The dogfight for promotion begins afresh this Saturday and in the light of this exhilarating match, Wayne Burnett’s ebullient prediction that his youthful charges will be challenging the moneyed likes of Dover and Met Police come the final reckoning may not be too far wide of the mark. Despite going behind to a breathtaking individual goal within mere seconds of the kick-off, courtesy of the Robins’ star player on the night, youthful winger Mark Marshall, Hamlet girded their loins to fight back and claim victory with Jean-Serge Musungu levelling from the penalty spot before an own goal added to a sublime piece of finishing from substitute Sol Pinnock wrapped up a comprehensive triumph.
Though less than a week remained before the season opener at home to Corinthian-Casuals, there was still time for a new face and a familiar one to stake their claim to a place in that starting line-up. After a turbulent summer of his own, there was a welcome return for the goal machine, Chris Dickson to lead the attack, a little ruing-rusty but a regular threat until cramp forced him off on the hour mark. Between the stick, the management had opted for experience over youth as James Pullen took over the gloves from custodial prodigy Chris Lewington, whose day is yet to come.
Barely had the shrill blast of the referee’s whistle dying in the still night air than the Robins’ found themselves with a goal to celebrate. A Hamlet attack from the kick-off broke down and the ball made its way out to the left wing where tricky tyro winger Marshall was waiting. A graduate of the Athletic youth team, the swift winger attacked Dulwich’s right flank at pace, the coolest of drag backs leaving Jason Turley in a heap on the floor, then whilst all around expected a cross into the middle from the tightest of angles a wickedly curling strike beyond the reach of Pullen and into the far corner of the net.
Refusing to be bowed by this early setback Hamlet instead drew strength from adversity and 11 minutes later had an equaliser as Turley darted in behind the defence as they dithered and found himself upended by an old colleague, Carshalton keeper Paul Seuke. From the spot Musungu put the lie to Dulwich’s penalty problems of yore with a finely executed effort sending Seuke the wrong way as he slotted the ball home.
Were it not for the frame of the goal rescuing a beleaguered Robins’ defence, the Hamlet might have bid goodnight to their guests before the break. Four minutes after the penalty, Dickson’s determination set up Kenny Beaney to drive a ball across the edge of the area, Phil Williams’ first time strike cannoning back off the foot of the upright with Seuke statuesque. When Musungu latched on to a precision pass to chance his arm with a shot from the acutest of angles it was the crossbar’s turn to play saviour.
Sweeping forward with the brio of men inspired, Dulwich had Carshalton hanging on grimly to egality, indebted to Seuke for twice denying the rampaging Musungu, first with a fingertip low save after the Hamlet forward had capitalised on David Moore’s threaded pass, then standing up well to block a fierce drive after Musungu had escaped down the left wing much to the opprobrium of defenders who thought him offside.
Like children on Christmas Eve, the Hamlet faithful awaited the second half in anticipation of something special; they were not to be disappointed. Two minutes in and Dulwich deservedly grabbed the lead as Musungu broke free to knock the ball past Seuke, defender David Graves providing the final touch to turn the ball over the line. This was the cue for Dulwich to stamp their dominance on the game, something they maintained despite a number of changes of personnel as the game went on. A brace of substitutes linked up as Seuke denied Luke Cornwall, saving with his feet after the striker had been fed by Carlton Murray-Price. A late rally from the Robins’ as they rose from their sonambulance gave Pullen a chance to at last display his skills; a couple of flying saves from a brace of blistering shots on the run from substitute Danny Platel ensuring his net was unruffled again.
In stoppage time, the seal was set on an emphatic victory as a third goal was conjured. A pinpoint cross field pass released Cornwall scampering like a teenager down the left wing, the striker playing provided as he whipped a low ball into the heart of the penalty area where Pinnock was arriving at speed to sweep the ball imperiously home from close range, provoking a wistful look over his shoulder at his former team-mates from Seuke as he turned to pick the ball from his net for a third time.
DHFC: James Pullen; Jason Turley; Nicolas Plumain; Daniel Nwanze; Jamie Coyle; Lewis Tozer; David Moore; Kenny Beaney; Jean-Serge Musungu; Chris Dickson; Phil Williams
Subs used: Sol Pinnock; Matt Dean; Luke Cornwall; Ohran Stewart; Carlton Murray-Price; Jamie Cheeseman; Daniel Jones; Billy Warner; Chris Hurst
CAFC Squad: Paul Seuke, Colin Hartburn, David Graves, John Cartledge, Murphy, Steve Gibson, Mark Hawthorn, Tony Quinton, Mark Marshall, Craig Dundas, Laurent Hamici, Richard O'Conner, Danny Platel, Tom Carter, Howe
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