in the 78th minute to earn his side a replay.
The preparation for battle was hardly ideal for either contender. Dulwich had been beaten late in the day at home to Cray Wanderers to slip off the pace in the promotion race, though at least Craig Edwards could welcome back Laurent Hamici to partner Tom Bolarinwa in a changed strike force. Ryan Bernard’s injuries still niggled and with Cedric Ngakam cup tied, it meant a return to the line up for Coly, playing in the floating midfield-cum-defence role ahead of the three man rearguard. Behind that the last line of defence saw Jamie Lunan re claim the gloves after completing his suspension.
“You've Got Your Troubles, I’ve Got Mine”, might have been the theme tune from the North Londoners, defeat at Premier Division title contenders in midweek, paling into insignificance with the breaking Friday news that the gates had been slammed shut at Claremont Road, bolted down for the last time, to leave the Dons wandering homeless in search of pastures new. The FA Cup must have been a welcome relief for the emerald-clad Hendon hordes, for if this was their doomsday beckoning, they would face the grim reaper with a smile and a hangover. The boss, one Gary McCann late of this parish, had other thoughts. Unhappy with some players’ performances he wielded the axe. Experienced custodian Richard Wilmot relegated to the bench in favour of teenage tyro Lawrencin after some below-par displays. Up front Glenn Garner earned promotion from the Under 21’s to join the promising Hunt in the vanguard.
If the cauldron bubbled as the afternoon wore the early exchanges merely simmering, the combatants more ready steady cook than Hell’s Kitchen as they readied the ingredients for what would become a rollicking cup-tie of the old-fashioned variety. The first quarter hour was punctuated with misfires and mishits. Hunt looked lively, Paka livelier. The greatest Hamlet threats when the talismanic midfielder let rip down the wing, but this strike force failing to get on the end of some teasing, tempting, torpedo deliveries. Scott Simpson chanced his arm with a rattling strike on the volley from one cross but it ballooned over the bar by a country mile. A rare shot in anger from Danny Dyer for the Dons failed to test Lunan. On the quarter hour Bolarinwa sprinted on to a defence-splitting pass, only to see the onrushing Lawrencin diving at his feet and scrambling the ball away.
Power Ranger Paka switched from provider to predator as he gathered a long range clearance out of defence from Cumberbatch, bringing the ball under control, switching on the accelerator and hammering past his marker. Cutting into the box, he smacked in a shot but a foot the wrong side of the upright.
Set-piece frailty came back to haunt Dulwich as Hamlet threat was countered by Dons delivery. Cumberbatch threw himself upon the grenade as he blocked a fierce strike from Garner, supplied by Maclaren but for the resultant corner a weak defensive header feel to Hudson on the edge of the area who sacked the ball back on the volley, the ball deflected into the roof of the net off the hand of Lunan.
The Dons, exhorted onwards by the visiting choristers, singing their praises, drank from the well of hope and slowly took command of the game. Rattled Dulwich became ragged, Coly was cautioned for a needless tug back, and the chances began to flow for the visitors. A cross field ball picked out Maclaren, unguarded on the right of the box, his sweetly struck effort comfortably gathered by Lunan at his far post. Hunt got into a good position only to fire wide and then some neat interplay between James Bent and Garner ended with the latter wasted a great opening as skewed a shot wide from 10 yards out.
Brief relief for the Hamlet as they got back on the attack, a corner won, defensive header straight to Paka but a looping header too comfortable for Lawrencin who gathered with ease. A larruped free kick from Lunan booming the box but Cumberbatch couldn’t connect, running through to the Hendon custodian gathering as frustrated Hamlet attackers followed in, sniffing for a slip. Dulwich were spared when Dave Diedhiou and Garner challenged for the same rightwing cross, the former’s header spinning wide of the upright as the two teammates collided. Once more Paka provided the impetus for a Hamlet attack, supplying Hamici on the brink of the box, the striker’s effort blocked but whirling away to Charlie Howard but a snatched effort from 20 yards out proved no danger.
With two minutes of the half remaining Dulwich’s molehill became a mountain as Coly was cautioned for a second time and was sent from the field. Contentious to many, the referee’s decision to issue a second yellow, then the red came as the big man challenged for a high ball with Diedhiou, the Hendon man crumpling to the turf.
Craig Edwards resisted the temptation to make personnel changes at the break, instead switching to a even more offensive formation, one that almost bore fruit in the first minute as Bolarinwa was played in, denied both by Lawrencin at his near post and a fractional offside flag. But then fortune played a telling role as Diedhiou believed he had give his team a second, perhaps, killer goal as Bent’s leftwing delivery squirmed from the hands of Lunan under pressure from Hunt, Diedhiou smacking the ball home, only for Mr Norcott to rile the visitors by ruling that the Hamlet custodian had been fouled.
Sloppy passing from the Dons set up a chance for Paka, now marauding down the middle, a charging run down throat of the defence topped with a screaming low drive but wide of the mark. Hendon wasted a host of half-chances but the game swung back to the Hamlet midway through the half. 65 minutes saw Noel replace Hamici and just two later the substitute struck an arrow into the heart of Hendon hopes.
A slice through the flank led by Daryl Plummer, a pass that left defenders in limbo, Noel on the sprint in pursuit, knocking aside Bolarinwa in his single-minded quest for the ball. Lawrencin rushed out but Noel slipped the ball past him. The angle was acute but Noel kept calm, rattling the ball home despite the best efforts of defenders to recover their ground. Noel’s House Party convened at the corner flag. Barely had the Dons drawn a second breath and where once they had seemed in command, their lead had fully slipped its leash. A free kick was delivered high into the area, defender Mark Kirby getting a head to it but only backwards toward his own goal. Lawrencin attempted to palm the unexpected away, only to turn the ball against his own crossbar. Dons dithered, Dulwich didn’t. Cumberbatch latched on to the loose ball and from 8 yards drilled the ball into the net to spark delirious celebrations that seemed so unlikely 20 minutes earlier.
Forlorn Hendon rolled back, only to flounder on Hamlet breakwaters. Delicious victory seemed within toughing distance of the Hamlet as chances went begging. Then on 78 minutes a heartbreaker as Hunt sealed a razor-sharp charge forward from the Greens. The Assistant Referee was waving his flag furiously as the Dons stormed up field, albeit for a Dulwich offence, only to lower it having failed to attract the attention of the man in black. How cruel that would have been or how fortunate had Mr Norcott noticed and halted play for the ball made its way to Hunt, hovering on the edge of the area, picking out the bottom corner with a 20 yard drive that beat Lunan low, cracking against the upright before swirling along the line to nestle in the far corner of the net.
Pure theatre and epilogue to the goals still more excitement as the protagonists went hell-bent for a winner. Lunan parried away a Hunt effort; Plummer had a smacker blocked by the diving Kirby, Noel unable to turn the loose ball home with a miscued header. The 90 minutes had clicked over when best chance of all went begging as a deep left wing cross was nodded back across goal by Diedhiou for the diving Hudson but a looping header skimmed the crossbar.
Feisty football had failed to find a winner and so we reconvene at Harrow Borough, gypsy Dons home for Wednesday at least.

DHFC: Jamie Lunan; Steve May; Billy Chattaway; Benson Paka; Mohamed Coly; Marc Cumberbatch; Daryl Plummer; Charlie Howard; Laurent Hamici (Gary Noel 65); Tom Bolarinwa (Tyran James 85); Scott Simpson
Substitutes not used: Kyle Graham; Junior Kaffo; Robert Bartley; Fasineh Koroma; Sheikh Ceesay (GK)

HFC: Berkley Lawrencin; Kevin Maclaren; Craig Vargas; Rakatahr Hudson; Mark Kirby; James Bent; Danny Dyer (Frank Wilson 78); Dave Diedhiou; Harry Hunt; Charlie Mapes; Glenn Garner (Lubomir Guentchev 69)
Substitutes not used: Festus Mansaray; Richard Wilmot (GK); Michael Roche; Kayan Kalipha; Marc Leach

Goalscoring:
1-0 HFC Rakatahr Hudson 23rd minute
1-1 DHFC Gary Noël 67th minute
2-1 DHFC Marc Cumberbatch 69th minute
2-2 HFC Harry Hunt 78th minute

Officials:
Referee: Mr Wade Norcott (Harlow, Essex)
Assistant Referees: Mr Michael Jarvis (Braintree, Essex) & Mr Peter Wilson (Chelmsford, Essex)

Attendance: 353

DULWICH HAMLET 1 CRAY WANDERERS 2

DULWICH HAMLET 1 CRAY WANDERERS 2
Ryman Isthmian League Division One South
Tuesday 23rd September 2008

“There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.” The Crays are the old lags of the Isthmian league, players perhaps not as fleet of foot or as slender of girth as in their salad days but possessed of minds as sharp as that of any young ragamuffin and like the George Dixons of yesteryear only too willing to administer the proverbial clip round the ear when said scallywags play them for the doddering fool. Once like the Peelers of old such a clip might pass without a word, now adolescent officials, not yet ripe in experience, will admonish such behaviour with cards of flaxen hue or crimson red. A full fist of cautions for the Crays this evening as challenges, as honest as they were robust, kept the Hamlet at bay in a game full flowing, played at full throttle and which seemed to belong to Dulwich until a piece of magic conjured not by a young wizard but an old warlock won the points for Wanderers.
Injury and suspension had wrecked havoc upon Craig Edwards’ strategy for the evening. Skipper Ryan Bernard was missing through injury and Dulwich suffered further when leading scorer Laurent Hamici failed a fitness test before kick-off. Cray boss Ian Jenkins too had his headaches taking to the field without Danny Chapman and Jamie Kempster in midfield. Refreshingly he choose an out and out attacking formation with former Hamlet striker Shawn Beveney wide on the right and Tyrone Sterling taking up the respective position on the opposite wing.
The first chance of the game fell to Scott Simpson, whose powerful shot was charged down by a defender. One of the old lags, Steve Aris, whose dastardly departure from Champion Hill still rankles with the Hamlet faithful, played a key role in thwarting the Hamlet offence as part of a triumvirate completed by the equally venerable Colin Luckett and Ryan Royston. On ten minutes Junior Kaffo, understudy for Hamici, looked to have broken through only for Aris to halt him in his tracks. 17 minutes Cray custodian Glen Knight punched thin air as he came for a Charlie Howard free kick, Cumberbatch unable to punish the error as the ball grazed his head to slip wide of the back stick.
With Cumberbatch in the thick of it, a header at a corner from the centre half struck the back of a defender, the Dulwich skipper follow-up blocked again. The ball ran to Daryl Plummer, his shot cannoning around the area like a loose ball upon the baize, only to fall at a Cray boot and be hacked to safety.
As the half progressed Cray enjoyed their best spell of the match. Luckett pumped in a free kick, Royston meeting the ball with a bullet header that crashed down from the underside of the crossbar and out. A moment later and Tommy Whitnell latched on to a nodded on free kick, turning and sending an angled drive flashing over the top. Cray's main threat had seemed to come from the set-pieces and in the 38th minute they paid off when they snatched the lead as a comer from Luckett was nodded in by Royston, the ball appearing to strike a Dulwich player en route to help it over the line.
As the half drew it dying breaths Dulwich came so close to snatching back a goal. Scott Simpson impulsive charge up field was unceremoniously halted but the referee waved play on and Benson Paka took advantage with a squiggling low drive that Knight had to be smartly down to gather. The same player posed the threat once more, Paka finding space out right cracking a cross into the six yard box, Aris providing a telling head at the near post as Kaffo threatened.
Cray went close right at the start of the second half as Tony Atkins got in front of his marker to loop a header over the crossbar but it was Dulwich who drew first blood in the half, just five minutes in. The equaliser arrived courtesy of a free-kick from Howard nodded on towards the back post by Cedric Ngakam where Plummer was lurking to slip the ball past custodian Knight. With Tyran James and Tom Bolarinwa on as substitutes Hamlet’s play began to show greater zest up front and Cray, found wanting in the middle of the park, were hard pressed to keep us out, struggling to come to grips with the darting Dulwich raids, conceding an abundance of free kicks and a surplus of cautions as hook, crook and a few other things in the book were used to thwart the Dulwich assaults.
Beating the offside trap on 64 minutes, Plummer cut in and clipped the ball over the diving Knight, only to cringe as his effort sheared the outside of the near post. Shortly afterwards substitute Bolarinwa zipped into the box but with only Knight between him and goal dragged his shot wide of the far upright. Dulwich had a narrow squeak in the 71st minute when Sheikh Ceesay fumbled an inswinging corner from Luckett against the inside of the back stick, the Cray faithful convinced the ball had crossed the line. Benson Paka beat Knight from a narrow angle, only to see defender Arran Day clear the ball to safety. As the sands of time drifted away a corner saw Ngakam unable to force home in the six yard box, the rebound running to Simpson who cracked in a fine shot from 18 yards which Knight plucked out of the air at full stretch.
It seemed as if the points would be evenly allotted come close of play, but Dulwich had reckoned without the legendary boot of Tony Dolby. Since he had forsaken the pipe and slippers and bench 16 minutes pervious, his wily teammates had been attempting to lure the Hamlet defence into conceding free kicks around the penalty area. Two minutes into stoppage time this subterfuge paid off as Scott Kinch went to ground under a less than gentle challenge. Having sent a similar effort wide some four minutes earlier, Dolby had clearly found his range and this time the old fox winged in a peach of an effort that beat Ceesay low at his far post.

