Les Supporters du Red Star Paris (Gang Green) 2 Dulwich Hamlet Supporters 3

Les Supporters du Red Star Paris (Gang Green) 2 Dulwich Hamlet Supporters 3
International Challenge Match
Sunday 13th March 2005

Paris versus London. No not the scrap for the right to host Olympic Games but a far, far better thing and probably cleaner too! Far from the Elysian Fields of the Paris that tourists come to gaze in awe at, Dulwich supporters carried the olive branch of Anglo-French friendship to the Stade Joliot-Curie for a ‘Rendez-vous de l’Amitié’. Battle engaged and Dulwich were soon in front when Lawrence Marsh skipped through to tuck away the opening goal as early as the 9th minute, drilling the ball low past a diving keeper’s right hand. However Red Star were not without their stars and one of them, a Zidane-like giant in midfield named Karim, capitalised on a weak pass in defence to unleash a ferocious shot from the edge of the box that had keeper Phil Baker clawing at thin air as the ball fizzed past him. Level at the break and deep into the second half, it looked as if a diplomatic draw was on the cards, that was until a low shot driven in beat a diving Baker and despite the best efforts of defender Mick O’Shaughnessy, he could only provide the finishing touch as the ball crossed the line. Undaunted Dulwich hit back almost immediately as from the kick-off the ball was played back to Steve Rickerby whose launched ball was flicked on by the head of Lee Shailer for Marsh to gallop through and lob the keeper to bring the scores level. Soon after Marsh was through again and rounding the keeper to complete a hat trick. His man of the match performance was almost capped with a fourth as through on goal; he beat the keeper with a chip only for the ball to strike the crossbar. There were still nervous moments before a first victory on continental soil was confined, particularly when Karim launched a booming long-range effort a la Nayim from the halfway line, Baker standing firm as the ball fell from the sky, stoppage time seemingly interminable but victory it was.

Team:
Phil Baker; Alex Bushell; Steve Rickerby; Ian Wright; Mick O'Shaughnessey; Mark Hutton; Dave Berry; Lee Shailer; Phil Doyle; Mishi Morath; Lawrence Marsh
Sub: Paul Griffin
Physio: Adele Beckford
Interpreter: Myles Quinn