Hayes Lane Ultras 2 Dulwich Hamlet Supporters 2

Hayes Lane Ultras 2 Dulwich Hamlet Supporters 2
Internet Football League – National Division
Sunday 21st March 2004

Bromley and Dulwich aficionados swapped the rivalry of the terraces for that of the football field as they locked horns in a highly competitive IFL fixture that saw the Hamlet twice come from behind to secure a draw and continue a seven match unbeaten run in all competitions. Mothers Day and Millwall taking on the Hammers at the Den may have robbed both sides of players but those on display put on a creditable display in difficult conditions. Remarkably despite a number of chances for both sides there was no score at the break although both teams had the openings to grab the lead, Bromley’s pacy attackers causing problems for Dulwich’s highly experienced (i.e. old, average age 42.5!) back four and keeping custodian Andy Tucker on his toes. Dulwich’s strikeforce was blowing hot and cold and despite some tricky approach play were firing blanks in front of goal and caught offside too many times for the manager’s liking.
It looked as if the defences would continue to hold sway until shortly into the second half when Paul Griffin was caught out by a swift turn from Mark Avenell and his clumsy challenge rightly saw the hosts awarded a penalty. The Ravens’ Neil Cooper looked confident stepping up to the spotkick but was denied when Tucker dived to his right to pull off a magnificent stop, blocking Cooper’s attempted follow up for good measure but as the ball flew up Avenell was first to it with a header that somehow evaded a throng of defenders on the line. Bromley’s lead did not last long and after Dulwich had won a corner, quick thinking saw Nick Nikos drill a low cross into the area for striker Jim Barber to hammer home from close range.
Bromley came back fighting and midway through the half regained the lead after sloppy Dulwich defending at a corner as Cooper’s header fell at the feet of Stu Bowman who poked the ball over the line from close range. Dulwich were not giving up though and as time ticked on they forced the Bromley keeper into a fine double save then saw Jason Cobb’s floated effort strike the crossbar. There must have been mere seconds left on the clock when Dulwich broke Bromley’s hearts as a piercing attack down the left saw Nikos unleash a cracking angled left foot shot that cannoned off the post and home. Stoppage time seemed interminable but when the whistle finally came, the acknowledgement was that a draw was the fair result.

Teams:
HLUFC: Team: Paul Cooper, Antonio Fletcher, Will Clutton, Rob Nicholls, Martin Roberts, Stu Bowman, Andy Firkin, Martin Ramsey, Neil Cooper, Mark Sven Avenell, Rich Bagley.
Sub: Dan Davis

DHFCSFC: Andy Tucker, Phil Baker, Paul Griffin (Dave Blyth), Steve Rickerby, Ian Wright, James O'Shaugnessy, Jason Cobb, Joe Absalom, Alex Margoules, Jim Barber, Nick Nikos