DHFC: Sheikh Ceesay; Steve May; Billy Chattaway; Benson Paka; Cedric Ngakam; Marc Cumberbatch; Daryl Plummer; Charlie Howard (Mohammed Coly 79); Junior Kaffo (Tom Bolarinwa 63); Gary Noel (Tyran James HT); Scott Simpson
Substitutes not used: Robert Bartley; Danny Baldwinson (GK)

CWFC: Glen Knight; Arron Day; Colin Luckett (Capt.); Dean Morris; Steve Aris; Ryan Royston; Scott Kinch; Tony Atkins; Shawn Beveney (Tony Dolby 74); Tommy Whitnell (Jamie Wood 90+5); Tyrone Sterling
Substitutes not used: Andrew Callaghan; Matt Lee; Jack Bradshaw (GK)

Goalscoring:
1-0 CWFC: Ryan Royston 37th minute
1-1 DHFC: Daryl Plummer 50th minute
2-1 CWFC: Tony Dolby 90th minute (+2)

Officials:
Mr Charles Breakspear
Assistant Referees: Mr Andrew Mawby and Rod Chatfield

Attendance: 241

Ashford Town 0 Dulwich Hamlet 0

Ashford Town 0 Dulwich Hamlet 0
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 20th September 2008

Your scribe blames the evils of television and bite sized chucks of football served upon a platter to slavering couch potatoes, with scoring as fast and frequent as a Montmartre courtesan. I remember as a youngster the family would gather around staring intently at this grey face in box in the corner of the room. However television soon arrived, so we screwed down the lid and returned granny’s coffin to the graveyard. For those television junkies whose weekly fix exacerbates the demand for goals as their wages for support this game was as empty as a Lehman Brothers pay-packet even if the woodwork was rattled regularly, so much that the groundsman was last seen applying a tincture of valium to the quivering goal frame once the final whistle sounded.
Past graveyard of Dulwich dreams, the Homelands can be a desolate place at times, far from civilisation and the finest that Kentish hops and barley can muster, but despite the dearth of goals, those who still admire the defensive arts could at least take succour from a contest won by the muscular over the artistic, the Greco Romano school laying into the Slade and coming out with the honours. That neither ‘keeper made a save of note in 90 minutes of full-bloodied no holds barred football from the old school was more testament to two defences, expertly marshalled by Herculean skippers in the Nuts’n’Bolts snorting warhorse Sean Ray and the Hamlet’s verbose sergeant major Ryan Bernard, two fierce combatants who’d be first over the top when the whistle blew, rather than censure of attackers that were constantly snuffed out.
Once more the gremlins had nibbled at Ming the Merciless’ squad, injury meant the loss of Steve May at right-back, suspension claimed his understudy Peter Martin. Jamie Lunan too began a frustrating period of toe-tapping on the sidelines, though Lady Luck did throw a favour the way of the Hamlet boss as Sheikh Ceesay returned from his injury layoff to reclaim the gloves. Having returned from his own enforced sojourn in an Oxhey cameo, Alex Fiddes then called time on his Hamlet career in midweek so more adjustment was called for. Benson Paka moved out to a winger/wing back role with Charlie Howard holding the reins in the middle of the park. Centre–half Cedric Ngakam took on a roving role, midfielder without portfolio, at one moment augmenting the defence with his dominant presence, next spurring on attacks.
The Nuts’n’Bolts’ Steve Lovell might have the heavy weight of expectation upon his shoulders, generous owners eager to elevate Ashford up the Pyramid and match off field ambitions with on field success, but for the third game in succession he could name an unchanged starting XI, one that was eager to rebound from being dumped out of the FA Cup by Division frontrunners Kingstonian.
The wizards of the statistics predicted a goal fest; the turf accountants of Ashford predicted a home win. The former might have been right, the latter so wrong had Daryl Plummer’s fearsome first minute drive from distance found the net, the midfielder latching on to a loose ball after Laurent Hamici’s effort had been blocked. That incisive start laid the foundations for some early Hamlet offensive, capped by a Billy Chattaway free kick that floated over a backpedalling Josh Willis only to bounce off the top of the crossbar to spare the young custodian’s blushes.
The Nuts’n'Bolts finally spluttered into life and on the quarter hour Mitchell Sherwood came within a whisker of adding to his season’s impressive goal tally, stroking a hooked volley wide of Ceesay’s left-hand post. However as a mastodon might confront a mammoth, the two sides battered against one another rearguard making naught but the slightest impression.
25 minutes, an Ashford corner saw Ray, once Sussex Shire, now Kentish Dray, appear in the six yard box to meet the cross with a steam hammer header that crashed back from the crossbar. In the mêlée the ball was cleared but only to Daniel Braithwaite who stroked a low, sweet drive from the fringes of the penalty area, the shot forcing Ceesay to scramble across his goal but ultimately skidding wide of the far upright.
Eight minutes before the break Braithwaite came even closed to breaking the impasse as, standing in space on the edge of the area, he met Robbie Ryan’s cross with a clipped volley on the turn that sprang back off the near post. Whilst the hosts still pondered their ill fortune, Dulwich broke at speed with Hamici seemingly clear through on goal until Ryan precisely timed tackle turned the ball behind as the Dulwich hitman pulled the trigger. The corner was well met by Bernard, the Hamlet skipper outjumping his Ashford counterpart, but the header looping over the crossbar.
Ashford were out raring to go before the chill had gone off the half time bar bill. Dulwich lingered, the Nuts’n’Bolts gathering rust as they awaited their adversaries’ appearance but quicker out of the blocks once the second half began in anger. Town started brighter but couldn’t work out the maze of Hamlet’s defence. Dulwich went close, Paka’s determination taking into the penalty area, a first effort blocked by the sliding Ryan, a second effort spinning over the fingers of Willis but smacking against the crossbar.
The wandering nomad, Ngakam, laced muscle with art as his powerful run set up Gary Noel to chip in a ball towards Hamici but Willis was on the button, rushing out to snatch the ball away from the marauding striker.
Perhaps too young to be midfield general, perhaps a midfield second lieutenant, Howard sniffed out an opened and fired a ball into the path of Noel, the youngster turning on the gas to dash on to the pass but then ruining the good work, firing off a dud with only Willis standing between him and a moment of glory. With all hands to the pump Dulwich kept the Nuts’n’Bolts at bay. Even Scott Simpson joined in flicking away with a header from beneath the bar a deep cross bound for a brace of green shirts at the back stick.
Midfield quicksand engulfed a game; assiduous attackers became boa-constricted by unflagging defence. The fans bayed for goals, the benches bayed for caution, the season is too young to throw away needless points. The afternoon’s must accurate shot, if perhaps its most unintentional came from the boot of Plummer with a quarter hour to go, as his chipped attempt sailed wide to the mark only to plop perfectly into a lonely dustbin on the terraces. The goal expectant would have appreciated the delicious irony.
Seeing his offence frustrated at every turn Ashford manager Lovell shuffled his pack, pulled off striker Bradley Spice, a pauper at the table of chances, and defender Jimmy Elford, brought on reserve team graduate forward Lee Farrell and speedy winger Jimmy Bottle to stiffen his attack. But in the end it was to no avail, if Ashford probed in greater numbers, Dulwich merely redoubled their endeavours in defence. The locals trooped out, home to oast and orchard, and dreams of goals in abundance presented by Linekar. The aficionados stayed to applaud manful deeds.

ATFC: Josh Willis; Jimmy Elford (Jimmy Bottle 80); Robbie Ryan; Daniel Braithwaite; Sean Ray (Capt); Ryan Briggs; Anthony Browne; Danny Lye; Bradley Spice (Lee Farrell 83); Paul Jones; Mitchell Sherwood;
Substitutes not used: Lee Hockey; Anthony Hogg; Jamie Riley

DHFC: Sheikh Ceesay; Cedric Ngakam; Billy Chattaway; Benson Paka; Ryan Bernard (Capt.);Marc Cumberbatch; Daryl Plummer; Charlie Howard; Laurent Hamici (Tom Boloriniua 65);Gary Noel; Scott Simpson
Substitutes not used: Fasineh Koroma, Junior Kaffo, Tyran James, Danny Baldwinson (GK)

Officials:
Referee: Mr David Buck (Istead Rise)
Assistant referee: Mr Neil Baker & Mr Mick O’Keefe

Attendance: 267

Oxhey Jets 1 Dulwich Hamlet 5

Oxhey Jets 1 Dulwich Hamlet 5
The FA Cup Sponsored by Eon First Qualifying Round
Saturday 13th September 2008

