Burnham FC 2 Dulwich Hamlet 1

Pre-Season Friendly

Tuesday 8th August 2006

An experimental Dulwich XI failed to avenge one of the Hamlet’s darker nights, going down to a narrow defeat at Southern League Burnham but the final scoreline failed to tell the whole story of game that saw the hosts fail to take advantage of the myriad chances that fell their way over the course of 90 high-octane minutes. With a trip to Bromley scheduled for 24 hours later this contest gave manager Wayne Burnett the opportunity to run the rule over a number of fringe players as well as assessing the likes of Billy Warner and Jason Turley, recently returned from holiday healthily tanned. In addition, much travelled shot stopper Chuck Martini came in between the sticks as the tricky question of who would don the gloves for the coming season took a new twist.
The young Hamlet were given a strong indicator of the task ahead of them as the ebullient Burnham showed strength of purpose with some rumbustuous tackles in the opening exchanges, quick into to the challenge as the Hamlet’s attempt to play a passing game with frequently broken up. Not that the Southern Leaguers were averse to the beautiful game themselves but it took some lax defending on the part of the Hamlet to abet the hosts opening goal on the quarter hour. Caught cold after failing to capitalise on a corner, Dulwich were ripped apart by a flowing move up field as Terry Davies latched on to defensive clearance, feeding Leon Yarnie on the edge of the penalty area. Unselfishly he laid the ball out to Rob Saunders haring into space on the left of the box and a drilled low finish into the bottom of the corner left Martini to pick the ball out of his net.
Daniel Jones had a golden opportunity to bring Dulwich level 8 minutes later, chasing a back pass and unsettling keeper Jamie Jackson whose attempted clearance when straight at the Hamlet striker. Unfortunately Jones failed to take advantage and Jackson redeemed himself flinging himself to his left to batter down Jones’ attempt on goal. A smart save from Martini ensured Burnham did extend their lead, but poor finishing continued to dog the Hamlet front men. The impressive Eniola Oluwa’s pace and control tormented Burnham’s right flank with a storming run, culminating in an inch perfect cross on to the head of Jones but his effort was wildly wide of the mark. Add to that a weak shot from Claudio de Almeida that negated a good build-up, Jones again lashing the ball high and wide and Dulwich were left ruing lost chances as the break drew closer. Still it could have been worse had Burnham not missed chances of their own in the closing minutes, Lee Smith’s shot on the turn curling marginally too far over the bar and Jeff Brown stabbing the ball wide of the post after Martini had denied Yarnie. Still time though for Oluwa to embark on a breathtaking run, parting the Blue and White sea as he wove his way into the penalty area. Oh to have capped such a sinuous run with a goal but defender Paul Brett stuck to him like a leach, a last ditch interception deflecting Oluwa’s ultimate cross cum shot and sending it looping over a relieved Jackson’s crossbar.
A trio of substitutions at the break for the Hamlet, but Burnham continued to hold sway and but for better finishing from goalscorer Saunders, Dulwich might have been staring down the barrel of a heavy defeat. Saunders was particularly culpable when released with only Martini standing between him and goal number two, he dithered allowing the Dulwich defence to swarm all over him and snuff out the danger. Not that Burnham would be denied that second goal, one that was well worth waiting for as a lightning raid saw a deep ball forward nodded on into the path of substitute Ben Swift 20 yards out and he let fly with a steaming pile driver that gave Martini no chance on its unerring flight into the far corner of the net.
Dulwich came close to hitting back through a Warner bullet that skimmed the crossbar as flew goalwards but even with the addition of the manager; it looked like being a blank night until the final few moments as Jamie Cheeseman finally made the breakthrough in controversial circumstances. Apoplectic Burnham defenders were powerless, their claims of offside fell on deaf ears as the Dulwich substitute ran on to a threaded pass to stab the ball pass an irate Jackson, who turned his invective in the direction of an unbending assistant referee. His mood had mellowed soon after as the final whistle left his side victorious.

Teams:

BFC: Jamie Jackson; Lloyd Dennison; Paul Brett; Brian Connor; Manny (?); Lee Smith; Jeff Brown; Robert Saunders; Leon Yarnie; Terry Davies; Daryl Jones

Subs: Ben Swift; Marek Kwiatkowski; Mark Hokan; Ryan Bird; Andy Lunn

DHFC:

1 Chuck Martini
2 Jason Turley 5 Lewis Tozer 15 Justin Hemmings 3 Billy Warner
12 Raymond Morath-Gibbs 9 Matt Dean 8 Fasineh Koroma 11 Eniola Oluwa
10 Daniel Jones 7 Claudio de Almeida

Subs used: 6 Stanley Muguo; 14 Victor Tavares; 17 Jamie Cheeseman; 4 Abiola Adigun; Wayne Burnett

Officials:
Referee: Mr Ashley Hines
Assistant Referees: Mr Ernie Moore & Mr Alex Vickery