Horley Town 1 Dulwich Hamlet 5

Saturday 29th July 2006

Pre-Season Friendly

"Oi'll Give It Foive", seems to the mantra of the Hamlet as Horley Town became the latest side to wilt before a second half Dulwich onslaught that turned a clash made equal as much by the Hamlet’s muddled play as by the hosts’ dogged determination not to let their loftier opponents escape the confines of the New Defence without a few bruises to both pride and body. From the off this was a feisty encounter, an unpleasant undercurrent always bubbling beneath, much more suited to a chilly winter evening’s mid-season tussle for points than a supposed pre-season run out beneath the tree that line the River Mole and mark out the Surrey/Sussex borders. At least the young referee took a pragmatic approach to the biting tackles and snarling challenges around him, cards rare but still brandished, a word of admonishment preferred over the flash of yellow or red, where a more dogmatic official might have sent the offenders to cool their jets on the sidelines.
Cruelly relegated to the Combined Counties Division One through no fault of their own, the chance to show their prowess against opposition from higher echelons was not one to be tossed aside lightly. The Hamlet were soon aware of the challenge that faced them as alert Horley striker, Jason Davy thought he had slipped the leash of Dulwich’s defence, only for a linesman’s flag to halt him in his tracks. However with Dulwich frequently at sixes and sevens as players seemed unsure of their true roles, it was not long before the chance presented itself again and this time there was no offside to spare the Hamlet’s blushes. With the Hamlet rearguard squeezed up almost to the halfway line a precision pass found Daly whizzing away in the acres of space afforded him on the right. Carl Emberson, alert to the attack, tried his utmost to distract the onrushing striker but the wily Daly was hell-bent on completed his mission, nipped pass Emberson as he spread himself at his feet before coolly tapping the ball into the unguarded nets as Dulwich’s defence rushed back in a vain effort to undo the damage of their slack defending.
Daly was again at the centre of attention clattering into the back of Nicolas Plumain as the Dulwich defender waited for a high ball to drop. An unnecessary attempt at revenge from the fallen Plumain as the two tangled on the deck and suddenly players from both sides were at each others throats. When the dust finally settled, the referee singled out Gavin Dayes for the afternoon’s first caution.
As red mist clouded the contest, Dulwich went on became an increasing frustrating search for parity, denied in the most by their own inadequate finishing, though at least the Horley custodian did gain some plaudits, blocking well at the feet of Jean-Serge Musungu and making light work of a well struck drive from the edge of the box by Ohran Stewart. All his heroics could prevent Dulwich at last getting on level terms as half-time drew ever closer. Musungu powered forward from the halfway line with the ball glued to his feet, before slipping the ball wide to Yinka Salaam overlapping down the left wing to hit a good strike on the run but the keeper was down to parry but only across the face of his own goal. With the home defence like statues, Stewart was first to react, slamming the ball home from close range.
To add insult to injury, deserved half-time equality for the hosts became a deficit almost on the whistle as a spot-kick was awarded against them in harsh circumstances, the challenge on Joel Greaves tame, possibly even legitimate, by the standards of those that had been brushed aside before. Not that young Greaves was complaining as he dusted himself down before striking home the penalty to send the Hamlet to the break a goal ahead.
Not that half-time would give them a respite for now they would face a none-too-pleased manager, his words of rebuke mixed in with those of encouragement. Those bon mots had the desired effect as the second half saw Dulwich blow their opponents away in an orgy of attacking football. Substitute Phil Williams set the tinder-dry turf alight once more with a steaming run within seconds of the restart that left claret and blue clad defenders a distant memory as the winger hared into the penalty area, only to overtake the ball as he rounded the keeper and slam the chance into the side netting as his pace threatened to take him into the next county.
As Dulwich dazzled, Horley’s halting raids diminished until they were no more. "All hands to the pump boys", came the rallying call from the Claret and Blue as the New Defence became the All Out Defence. But Hamlet would have to bide their time before the chances were converted into goals. Then, just like grouse on the Yorkshire Moors, a brace was dispatched within a matter of moments. First came from the boot of Carlton Murray-Price, applying the final brush strokes at the end of a well choreographed free-kick routine following a foul on the edge of the box. Laid back the ball was lofted in to the back of the six yard box as the hosts’ rearguard lackadaisically pulled out to where Jamie Coyle was waiting and his expert pull back found the young striker lurking to bury the ball past the exposed goalie. Barely had play restarted than the ball was being picked out of the net once more as David Moore chased after a long punt forward, the most exquisite of chips leaving the keeper rooting to spot as the ball sailed over his head and into the net. At least the keeper could point to one cracking save to prevent Dulwich further extending the lead, reacting instinctively to batter away a fierce attempted clearance from his own player that had own goal screaming from every orifice. Still he would still find himself beaten once again as the game entered its final throes, the relentless Hamlet pressure have long since done for his defence as Murray-Price latched on to the ball to decisively clip the ball home and complete the afternoon’s entertainment.

Starting XI: Carl Emberson; Ohran Stewart; Nicolas Plumain; Yinka Salaam; Jamie Coyle; Gavin Dayes; Chris Hurst; Kenny Beaney; Lee Hynes; Jean-Serge Musungu; Joel Greaves

Subs used: David Moore; Phil Williams; Carlton Murray-Price; Cedric Meeko; Wayne Burnett; Lewis Tozer; Chris Lewington (GK)

Carlton Murray-Price

Phil Williams holds up the ball as Nicolas Plumain provides the overlap

Jean-Serge Musungu

Kenny Beaney

Dulwich players get a brisk talking to as the referee prepares to dish out a booking

dulwich hamlet