Dulwich Hamlet’s ball will be jangling in the FA’s famous velvet bag come Monday lunchtime after Oxhey Jets were shot down in balls of flame, made to look like rickety biplanes by the Red Arrows of the Hamlet. Time and again a flashing streak ripped through to tuck home another goal, Laurent Hamici continuing to mine his rich vein of form with a hat trick to take his season tally to seven from eight games. Also getting in the goalscoring was Daryl Plummer who celebrated his return to first team action after his frustrating injury layoff with a delightful double, only the woodwork preventing him going mano-a-mano with Hamici for the matchball.
For the second round in succession Hamlet’s opposition came from the South Midlands Spartan League but the contrast could not have been greater, Broxbourne’s industrial football replaced by South Oxhey’s industrial landscape, power lines almost draping to the pitch along the touchline and behind the goal, the express line into Euston rattling away in a cutting below but amongst the sights and sounds of urban Britain, horses grazing leisurely behind the goal amidst Hertfordshire’s wooded arbours. Upon the field too the true amateurs of the Jets stuck to the ethos of the beautiful game, perhaps to their detriment. Barely an expletive passed their lips beyond a running tiff ‘twixt garrulous goalie Kevin Paul and his melancholy teammate, Kevin “Moaner” Ayres, five centuries of appearances in Oxhey blue behind him. Bad fouls were in abeyance, bar a winch-inducting scything down of Steve May by Lee Grace, graceless indeed.
Though injury woes remain, manager Craig Edwards almost had the luxury of naming an unchanged team from that that had seen of the challenge of the Casuals in midweek. Ryan Bernard returned to replace the injured Cedric Ngakam as he had done at half time in that victory whilst Junior Kaffo made way for Daryl Plummer returning to the starting line for the first time since Merstham. Also making a welcome return from the physio's table, albeit as a substitute was Alex Fiddes. Frustratingly for the Jets the injury gremlins had been at work with 9 goal striker Tim O’Mara ruled out and the mantle of scorer passed to the lightning fast Jamie Arthur, a constant threat with the pace but lacking in the precision that might have punished defensive woolgathering.
The seasons turn, late summer sun toasted the Boundary Stadium, late blossoming Hamlet fruitful in Hertfordshire fields. A blue wall faced them; Dulwich dismantled it brick by brick. Early Hamlet threats beaten away but in the tenth minute, an armour piercing bullet from the boot of Plummer stripped away the first veneer of resistance. Hamici sent tumbling, a Gallic filling for a Hertfordshire sandwich, as a brace of defenders baulked him at the corner of the penalty area. Left hand down a bit Mr Phillips, as the man in black waved aside protests, the ball running to Benson Paka who slipped the ball inside to Plummer, a measured shot from 18 yards leaving Paul a frozen bystander as it rattled in via the far upright.
Still stunned the Jets defenders found themselves grounded as a Scott Simpson cross from the right was met by a neatly flicked header from Hamici, only to skim wide of the far stick.
Arthur raided for the Jets but a heavy mantle lay upon him and he clearly missed his strike partner, getting into position to supply telling crosses only to consistently overhit his deliveries.
On 27 minutes Paul Turner had the ball in the Hamlet net, though a flag raised some time previous had long seen the Dulwich defence ease off. As if to salt the wound, barely 60 seconds had elapsed when Dulwich punished lackadaisical defending, Hamici sprinting away and in attempting to round the diving Paul having his legs taken away from under him. The Jets custodian might have seen red but Mr Phillips was kind, only a yellow for the culprit, but Hamici was less charitable dispatched a well struck spot kick heartily hammered high to the ‘keeper’s left shoulder to double the lead.
Plummer was a gnat’s wing away from adding a third after 35 minutes when his scooped shot from the edge of the penalty area left Paul standing as it lopped past his right hand, the custodian looking back expecting to see the ball once more nestling in the net but relieved to see it cannon back off the face of the upright.
In command at the break the Dulwich express thundered up a gear as the second half got underway, Oxhey’s hopes of a post-interval revival dealt a killer blow within three minutes of the restart. The home defence was left in limbo as Gary Noel ran on to a pass down the left, drawing the ‘keeper from his goal before magnanimously squaring for Hamici. The silent assassin struck once more as his marker was skipped past and with Paul in No Man’s Land; it was a simple task for the Hamlet hitman to drill the ball into the empty net.
It might have been throwing a drowning man a straw but 6 minutes later, an error from Jamie Lunan helped the Jets to register on the scoreboard. The Hamlet number one came fro a corner, lost the ball in flight and amidst a flurry of boots and bodies Arthur poked the ball home. For a moment blue hearts pumped a little faster as they looked to reduce the arrears further. Substitute Lee Armitt, a hat trick hero in midweek for the reserves, justified his promotion as he replaced Adam Lowton and proceeded to make a series of incisive runs at the Hamlet defence who found themselves working a little harder as the buzzing youngster kept up a continuous assault. Only a magnificent covering tackle from Billy Chattaway denied him a shot on goal after one headlong charge in from the wing into the penalty area.
However the lifebelt soon slipped from the Jets as the waters of the Hamlet finally engulfed them. The industrious Noel was unlucky not to make it four after he battled against the odds to fire a shot in on goal, somehow hooked off the line by a determined Ian Bywater, finding an extra spurt to clear the ball after Paul had been beaten. The respite was brief and three minutes later the sluggish Jets defence was caught napping as Plummer hit the gas to accelerate away down the right, luring Paul into committing himself before nipping round and slipping the ball into the net.
Substitute Peter Martin almost had an instant impact after replacing May, waltzing away from tackle after tackle with impish glee before an audacious attempt to chip Paul from 25 yards glided just over the crossbar. But, right at the death, the rout was completed and so was Hamici’s hat trick. Noel waited in the middle but the goal was Hamici’s only quarry. His body language spoke it. Shoulders back, a soupçon of Gallic arrogance, quicksilver in his boots and fire in his eyes, the tricky striker collected a pinpoint pass from Junior Kaffo. Dancing and darting as defenders fell before him, Hamici toyed with Paul as a cat might torment a mouse, drawing the Jets custodian before hammering the ball into the net to seal overwhelming victory.

Teams:
OJFC: Kevin Paul, Ian Bywater, Lee Grace, Marc Ayres, Chris Harding, Wayne Gladdy, Chris Ingham, Paul Turner (Karl Bull 74, Nathan Roberts, Adam Lowton (Lee Armitt 65), Jamie Arthur
Substitutes not used: Carl Wigg, Michael Wyatt, David Maynard, Colin Jenkins, Owen Deamer

DHFC: Jamie Lunan, Steve May (Peter Martin 85), Billy Chattaway, Benson Paka, Ryan Bernard (Capt), Marc Cumberbatch, Daryl Plummer, Charlie Howard (Alex Fiddes 77), Laurent Hamici, Gary Noel, Scott Simpson (Junior Kaffo 77)
Substitutes not used: Tyran James, Sheikh Ceesay

Goalscoring:
1-0 DHFC Daryl Plummer 10th minute
2-0 DHFC Laurent Hamici (penalty) 29th minute
3-0 DHFC Laurent Hamici 48th minute
3-1 OJFC Jamie Arthur 54th minute
4-1 DHFC Daryl Plummer 70th minute
5-1 DHFC Laurent Hamici 90th minute

Officials:
Referee: Mr C Phillips (Carshalton)
Assistant Referees: Mr E Walker (Colliers Wood) & Mr W Ingram (New Malden)

Attendance: 148

Hampton and Richmond Borough Youth 5 Dulwich Hamlet Youth 0

Hampton and Richmond Borough Youth 5 Dulwich Hamlet Youth 0
The FA Youth Cup – Sponsored by Eon – Preliminary Round
Wednesday 10th September 2008

Having rattled home seven goals in their opening Kent Youth League game at the weekend, Tom Pratt leading the way with a hat trick in that demolition of Dartford (North), the boot was firmly switched to the other foot as the young Beavers blitzed the Hamlet with a fistful of goals of their own. Truth be told this scoreline did not reflect the Dulwich’s performance, battling and feisty but punctuated with too many errors in key areas, but did not give the lie to a Hampton side that created the bulk of the chances and punished even the tiniest mistake with unerring efficiency. Me thought I was in Suburbia not Germany!
As early autumn leaffall fluttered around them The Beavers had the accelerator on early, right winger Tom Kanek a constant threat and had Jack Whitbey larruped the ball wide and high, his early penetration on the flank might have been rewarded with a goal. Dulwich hit back with Louis Sprusen’s ball flicked on by Dean Grant into the path of the overlapping Metin Ramadan, a sweet low drive just wide of ‘keeper Joe Talbot’s near upright. Not long after Sprusen fed Ruen DeSilva overlapping down the left, a neat chipped cross into the near post flicked cunningly across the face of goal by Pratt’s head.
Free in the box Spencer Wakeman wasted a golden opportunity as he nodded Kanek’s cross into the arms of the waiting Danny Baldwinson before Josh Guichard was picked out of three red shirts unguarded on the edge of the area only dwell on the opportunity too long and drive his effort into the body of Baldwinson. The Red Tide swept on, Wakeman’s daring 25 yard chip floated just over. Baldwinson made a breathtaking close range block to batter out Liam Camis venomous volley from 8 yards. Another Kanek cross seemed destined for a red head until big Olly Bell at centre half hooked the ball safety, his Hampton harassers as much annoyance as a pair of gadflies.
That storm weathered Dulwich re-gathered themselves for a brief respite as a corner was one but Bell could only hook the ball over the bar as Sprusen’s header fell to him. Back came the Hampton boys, again marauding down Kanek’s flank. Dithering almost cost Hamlet a goal as a weak attempt to clear the ball only reached Guichard lurking on the corner of the penalty area, but surprise at the gift got the better of him and an attempt to chip the ball into the net bothered none but the starlings roosting amidst the arbour.
The hard work seemed done as half time approached but them Dulwich shot themselves in the foot not once but twice in the space of two short minutes. On 43 minutes the ball was lost in the middle of the park, a pass sent forward to Camis scampering in pursuit with Bell blocking his route, but a misplaced attempt to clear the ball from the Hamlet centre half gave him extra impetus and Camis was hotfooting it towards goal with Bell in his wake. A drilled finish low into the bottom corner gave Baldwinson no chance. If that was gutting, a second goal almost on half time would rip the heart from the Hamlet. Kanek’s cross seemed too deep, an easy gather for Baldwinson but for an instant his concentration went, the ball vanished in the floodlights and it slipped from his grasp to fall at the feet of a startled James Wheeler, who kept his composure to guide the ball into the net gaping before him.
Wheeler would once more be the recipient of Baldwinson largesse two minutes into the second half, a killer blow from which Hamlet could not recover. The young Hamlet custodian inexplicably allowed a speculative shot, maybe even a mis-hit cross, from the young Beaver, wide out on the left wing, to squirm through his arms and into the net behind him. Another nail in the coffin came on 55 minutes when Jordan Waller added a fourth from a free kick to leave Dulwich with naught but pride to chase. Of course this opened up more chances for Hampton but off-key shooting keep the scoreline below the bounds of embarrassment as long-range efforts from Abu Rayhan and Liam Camis went wide of the target. Even went the number favoured the hosts with players in the majority, a crunching Bell tackle left Wakeman’s ears ringing with a peal to match the finest campanile. However the defence was AWOL with a quarter hour left as Camis claimed his second, Baldwinson bravely blocking at the striker’s feet but powerless as the rebound was curled beyond him.
Lesser teams might have curled up to wait the final whistle but hearts still pumped pink and blue, and for ten minutes, Dulwich held an ascendancy that had been strange to them for too long. A drop ball swept out to Daniel Craig haring down the left, his cross into the six yard box met by Grant, winning the ball against taller, more numerous, opposition but nodding the ball over the crossbar. A Dulwich corner dropped to Micky Mullane but from 8 yards out he larruped the ball over the bar and as if to heap the pain on, Pratt galloped away of the last defender in a carbon copy of Hampton’s opener, only to drag his effort wide of the near post.

Teams:
H&RBFC: Joe Talbot, Jack Whitby, Abu Rayhan, Josh Guichard (Charlie Matthuis 80), Dean Inman (Capt), Robert Curtis (Jack Grinstead 66), Tom Kanek, Jordan Waller, Liam Camis (Soheil Tehrani 82), Spencer Wakeman, James Wheeler
Substitute not used: Alex Williams (GK)

DHFC: Danny Baldwinson, Micky Mullane, Dan Moosavi, Adam Griffin (Lewis Cashin 60), Olly Bell, Ike Nwanokwu, Metin Ramadan (Arnel Maga 60), Louis Sprusen, Dean Grant, Tom Pratt, Ruen DeSilva (Daniel Craig 77)
Substitutes not used: Tommy Roberts, Tom Gothard (GK)

Goalscoring:
1-0 H&RBFC Liam Camis 43rd minute
2-0 H&RBFC James Wheeler 45th minute
3-0 H&RBFC James Wheeler 47th minute
4-0 H&RBFC Jordan Waller 55th minute
5-0 H&RBFC Liam Camis 77th minute

Officials:
Referee: Mr T Pusey (Hanwell)
Assistant referee: Mr D Hookway (Shepperton) & Mr R Ellerker (Harrow)

Attendance: 65

Dulwich Hamlet 3 Corinthian-Casuals 1

Dulwich Hamlet 3 Corinthian-Casuals 1
Ryman Isthmian League Division One South
Tuesday 9th September 2008

With a rat-a-tat-tat and a five minute fusillade of goals, Dulwich came from behind against the incommodious amateurs of Corinthian-Casuals whose obdurate defence of a sixth minute lead given them by Trevor Robinson’s pistol crack strike seemed set to upset the Hamlet on home turf. However a needless push gave Dulwich a lifeline just when it seemed that all their efforts would be in vain, Laurent Hamici’s piston powered penalty levelling matters and becoming the precursor for a blitz of goals that saw that early deficit turned in what was by full time a comfortable victory and a welcome three points.
As full time blew at Folkestone the thunderous look upon the face of Craig Edwards spelt doom for those whose performances were deemed below par and much changed starting XI bore testament to the manager’s desire to ensure such debacles would not be repeated. In a night of long knifes a number of players were given final ultimatums, stay to fight and prove yourselves or find employment elsewhere. A midfield much ravaged by injury and ill-fortune was bolstered as last season Players Player of the Year, Benson Paka, returned to Champion Hill to add his high-octane engine to the Hamlet heart. Alongside him Gillingham prodigy, Charlie Howard, a midfield starlet for the Kent side, out learning his trade in the rough and tumble of the Isthmian League. In attack Junior Kaffo returned to the battering ram centre-forward role he had performed diligently, if without reward, against Broxbourne in the FA Cup whilst there was a first start for former Millwall youngster Gary Noel.
If Dulwich had suffered a lost weekend for the Casuals the previous game, victory over moneybags Ashford Town, had been a welcome relief in a winless season so far as a late fightback won them all three points for the first time this term. Though young Howard’s perceptive cross field ball almost set up Steve May in the third minute, a hurried shot skewed away from goal, the Casuals kept up the Ashford momentum with the evening’s opening goal just three minutes later as from a throw-in Robinson’s deceptive swivel left May sprawled on the turf. Whilst most might have looked for a target in the box, Robinson pulled the trigger and smacked in a drive from the angle, laced with venom and pumped with power, that gave Jamie Lunan not a ghost of a chance, beating the ‘keeper at his near post, leaving the post quivering as it cracked in off the upright.
Age before beauty, Young Hamlet’s spurs and stabs countered by the more worldly-wise Casuals, who created a number of early openings and had Dan Jackson not scuffed a clear chance might have doubled their lead before the half was half done. Dulwich’s ripostes were sharp but infrequent. Kaffo almost got on to the end of skipper Marc Cumberbatch’s header down from a free kick, a defender’s boot to the rescue as ‘keeper Colin Harris hesitated. Were Hamlet over exerting themselves? A blur of legs when they attacked but Harris mainly untroubled as the efforts failed to find the target. The final quarter hour belonged to Dulwich but somehow a goal would not come. Like cobras on steroids Simpson and Hamici badgered the visiting defence. From the edge of the area Noel dragged a shot wide of the ‘keeper’s right hand stick. Next attack and Hamici chanced his arm with a larruped strike on the volley that had Harris flustered as he scrambled to pat-a-cake the ball behind for a corner. With sands running low, Dulwich kept up a move as sinuous and twisting as a Baghdad belly dancer despite copious Casuals attempts to stall it, if only Hamici’s finish had been better.
Having slipped the reins of their minders to play in the park, Dulwich were out for the second half before the Casuals had supped their half-time teas. Svelte ideas, fortified with aggression and adrenalin and the Casuals defence was showed its years as the young pups scythed at them again and again. Simpson’s pinpoint cross in from the left wing was met by Noel, leaping upon winged feet, his header flicking wide of the back stick. Howard smacked one in from distance, fizzing low but wide of the upright.
A caution for Casuals Chris Horwood and a dangerous free kick delivered deep by Hamici, Cumberbatch perhaps unwise to eschew a diving header for a side foot which failed to connect. A flurry of cards followed Dan Jackson’s bone crunching termination of May’s run out of defence rightly punished as was Hamici’s over exuberant leap into a tackle. May’s whipped cross in from the left was met by Simpson at the back of the box but his effort was blocked.
As the wheel of time turned ever on, the hopes of Hamlet never died but it took a moment of madness from Casuals’ substitute Lee Matthews to throw Dulwich the vital lifeline of a spot kick. Howard’s bombed cross from the left seemed to be going too deep and too long for Hamici to reach until Matthews decided to give him a helping hand, the defender’s shove so strong the unfortunate Hamlet man, already in flight, was almost pushed over the crossbar! Unsurprisingly the referee unerringly pointed to the penalty mark. Surprisingly the transgressor went unpunished, though Byron Brown’s protestations earned him the amateurs’ fourth caution of the evening. The imperturbable Hamici exacted his revenge with powerful spot kick hammered home. That was the cockspur for the Hamlet revival. Nerve, sinew, muscle and energy were thrust at the visitors. On 76 minutes the ball swept across the park to Simpson the leftwing marauder. A neat pass back inside to Paka, a low cross beyond the ‘keeper and there was Noel to tie the ribbon as he tucked the ball into the gaping net, a goal capped by an acrobatic flourish for his maiden goal. A double stab to the heart for gallant Casuals as Tyron Myton earned himself a second caution and rather unCorinthian dismissals swiftly became a triple tragedy for the Tolworth team as Dulwich added a third on 79 minutes. Casuals’ Mark Towse dithered too long on the ball in the middle of the park and Hamlet were upon him like wolves upon a wounded deer. A sliderule pass sent May scampering away like a pheasant before the beaters and through Harris tried to narrow the angle it was to no avail as the Hamlet man slipped the ball coolly under his diving body.
Frustration set in for the Casuals and a badge that once waved the flag of fair play as Chronos frowned upon them. Shielding the ball by the corner flag, Hamici was hacked at repeatedly by Matthews as a piece of rump steak upon the slab of some trainee butcher. For a sixth time a yellow card was waved in the face of Corinthian, the ghosts of that great team scowled. All this led for a extended bout of stoppage time but Harris prevented further scoring by the Hamlet as made a smart save, diving to flick away an angled volley from Simpson meeting Noel’s set-up.

DHFC: Jamie Lunan, Steve May, Billy Chattaway, Benson Paka, Cedric Ngakam (Ryan Bernard HT), Marc Cumberbatch, Gary Noel, Charlie Howard, Laurent Hamici (Daryl Plummer 90), Junior Kaffo, Scott Simpson
Substitutes not used: Peter Martin, Mohamed Coly, Sheikh Ceesay (GK)
Cautions: Laurent Hamici

CCFC: Colin Harris, Carlos Talbot (Lee Matthews 37), Byron Brown, Chris Horwood (Capt), James Rieve, Joe Funicello, Tyrone Myton, Luke Edghill, Dan Jackson , Steve Omonuo (Joe Nwoko 65), Trevor Robinson (Mark Towse 75)
Substitutes not used: Richard Price, Paul Smith (GK)
Cautions: Tyrone Myton, Chris Horwood, Dan Jackson, Byron Brown, Lee Matthews
Dismissal: Tyrone Myton 75 (Second Caution)

Goalscoring:
1-0 CCFC Trevor Robinson 6th minute
1-1 DHFC Laurent Hamici (pen) 73rd minute
2-1 DHFC Gary Noel 76th minute
3-1 DHFC Steve May 79th minute

Attendance: 192

Officials:
Referee: Mr Michael Webb (Woking, Surrey)
Assistant Referees: Mr Gareth Mays (Epsom, Surrey) & Mr Stefan Malczewski (Ashtead, Surrey)

Folkestone Invicta 2 Dulwich Hamlet 0

Folkestone Invicta 2 Dulwich Hamlet 0
Ryman Isthmian League Division One South
Saturday 6th September 2008

After exertions of the FA Cup it was back to league action for the Hamlet as they travelled down to the Kent coast to take on in-form Folkestone Invicta, newly relegated from the upper echelons of the Isthmian League, but among the favourites for a speedy restoration to the Premier Division in light of three wins out of four in their past league outings.
The wide open spaces of the Buzzlines Stadium, beneath the chalk cliffs of Ken, the venue, but buzzing was something Hamlet did little of in a subdued performance which rarely rose above the mediocre. Craig Edwards had a joker in his hand with Ryan Bernard utilised in the battering-ram centre forward role, but his poker hand was regularly trumped by a Invicta defence that refused to buckle and employed gamesmanship of the lowest order, players hitting the deck wit such regularly the local constabulary were last seen scouring the vicinity for snipers hiding amongst the undergrowth.
The home pleaders showed their cards early with a brace of contentious claims for a spot kick ere the quarter hour had passed. Handball was the first shout, waved away by referee Mr Allum, the man in black similarly unpredisposed to award a penalty when James Dryden flung himself to the floor in the area proclaimed a Dulwich hand had sent him tumbling.
A festering undercurrent of malice left a sour taste upon this contest, exacerbated when Lee Spiller limped from the field of play after just 19 minutes a victim of his own malevolence as he crunched into a late tackle on Tyran James. The free kick awarded against the now-departed miscreant created the best chance s far of a lacklustre game, the ball dropping to Mo Coly whose dipping 30-yarder was neatly tipped over by a back-pedalling Charlie Mitten. At the opposite end Dryden flashed a cross-shot across the Dulwich six yard box to cap a flowing move involving Andy Pugh and Jimmy Jackson out on the left flank.
Having allowed so much nastiness from both sides a free rein Mr Allum finally remembered he had brought his cards though Matt Bourne’s playacting as Laurent Hamici lunged in for the ball was as great a contributing factor as the Hamlet man’s challenge.
The Hamlet’s makeshift centre-forward, Bernard, showed those whose regular trade this striking business the way to goal with the first true effort on goal shortly after the half hour, Bernard’s header from James’ chipped in pass on target but lacking the power to trouble Mitten. Bernard’s frustration with an offside decision soon after saw him join Hamici in the book as Mr Allum took exception to his vociferous plaint.
The dread deadlock was finally broken as Folkestone amateur dramatics saw them awarded a free kick on the edge of the area. With Dulwich dithering over the construction and placing of the wall, Dryden, in no mood for procrastination, neatly curled the ball up and over the wall, beyond the clawing fingers of Jamie Lunan and into the corner of the net.
A third Hamlet caution before the break as Liam Friend showed what the theatre had missed and football, perhaps to its regret, had gained, tumbling to the turf over Simpson’s outstretched leg with a squeal that would have dogs converging upon the Buzzlines in packs. Hoodwinked Mr Allum brandished the yellow as the miracle working physio had him up and running quicker than you can say “take up your bed and walk”!
Subdued by goal and cautions, Dulwich were a shadow of a team in the second half, timid in the tackle for fear of Mr Allum notebook, impotent in attack. Invicta smelt that fear and sent in the storm troopers to wreak havoc upon the Hamlet goal. Early chances to claim three points went begging as Dryden blasted extravagantly wide when Jackson’s pinpoint delivered free kick found him unguarded in the area. Cedric Ngakam came to the rescue, clearing when skipper Lee Gledhill drilled the ball in from the right.
When that rare chance for the Hamlet materialized, it was wastefully thrown away, as evidenced on the 57 minutes when great approach work from James set up Daniel Nwanze, only for the big man to shoot tamely into the body of Mitten.
Though Dulwich had been poor in most, if not all departments, the travelling fans had found their scapegoat in Mr Allum, not that he did much to dissuade them from their belief with his decisions, none more so than when Michael Everitt seemingly rained a blow upon the prostrate Steve May after the two had tangled.
A fine chip in from Billy Chattaway proved just too long for Hamici, the young left back returning from delivery duties to defensive ones as he was perfectly placed on the goal line to hack away Dryden’s goalbound effort. Vital defending at the other end as Hamici spun and shot across, a defender’s toes turning the ball in the hands of the diving Mitten. If doors of hope had creaked open with that opportunity, they were slammed shut in the face of the Hamlet in the 78th minute. Pugh collected a drilled pass through the middle from teammate Jackson before sidestepping Lunan and applying a composed finish. A third was on the cards when Jackson delivered a first class free kick on to the head of James Everitt but he could not get enough purchase on the header with Lunan down smartly to smoother.
If the rigor mortis had long since set in, there was a brief animation of the Hamlet in the final throes of the contest, Mitten forced into a stunning save to turn a blazing Hamici drive over the crossbar, Marc Cumberbatch meeting the resultant corner with a firm header but wide of the mark.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Charlie Mitten, Lee Gledhill (Capt.), Mark Green, Liam Friend, Matt Bourne, Michael Everitt, Lee Spiller (James Everitt 19), Andy Pugh, James Dryden, Nick Humphrey, Jimmy Jackson
Substitutes not used: Byron Walker, Josh Burchell, Liam Dickson, Naff Jevons

DULWICH HAMLET: Jamie Lunan, Steve May, Billy Chattaway (Peter Martin 81), Mohammed Coly, Cedric Ngakam, Marc Cumberbatch, Tyran James, Daniel Nwanze (Gary Noel 66), Laurent Hamici, Ryan Bernard (Fasineh Koroma 66), Scott Simpson
Substitutes not used: Junior Kaffo, Sheikh Ceesay

Goalscoring:
1-0 FIFC: James Dryden 35th minute
2-0 FIFC: Andy Pugh 78th minute

Officials:
Referee: Mr Rob Allum
Assistant Referees: Mr Jon Stone and Mr Leigh Crowhurst

Attendance: 307

Broxbourne Borough Victoria and Elm 1 Dulwich Hamlet 2

Broxbourne Borough Victoria and Elm 1 Dulwich Hamlet 2
The FA Cup – Sponsored by E.On – Preliminary Round replay
Tuesday 2nd September 2008

Dulwich Hamlet dispensed with troublesome Broxbourne at the second time of asking but not without human cost in full-bloodied battle at the Goffs Lane home of their South Midlands Spartan League hosts. The headaches began before the kick-off as Steve May was delayed on his way from work making kick-off with a matter of minutes to spare, a vital cog might have been for May was to move into the centre back role with skipper Ryan Bernard on the bench. 15 minutes of no holds barred football, not tackling but grabbling more suited to a Saturday afternoon at Catford Town Hall with Kent Walton behind the mike. One half expected some stage-managed granny to bolt from the stands, brollie poised to strike down some poor unfortunate whose tackling had riled her. Instead it was a brace of players doing the marching, back down the rudimentary tunnel to the dressing rooms as Peter Martin took exception to a two footed lunge from the Boro’s Saturday saviour and after blows had been traded referee Gavin Muge had not alternative but to brandish a red card and send the crestfallen pair slopping sluggishly to an early shower. The thinning of the numbers should have favoured the hosts, an out and out striker sacrificed for them, a right back for the Hamlet but instead once the blueness had seeped from the night air it was Dulwich who exploited space to take the lead. The ball wheedled out to Scott Simpson, lurking out on the left wing and with defenders snapping a his heels he drove to the edge of the area to let rip with a fierce low drive that gave Mark Virgo in the host goal little chance of rescuing his laboured defence.
If this was promise of a Dulwich rampage it struggled to materialise for though the Hamlet held the noses under lock and key for much of the half they could not make enough of the chances that came their way. A spectacular scissors kick by Fas Koroma, drafted in the hitman role, failed to come off whilst all Broxbourne could muster in reply was a shot well off the mark as a low cross was drilled in from the left. On the very brink of the break it should have been a second for once as Simpson’s industry on the wing, determination and tricky in the box, saw a chipped cross pick out Laurent Hamici rattling in at the back of the box only to misfire with his shot and see the ball flash across the goal and beyond the opposite post.
Barely had the players left the sanctuary of the changing rooms than battle was joined once more. The ebullient Hamici blazed in the opening attack then not long after saw a bullet drive heading for a chink in the top corner of Virgo’s net clawed away by the alert custodian. Mr Muge’s card toaster was soon pinning ready once more as a prehistoric challenge from Bradley Poole saw him become the second Boro’ boy booked.
The high work rate was certainly taking its toll on both XIs and mistake might prove telling. Fortunately when presented with the ball in just such a situation Lee Teagle was not to take advantage of the munificence of the Hamlet, instead shooting straight in the midriff of Jamie Lunan, to whom the ball had been a stranger for much of the preceding hour and a quarter.
Then with ten minutes to go it all went pear-shaped as a booming throw-in caused consternation in the Dulwich defence, the ball was not cleared fully and in the melee a free kick was conceded on the far edge of the area. A severe case of “after you, Claude” as the ball was drilled low across the penalty spot, players of either hue shying from the ball until Matt Kearney struck a booty to stab the ball home from 5 yards out.
What was left in the tank for the Hamlet? Would this be a dagger through the heart that had sustained them so long in a furious battle? The dark shadow of extra-time, maybe even penalties, was cast over Goffs Lane but Dulwich sipped once more from the well of courage. Five minutes were left, a corner was one and rising to meet the delivery as Poseidon from the waves was Marc Cumberbatch, arching to meet the ball with a venom-laden header too powerful for Virgo as it singed his outstretched gloves on it way to the back of the net. Red in shirt, red in blood, red in heart, Dulwich had clinched a place in the next round, a visit to Oxhey Jets. But still this enthralling evening had a bitter postscript. An overjoyed Lunan launched into a jig of joy to which the homesters took exception along with Mr Muge who took his evenings card count to seven, a trio of reds (2-1 to the Hamlet) and quartet of yellows all to the hosts.

Teams:
DHFC: Jamie Lunan, Peter Martin, Billy Chattaway, Alex Fiddes, Steve May, Marc Cumberbatch, Fas Koroma (Tyran James 65), Dan Nwanze, Laurent Hamici, Junior Kaffo, Scott Simpson
Substitutes Not Used: Ryan Bernard, Gary Noel, Erron Dussard, Danny Baldwinson
Cautions: None
Dismissals: Peter Martin, Jamie Lunan

BBV&EFC: Mark Virgo, Dan Odamo (Danny May 77), Rob Kemble, Lee Teagle, Matt Watts, Junior Langsbury (Michael Noble 63), Gary Taylor (Matt Kearney 77), Bradley Poole, Rob Tungett, Ryan Wade, Mark Brennan
Substitutes not used: Lloyd Opara, Obey Murefu (GK)
Cautions: Bradley Poole, Junior Langsbury, Matt Watts, Lee Teagle
Dismissal: Ryan Wade

Goalscoring:
1-0 DHFC Scott Simpson 17th minute
1-1 BBV&EFC Matt Kearney 81st minute
2-1 DHFC Marc Cumberbatch 84th minute

Officials:
Referee: Mr Gavin Muge
Assistant Referees: Mr Geoff Graham & Mr Adrian Waters

Attendance: 94

Dulwich Hamlet 1 Broxbourne Borough Victoria and Elm 1

Dulwich Hamlet 1 Broxbourne Borough V & E 1
FA Cup (Sponsored by Eon) Preliminary Round
Sunday 31st August 2008

Dulwich and Broxbourne will have to do it all again on Tuesday after Gavin Wade’s 85th minute equaliser meant the Spartan South Midlands Premier Division side were allowed to escape with a share of the spoils in a below par match when few players in Pink and Blue could be satisfied with their performances. Had Hamlet managed to find a higher gear this game might have been put to bed long before that heart-breaking equaliser, all the more gutting that it would come from a mistake from usually sure-footed skipper Ryan Bernard. First chance fell to the visitors; Junior Langsbury stabbed the ball over the bar from close range in an unseemly goalmouth scramble, Dulwich struggling to find their feet, almost as if a sluggish Sunday hangover dulled their skills. However the Hamlet soon grabbed the whip hand and Fasineh Koroma was a whisker away from connected with the ball as Laurent Hamici larruped a drive across the face of the six yard box. Consolation though for the energetic Koroma as he was on hand to drive Dulwich into the lead on the quarter hour. Scott Simpson jet powered free kick was too hot to hold for Broxbourne ‘keeper Mark Virgo and as the ball spilled from his hands Koroma was on hand to stab the ball home under the falling custodian.
The game slipped into a morass of midfield muddling as Broxbourne’s pressing kept the Hamlet from their free flowing best. Little to report until Jamie Lunan was testing for the first time in anger as Dan Nwanze was robbed of the ball by Tony Burke, the onetime Potters Bar man, driving on to set up Mark Brennan, but thought his long range shot clipped off a defender, the deviation in flight was not enough to deceive Jamie Lunan. Spurred into direct action Dulwich were galloping back on the attack with Simpson spinning off his marker but with his shooting satnav on the blink larruping a fierce rising shot over the crossbar from 14 yards out. Though Boro' had the ball in the side netting soon after the chances were going the way of the Hamlet but something was lacking, accuracy. Tyran James skewed a strike off target, right-footed Koroma’s left-wing cross was clawed away by Virgo from the marauding Simpson, Hamici off the mark as he latched to the loose ball.
An escape for the Hamlet as Lunan was caught in No Mans Land but Brennan blew the chance as he stretched to balloon the ball over the unguarded goal. The relentless Koroma seemed the best channel for the Hamlet and twice in closing stages of the half he came close a curled effort deflected wide then a smart save from Virgo denying him in stoppage time.
Bit of a soggy pudding the second half. A long distance screamer from Hamici flew well wide of the top corner. The same player turned provider a cracking cross an agonisingly inch too far in front of Simpson who flung himself with reckless abandon at the ball as it fizzed across his face. An extra inch might have been so vital for connection would surely have equalled a goal. Some excellent industry from Hamici created the opening for himself but a skewed shot fell short of troubling the ‘keeper.
A quartet of replacements as half a half went by, Broxbourne’s were to prove the more production as the Boro’ shuffled their pack, Wade the lion wolf in attack. But for the leg of Lunan, blocking a close range of effort, Wade might have been a hero of Hertfordshire sooner than he did. Still with 5 minutes left Wade’s moment would come as Bernard slipping as he went to block a pass the ball running cruelly into the path of the Boro’s frontman who would run on to larrup the ball beyond a powerless Lunan.
Urgency now running Hamlet heads, a penalty shout fell on deaf ears as Bernard, now adding his weight to the attack, helped a pass on Billy Chattaway, the ball striking a defender’s hand in flight. Chattaway had the chance to rescue the Hamlet from the midweek ordeal of a trip north of the Thames after substitute Gary Noel wide left had picked him out in the middle. But at the death the Boro’ found another hero in the spindly form of Virgo, not once but twice denying Chattaway, blocking at his feet then spreading his hands across as the young wing back tried to force the ball home.

Teams:
DHFC: Jamie Lunan; Steve May, Billy Chattaway, Alex Fiddes (Erron Dussard 67), Ryan Bernard (Capt.), Marc Cumberbatch, Tyran James (Peter Martin 84), Daniel Nwanze, Laurent Hamici, Scott Simpson (Gary Noel 67), Fasineh Koroma.
Substitutes not used: Junior Kaffo, Danny Baldwinson
Cautions: Peter Martin
BBV&E: Mark Virgo; Gary Taylor (Capt.) (Dan Odamo 67), Rob Kemble, Lee Teagle, Matt Watts (Michael Nathan 88), Junior Langsbury, Danny Ward (Rob Tungatt 67), Bradley Poole, Ryan Wade, Mark Brennan, Tony Burke
Substitutes not used: Danny May, Obey Murefu (GK)
Cautions: Danny Ward, Rob Tungatt

Goalscoring:
1-0: DHFC Fasineh Koroma 15th minute
1-1: BBV&E Ryan Wade 85th minute

Officials:
Referee: Mr Philip Knight (Canterbury)
Assistant Referees: Mr Robert Ayling (Dover) & Mr Tim Amans (Ramsgate)

Attendance 164

Dulwich Hamlet 1 Metropolitan Police 1

Dulwich Hamlet 1 Metropolitan Police 1
Ryman Isthmian league Division One South
Tuesday 26th August 2008

Some may decry the Met Police as Mock Coppers (Moppers?), mercenaries will little connection to Sir Robert Peel Boobies or the Bow Street Runners other than the odd run in with a speed camera or a D&D in Kingston Town Centre on a Saturday night but the XI who wore the shirt of the constabulary had certainly been trained in all the finest forms of riot control as Dulwich, rampant at the weekend, were stymied at every turn. Although Hamlet took the lead late in the first half, it went against the grain for the Police had held the whip hand for the bulk of the contest prior to then. An early equaliser broke Hamlet hearts, a lapse of concentration, though a goal not undeserved for all the Met’s belligerence in attack and even when reduced to ten men, though injury rather than dismissal, the Coppers still had the energy, the aggression and the sheer bloody-mindedness to thwart the Hamlet’s ambitions of taking a third win from four. Still against a side bristling with Isthmian League experience a Hamlet side slashed through the middle by injury and the duplicity of rival managers could hold its head up high for surely either side should amongst the title chasers come the dénouement of the campaign.
The fates had once more conspired against Craig Edwards as he prepared his starting line, the poor unfortunate must have crashed his car into a lorry load of black cats on the way to the ground before dumping seven millennia worth of mirrors upon the stricken felines. Star of the Merstham demolition, JP Collier was limping about on crutches, victim of a cruciate ligament injury whilst midfielder Stanley Muguo had been disquietened by a tapping up from a rival manager, alerted by Dulwich’s straightened circumstances in the current climate. Also out was Daryl Plummer still suffering the side-effects of his gallant goal at Merstham that saw him concussed and suffering kidney damage. It meant of the four musketeers who had lined up across the middle for Dulwich at the Moatside only Alex Fiddes survived to be joined by Dan Nwanze, Tyran James and Fas Koroma.
Excused league duty for the Bank Holiday, Notting Hill and all that old bean, and glowing fluorescent yellow the Met Police arrived at Champion Hill all sirens blaring and ready for action decked out in their hi-viz jackets as if newly arrived from that Edwards’ traffic accident, then began the game as if hell-bent on causing one. Numbers all a jumble, number 11 at right back, the stocky yet strutting Rob George, bedecked in the number three shirt but orchestrating his team’s finest moves from a roving role behind a twin pronged attack. In flurry of early chances, George would come closest as he pirouetted in the box, a low drive beating Jamie Lunan only to smack back off the base of the far upright. On hand was Steve May to larrup the ball to safety as Scott Forrester hovered. Dulwich had a strong shout for a penalty as a Scott Simpson was felled on the very brink of the box but referee Mr Wilde was having none of it. The tenacious George again found the target with a strike from distance but this time found Lunan waiting for the ball.
For every roe there is a thorn and the Police plans were disrupted when midfielder James Greenaway had to be pulled off after just twelve minutes, though in his stead came Michael Cobden, a fiery young left-back, a point he would prove when he scythed through James to earn the evening’s first booking seven minutes after his arrival. Prior to that Dulwich had threatened when Marc Cumberbatch met a corner with a header of fearful force that flew a fraction too high.
A Dulwich free kick had Met Police defenders working overtime as Steve Sutherland hacked away the deflected drive, only for Dulwich to pile the pressure on with a series of stabs at goal only for the thin yellow line to hold firm. Best was yet to come and on 27 minutes Billy Chattaway launched a deep, deep cross from the left wing to the back of the six yard box where Laurent Hamici was lurking. The striker waited, waited for the ball to drop. “Let it have it” as Hamici cracked a full-blooded drive towards the bottom corner of the net only for the first reacting Mo Maan to scramble down to block at his post.
The Met’s rejoinder was rapid with Forrester dragging a shot across the face of goal, then the same player guilty of a wasteful finish as he drove straight at Lunan after Craig Carley’s sideline salsa had set up the chance. The luckless Forrester would be denied once more as his header was spectacularly clawed away by Lunan but Dulwich momentum was building. James found Maan in the way of his strike but as 45 minutes ticked past, Hamici found a chink in the Met’s armour, turning on a sixpence to drill a searing shot low inside the near post with Maan undone.
A riveting second half was given its overture by a rousing start from the Rozzers, though Hamlet’s defence must have been wondering how they could have lost their quarry given the luminous attire of the marked men s Hamlet were caught napping three minutes after the restart. Gary Drewett, latterly recruited to the cause of the Boys in Blue, marauding down the right wing to dump a deep cross on the far side of the area. Skipper Sutherland stretched out a limb to drag the ball back across the face of goal and in the ensuring scramble it was the itinerant George ion the right place to prod the ball in the back of the net.
In the trenches battle was joined, if blood serves but one purpose it is to be spilt in battle and battle this was for neither side would cede early season honours to the other. The Police can’t stand losing, they can’t stand losing, habitual play-off failures rankle at Imber Court and were Jim Cooper’s employers of a commercial bent, his success-free spending might have been curtailed by now. By contrast Craig Edwards is Baron Hardup, his cupboard bare but his soldiers hungry for victory. The Police felt that hunger, Tommy Moorhouse was the first to drop, a crunching collision with Simpson his undoing. Forrester followed replaced by Saheed Sankoh, gun for hire and for a moment the Police woke up. But the injury jinx stuck once more as Sutherland clattered into the far upright in a failed attempt to brush home Sankoh’s drive across the face of goal. Shorn of a man, the Police’s attacking ambitious were stemmed but determined not to surrender a hard-fought point already in their grasp they pressed hard on the Hamlet who looked to exploit the advantage but to no avail. Even the addition of an extra wide player could not provide the impetus to wheedle through the solid wall of yellow that sprung up whenever Hamlet dared to attack, leaving manager Craig Edwards frustrated but not unhappy.

Teams:
DHFC: Jamie Lunan; Steve May; Billy Chattaway; Alex Fiddes; Ryan Bernard (Capt.); Marc Cumberbatch; Tyran James (Junior Kaffo 86); Dan Nwanze; Laurent Hamici; Scott Simpson (Gary Noel 88); Fas Koroma (Erron Dussard 79)
Substitutes not used: Peter Martin, Gary Baldwinson (GK)

MPFC: Mo Maan; Steve Sutherland (Capt.); Rob George; Stuart Harte; Tommy Moorhouse (PC Robinson 65); James Greenaway (Michael Cobden 12); Gary Drewett; Craig Carley; Scott Forrester (Saheed Sankoh 70); Steve Sargent; Ron Edwards
Substitutes not used: Danny Platel; Will Packham (GK)

Goalscoring:
DHFC: 1-1 Laurent Hamici 45th minute
MPFC: 1-1 Rob George 48th minute

Officials:
Referee: Mr Nolan Wilde (Maidstone, Kent)
Assistants: Mr Mark Ford (Cheam, Surrey) & Mr Dave Sheldrake (West Molesey, Surrey)

Attendance: 251

Merstham 1 Dulwich Hamlet 4

Merstham 1 Dulwich Hamlet 4
Saturday 23rd August 2008
Ryman Isthmian League Division One South

Perched atop the rolling North Downs Merstham’s Moatside Ground is a oasis of green a bottle’s throw from the dreary dream of the post-war planners whose architectural reveries to restore bomb-blitzed Britain have long dissolved into concrete grey and indifferent inhabitants. No wonder the recent rise of the Moatsiders has brought such joy to the townsfolk and two games into their debut season in the Isthmian League the newcomers had acquired themselves well, winning at squeak down in the Valley at Whyteleafe, before inviting Sittingbourne into their home in midweek only to see the men from Kent run away with the best silver courtesy of a late Richard Brady goal. That match was first defeat in more than 40 games, an eye-opener for Merstham but worse was to follow as Dulwich Hamlet rode into town to inflict upon their gracious hosts their heaviest competitive defeat since late August 2006 when Wembley slammed four unanswered goals past a porous defence. No such porosity for nearly two years though the home defence might hold its head high for quality was etched in Dulwich goals from the moment Jon Paul Collier’s screamer opened the scoring to ripping volley from Scott Simpson that cemented emphatic victory.
The Walton wobbles still clear in the mind, Craig Edwards was relived top welcome back Steve May at his customary right back role whilst Laurent Hamici had recovered from opening day injury to reclaim his place in the vanguard. However it was a new face that would have the greatest impact, tricky midfielder Collier, captured in midweek would make a telling impression but more of that later.
Despite the promise the warning lights were on early to alert the Dulwich defence as bullish Merstham set out their stall in the Hamlet half, forcing a succession of early corners and setting Hamlet hearts a-fluttering as the twin destroyers of the Merstham attack, Kevin Lock and Kwabena Agyei, laid into the Hamlet rearguard with merciless intent of a Russian heavyweight. A jab here, a haymaker there but the scoring punches were missing, the experienced Lock particularly wasteful as his header from a Michael Morgan cross failed to hit the target, then a shot on the run sending restful pigeons from their roosts in the poplars behind the goal. Agyei should have profited when presented with the ball by dithering defenders, a charge on goal halted by a timely tackle from Marc Cumberbatch.
Hamlet’s threats had barely registered on the scale when out of the blue Dulwich claimed a 17th minute lead with a bazooka of a drive from debutant Collier ripped low past the diving Ian Chatfield, a bullet of a strike that sent the strong travelling support into early raptures.
The pendulum had truly swung into the favour of the Hamlet. A storming run from Hamici laid the foundations for Collier to chance his arm for a second barely three minutes later, his curling effort swinging just over the crossbar. Another stunning strike left the hoardings quivering as it singed the outside of the woodwork. Not to left out Simpson outjumped defenders to attack a freekick, awarded after Billy Chattaway’s run had been terminated on the fringes of the area, the striker’s header flying over the crossbar.
It should have been two in 37th minute when Laurent Hamici's determined charge upfield set up Daryl Plummer whose precise drive beat Chatfield, only to cannon back off the bar. Worse was to follow as Dulwich were caught cold on the rebound and when David Smith whipped over a superb cross from the right wing, the experienced Kevin Lock was lurking at the back stick to bring the ball under control and lam it under the body of Jamie Lunan.
The spark was lit in Merstham once more and but for Lunan’s swift charge from his line, Agyei might well have snatched up a ball in behind defence, the burly striker faltering the Hamlet custodian as he cleared and earning a caution for his persistence.
Dulwich picked themselves up from the disappointment of the goal and not long before the break came within a whisker of restoring their advantage as Simpson sent in a sweet curling strike that had Chatfield clambering across his goal to claw the ball away at the angle of post and bar.
Seven minutes after the restart Dulwich had a lead they would not relinquish again. Stick-thin he may be but bravery was etched on his soul as Daryl Plummer threw himself at the ball after his skipper Ryan Bernard had nodded a free kick back across the face of the six yard box. Plummer's bullish marker had no answer as a header from the Hamlet winger looped over a stranded Chatfield and into the net. Plummer’s bravery meant a lengthy session with the Dulwich physio and a dearth of sympathy from his colleagues, one of whom remarked “first time he scores and he gets injured”! But the ringing applause of the travelling hoard must get aided the recovery process.
Merstham might have drawn level once more but Billy Chattaway was on hand to kick a Chris Boulter header off the line as the Merstham man rose highest at a corner. Agyei too wasted a great chance, leaping tall at the back of the back only to flick his header away from the mark. Chances aside Dulwich continued to torment their hosts and some meaty challenges underlined how home defence failed to control Hamlet attack, Boulter and Hassan Nyang both tasting the referee’s ire and cautioning them for reckless tackles that could have seen dismissals from less indulgent officials. The latter gave Collier another opening, his freekick penetrating the wall and bouncing off the body of Chatfield; unfortunately no one was on hand to pounce. Agyei was once more denied by Cumberbatch’s saving tackle, the big man missed a clear header after a deep left wing cross, Lock’s experience deserted him as substitute Greenhouse flicked on the ball into his path, a wise mind succumbing to young hotheadedness as power was scarified for pretty, a delicate chip floating harmlessly over Lunan’s bar.
Having beaten away these Merstham chances, at last Dulwich bolstered their advantage as they broke out of defence, Simpson's industry paving the way for Hamici to drive a scuffed shot low in the far corner of a late-reacting Chatfield's net. In the fourth minute of stoppage the tireless Simpson gained his reward too as a hoofed ball forwards was headed skywards by a defender, the patient Simpson waiting for the ball to drop before larruping it on the volley in the now-rippling net.

Teams:
MFC: Ian Chatfield; Kristian Hale; Matt Francis; Chris Boulter; Craig Vernon (c); Chris Read; Michael Morgan (Hinga Amara 81); Hassan Nyang (Glen Garman 89); Kwabena Agyei; Kevin Lock; David Smith (Nick Greenhouse 69)
Substitutes not used: Dean Gunner, Chris Kennedy
Cautions: Kwabena Agyei, Kristian Hale; Chris Boulter; Hassan Nyang

DHFC: Jamie Lunan; Steve May; Billy Chattaway; Alex Fiddes; Ryan Bernard; Marc Cumberbatch; Jon Paul Collier; Stanley Muguo; Laurent Hamici (Junior Kaffo 86); Scott Simpson; Daryl Plummer (Liam Wright 74)
Substitutes not used: Gary Noel; Dan Nwanze; Danny Baldwinson
Cautions: Billy Chattaway; Stanley Muguo

Goalscoring:
DHFC: 1-0 Jon Paul Collier 17th minute
MFC: 1-1 Kevin Lock 38th minute
DHFC: 2-1 Daryl Plummer 52nd minute
DHFC: 3-1 Laurent Hamici 80th minute
DHFC: 4-1 Scott Simpson 94th minute

Officials:
Referee: Mr Charles Breakspear (Walton-on-Thames, Surrey)
Assistants: Mr Adam Bakalarz (Bromley, Kent) & Mr Jeff Lengthorn (New Eltham, Kent)

Attendance: 190

Walton Casuals 1 Dulwich Hamlet 0

Walton Casuals 1 Dulwich Hamlet 0
Ryman Isthmian Division One South
Saturday 16th August 2008

Perhaps the wrong kind of balls as the yellow footballs made a premature appearance, though the driving rain that battered a goodly crowd for this outpost of the Isthmian League made for winter weather. A fifty-fifth minute goal from Victor Asombang was all that it took to divide the sides in a bruising battle beside the Thames, the summer weather fit only for ducks and waiting, ever waiting, for the cricket to start. Both hosts and visitors welcomed season debutants into the ranks of the starting XIs, former AFC Wimbledon hero Rob Ursell, shorn of the adulation of those fans turned out in orange whilst Dulwich had Dan Nwanze returning, albeit in an unfamiliar position as strike partner to Scott Simpson as the Hamlet forward jinx claimed another victim in the shape of Laurent Hamici. Had first half chances been taken a goal feast might have been on the cards but neither side exploited the openings that came their way. Sonny Farr drilled a shot into the midriff of Jamie Lunan, an opportunity that might have cemented the Stags early dominance though Dulwich too went close after an audacious back heel from Scott Simpson set up Alex Fiddes, and a sweetly struck side footed drive curling barely fractions of an inch over Craig Bradshaw's goal. A last ditch interception stopped Nwanze claiming a goal scoring return as John Ambridge sneaked in front of him to get a vital touchback to his 'keeper after Tyran James had whipped in a tantalising cross low into the six yard box. 20 minutes gone and Matt Weston should have broken the deadlock as the Dulwich defence was sliced open, the nippy young forward latched on to the ball ahead of Ryan Bernard, nicking it past a stranded Jamie Lunan but somehow lifting the ball over as the goal loomed open before him. Asombang would join him in the hall of infamy soon after when he somehow drove the ball across the face of goal from the left of the area when the target was tantalisingly close. Punishment almost came instantly as Daryl Plummer zipped in behind a dozing defence, a cheeky attempt at a lob over the stranded Bradshaw wasted as the ball was lifted far too high. With the wind and rain at their backs Dulwich pushed, half chances abounded, Bernard unable to connect with a stinging free kick across the face of goal. Cries of "penalty" rang out when Plummer went tumbling as he nipped in after the ball, touching it past the diving Bradshaw before going to ground, but the official decision went the way of the custodian. Having struggled early on Dulwich had gained the upper hand as the half wore on. A galloping run from Billy Chattaway down the left cut a swathe through the orange flank before an intelligent pullback picked out Simpson lurking 12 yards from goal. Time to pick out a shot, perhaps too much as a Walton leg was flung out to block the strike. Poor Simpson for moments later, snatching up a weak clearance and juggled the ball into position, a fine strike was deflected on to the base of the far upright by a hand no less but a Dulwich one. As if to reinforce the so near yet so far nature of the half Walton signed off the first 45 with a floated cross that left Lunan standing as it bounced back off the crossbar before being larruped to safety.
Talk of missed opportunity and frustrating officialdom dominated the half-time chatter over the Bovril. Yellow balls and not a hint of snow. Did the man in black know something others did not? Global warming? Nay, Ice Age once more. Sell Sun Tan Oil, Buy Oilskins. But more seriously was his inconsistency in punishment, technical offences punished, foul play ticked off at the most. In the same vein he started the second half Walton’s Rico Morris’s mouth rather than his feet earning his club’s second caution of the evening. Still that had been forgotten by the time the evening’s only goal arrived ten minutes into the half. A Dulwich attack broke down and with Boreas at his back launched the ball deep into the Dulwich half. Beneath the dampened turf, the ground still lay summer dry and a booming bounce deceived Cumberbatch, who despite his spring, was left powerless as the ball bounced over him. Asombang, ever the poacher, was on his marks and dashed in like an ebony whippet to nick the ball past Lunan, left leaden footed, and turn the ball into the empty net.
“Protect the lead” came the rallying cry and Dulwich limbs felt the force of a Walton side unwilling to surrender a lead as they had done at Ashford two days previous in heartrending fashion. Borderline tackles incurred the wrath of the Hamlet faithful though Mr Scott erred on the side of leniency, particularly when the crack of boot on shin echoed around Waterside Drive as Weston felled Plummer, surviving with a mere caution. A less elegant foul, if a foul could be so, saw Michael Cayford concede the free kick in a threatening position, a yard or tow from the edge of the area. A low curling drive from Sol Patterson-Bohner drew gasps of pain as it swung low around the wall but a foot the wrong side of the upright.
The changes were rung, muscle in midfield, pace in attack, Fas Koroma for Fiddes, Carlton Murray Price for James, then Nwanze made way for Junior Kaffo. Urgency rang through as Dulwich strove for an equaliser though that opened up gaps behind and Hamlet had to call upon Lunan’s reflexes to prevent Weston knocking in the game killer.
A frantic final few minutes, drawn out by almost six minutes o added time, failed to see Hamlet steal in for a share of the points though they went mightily close. A right wing cross powerfully head on by Murray-Price found Simpson hared to the junction of the six yard box. Under pressure he scooped the ball goalwards from an acute angle but was =unable to beat Bradshaw who clawed the ball away at his near post. A corner ensued, a hurly-burly of boots and bodies in the box, but the ball scrambled away for a corner once more. Again delivery into the fiery furnace of the penalty area, again players went pell-mell after the ball but at the back post it was stabbed wide. Still hamlet hammered away but for all those late endeavours reward would elude them and last word belonged to Walton as Dulwich were almost caught out with two men arrived unchecked at the back of the box for a rightwing cross only for the ball to be skewed crazily off target.

Teams:
WCFC: Craig Bradshaw; Michael Cayford; Rico Morris; Craig Lewington (Capt); Jack Francis; John Ambridge; Rob Ursell; Liam Grier; Matt Weston; Victor Asombang; Sonny Farr
Substitutes not used: Elliot Ransom, Jamal Carr, Steve Douglas, James Kelch, Chris Kiganda

DHFC: Jamie Lunan; Sol Patterson-Bohner; Billy Chattaway; Alex Fiddes (Fas Koroma 70); Ryan Bernard (Capt); Marc Cumberbatch; Tyran James (Carlton Murray-Price 70); Stanley Muguo; Scott Simpson; Dan Nwanze (Junior Kaffo 80); Darryl Plummer
Subs not used Peter Martin; Danny Baldwinson (GK)

Scoring:
1-0 WCFC Victor Asombang 55th minute

Officials:
Referee: Mr Shaun Scott (Guildford, Surrey)
Assistant Referees: Mr Luis Pinto Nunes (Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey) & Mr Liam Walshe (Northwood,Middlesex)

Attendance: 106

Dulwich Hamlet 2 Eastbourne Town 1

Dulwich Hamlet 2 Eastbourne Town 1
Ryman Isthmian Division One South
Saturday 16th August 2008

Before kick-off a moving ceremony as the ashes of much-missed supporter Brian Weber were laid to rest beneath the Champion Hill turf, the plaintiff strains of Acker Bilk’s Stranger on the Shore drifting across the ground as supporters of all persuasions stood in reverent silence. And from his permanent vantage point behind the goal, Brian had the perfect view of the goals that would decide this tumultuous match, a typical groan might have emanated from beneath the sward as belligerent Eastbourne Town took an early lead in inelegant fashion as Jamie Lunan somehow allowed a scrambled Peter Cooper effort under his body. But second half brought renewed vigour from the Hamlet, pugilistic inspiration from the manager during the break, an inspirational change and Dulwich sprung into life with a goal fashioned in England but finished with true Gallic flair and punch from debutant Laurent Hamici, before, in stirring style, Dulwich’s Churchillian skipper Ryan Bernard larruped home a second to turn deficit into advantage. That victory might still have been surrendered but a harshly awarded penalty gave Lunan the chance of redemption, an opportunity he eagerly clasped as he dived full length to batter out substitute John Piercy’s well struck spot kick.
Ming the Merciless might have begrudged the summer, for having seen his charges finish the last campaign at the gallop, the close season, no matter how truncated it is in the era of 24/7, 365 football, meant that counted for naught as a new term began in earnest. The curse of Player of the Year had struck once more as Supporters’ choice, Meshach Nugent agonised before taking the tough decision to leave Champion Hill for Maidstone United whilst the Players’ pick, Benson Paka, the bull of the midfield pampas, finds himself person non grata. Missing too was the star in the striking firmament of last season’s closing acts, Charlie Taylor. Mr Edwards moves fast though, the fiery Gaul, Hamici paired with Walid Matata, a goalscorer supreme across the Kent Weald who now returns to his London roots. Also making his first full appearance for the Hamlet after personal circumstances had delayed his debut last campaign was Alex Fiddes, diminutive, greying at the temples, and a dead ringer for Mike the Cool Guy of Young Ones fame!
Whilst Hamlet flourished late, just too late, last term Eastbourne had struggled at the wrong end of the table, despite playing some of the more entertaining football in this division before breaking free of the relegation quicksand in the season’s end game. key players had been tempted away during the summer, Adam Wilde, tricky, pacy winger, off to Sutton United, disgruntled ‘keeper Greg Nessling usurped between the sticks by Russell Tanner, but this is a solid squad built of the blocks that won promotion to the Isthmian League, looking well fed alongside some of Dulwich’s more spindly individuals.
The expectation that crackled through the Pink and Blue contingent as the first whistle drew ever nearer was soon dampened as Eastbourne set of at a canter. Second minute and skipper Greg Manton was allowed to drift off his marker to flick on a free kick with a brush of the forehead, but direction and power provided little test for Lunan. He might though have had harsh words for his rearguard mere moments later when the ball was delivered into path of Jamie Salvidge, thundering through, a cracking drive beating the exposed custodian but sizzling a few feet too high of the crossbar. Dulwich forced a corner, Tanner thumping clear but only to Steve May who scuffed the ball back into the heart of the penalty area, Rob Wilkinson stabbing the ball goalwards at the back of the box only for Tanner to smother the life from the shot at the base of his upright.
A brief aberration as Eastbourne sprung back like a wounded cobra and had the lead on 11 minutes though Dulwich’s dismal defending played too great a role in the goal. Luke Denton unleashed the catapult, bombarding the box with an elongated throw that the defence failed to deal with. In an ungainly scramble in the six yard box Cooper got the decisive touch, the ball somehow creeping under a crestfallen Lunan’s body. Matters might have deteriorated further on the quarter hour but for a last-ditch tackle from Bernard, thrusting out a foot to block Cooper’s effort as the Town man dived in to meet a low left wing cross.
Frustration was building in Dulwich hearts, almost reaching boiling point when the Gallic blood of Hamici overtook his reason, an airborne challenge on Chris Dicker raising the spectre of a red card under FIFA’s edict of the week. Thankfully for Dulwich, the afternoon’s whistler belonged to the old school of refereeing; a school many thought had been lost with the beat bobby who would administer justice with a firm word and click round rather than a forest-decimating ream of paperwork. Mr Smith employed a schoolmasterly word, a booking, no more, no less. One fears though for the careers of those who referee with words and respect not rules and reds.
Luckless Daryl Plummer might well have found an equaliser twice within a trice but officialdom denied him. Sneaking in behind the defence to meet a long punt weakly flicked back in the direction of his ‘keeper by Eastbourne’s centre-half, Plummer almost nicked the ball past an onrushing Tanner but a offside flag was already up. Then he had the ball in the net as a long free kick dropped to him at the back of the box but teammate Billy Chattaway had already been penalised for pushing amidst the crowd awaiting delivery.
Despite a pre-match fitness test, newcomer Matata had clearly been struggling to keep the pace and on the half hour Dulwich were forced into a change with Scott Simpson unleashed upon the yellow-clad defence, injecting much needed dose of venom into the attack. It might have been that he would lose his strike partner Hamici when the Frenchman clashed with Eastbourne centre-half Ben Putland, a trifle petulant with a shoulder to shoulder charge upon the much larger man. Putland’s uncalled for response was to collapse to the floor holding his face in theatrical style, something that was obviously noted by Mr Smith for the feared second caution was not forthcoming. Once more a word of advice sufficed though Putland’s artifice seemingly went unpunished at the time, though his failure to get his tormentor dismissed from the field of play would return to haunt him later.
Having struggled to find rhythm and penetration Dulwich were now in command, looking desperately for that equaliser. Simpson’s zippy run took to the very brink of the box only to be strong-armed off the ball by Adam Davidson who refused to give up the chase. Form close range Wilkinson’s drive was blocked by a diving Tanner, before Plummer was once more caught offside as he nipped in to meet a long punt flicked on by his skipper.
Stirring words from the management at the break, a change in midfield with Wilkinson making way for Tyran James, the winger returning to his Champion Hill taking the right mantle of Grey Owl Fiddes, who moved into the engine room of midfield. It was a change that swiftly paid dividends as Dulwich scored the equaliser after seven minutes of the new half with an expertly crafted goal, finished with aplomb by the rampant Hamici. Plummer’s pinpoint pass released Chattaway overlapping down the left wing and in full flight past the yellow opposite. A pass picked out Hamici lurking beyond the bounds of the box and if Eastbourne expected the Hamlet hitman to bring the ball to them, they were in for an almighty shock as with the crack of a bullet the ball flew from the boot of Hamici, unerring, unwavering, straight in the far corner of net, leaving Tanner rooted, helpless as the net rippled behind him.
Hamlet had the fire now and came within a micron of a second goal before Eastbourne had a chance to draw breath; Plummer’s cross from the flank flicked on in the middle but volleyed a fraction too high from James standing on the far corner of the six yard box. It began Dulwich versus Tanner as he got down smartly to smoother a low curling drive from Plummer before pulling off a breathtaking reaction save from Simpson after he had swayed a defender’s close attentions. To disappointed gasps Simpson flicked a close range header over the bar in the next instant as Hamlet squeezed the tourniquet.
The Captain’s Call and 68 minutes brought the winner. Chaos caused in the visitors’ defence, defending too deeply as a corner was swung in. Amidst the mêlée Tanner made yet another save of quality amongst a flurry of feet but he should no chance as Bernard latched on the loose ball to larrup the ball through the legs of Tanner.
Eastbourne responded with replacements of their own, recharging their batteries and threatened to wipe out Hamlet’s hard-won advantage. An uncontested drop ball after Plummer had been bulldozed by Putland might have created an interesting dilemma had Denton’s booming drop kick not been safely gathered in by Lunan as it threatened to clear him. Having had a rest for a while Lunan was back in the thick of the action as from a corner Manton’s wickedly deflected effort seemed set to crawl over him until the big custodian stretched full out to claw the ball over the bar. Then Eastbourne were thrown a lifeline as a cross from the right struck Bernard as he leapt into its path, a hopeful cry from the yellow hoard, no more but the assistant referee felt a penalty was merited, drawing his flag across his chest as a judge might don the black cap. Protests came to naught, Mr Smith pointed to the spot and high noon at Hamlet as Piercy placed the ball, Frank Miller to Lunan’s Marshall Will Kane. Justice would prevail as Piercy drove for the bottom left-hand corner; Lunan outfoxed him and battered the ball away at the base of the post. “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”
The fighting spirit of the Town drained from them though Dulwich still feared more raids, going marauding is search of goals that would cushion their advantage and secure victory. The overworked Tanner, man of the match for Town, made two stupendous saves within a blink of the eye, denying James twice with an outstretched foot before getting his body behind a crisp strike from Simpson after Plummer and Chattaway had teamed up once more on the left. The need to preserve the lead meant such fanciful football made way for pragmatic possession, Dulwich toying with their guests deep in the corners as the clock was run down to victory.

Teams:
DHFC: Jamie Lunan, Steve May, Billy Chattaway, Robert Wilkinson (Tyran James HT), Ryan Bernard (Capt), Marc Cumberbatch, Alex Fiddes, Stanley Muguo, Laurent Hamici, Walid Matata (Scott Simpson 30), Daryl Plummer (Fasineh Koroma 90)
Substitutes not used: Junior Kaffo, Danny Baldwinson (GK)

ETFC: Russell Tanner, Adam Davidson (Nick Barden 70), Chris Dicker, Luke Denton, Ben Putland, Peter Featherstone, Mark Goodwin, Greg Manton (Capt), Jamie Salvidge, Peter Cooper, Simon Catt (John Piercy 70)
Substitutes not used: Charlie Francis, Sheldon Levett

Scoring:
1-0 ETFC Peter Cooper 11th Minute
1-1 DHFC Laurent Hamici 52nd minute
2-1 DHFC Ryan Bernard 68th minute

Officials:
Referee: Mr Robert Smith (New Addington, Surrey)
Assistant Referees: Mr Andrew Mawby (Woking, Surrey) & Mr Rod Chatfield (Addlestone, Surrey)

Attendance: 215