Walton Casuals 1 Dulwich Hamlet 3

Ryman Isthmian League - Division One South

Saturday 9th September 2006

Beyond the fences of Franklyn Road weeping willows dipped their branches to touch the face of Father Thames flowing by, sheltering expectant anglers dangling for pike and perch whilst swans sailed serenely by, their languid progress masking the furious beating of the feet beneath the surface. The walls enclosing the Casuals' humble home performed a similar function as Dulwich's grand tour of the suburbs of Walton began in fine style by the banks of the Thames with a convincing win over an injury-ravaged Walton Casuals, whose walking wounded sparkled early to take a deserved lead before being swamped by a rampant tide of Pink and Blue.

Club skipper Jamie Coyle was sidelined, having suffered a hairline fracture to his shin, sustained in claiming Hamlet's final goal in the FA Cup disposal of Three Bridges, but Hamlet were fortunate to once again be able to call on the services of Gavin Dayes for his first league start of the season, a four game ban keeping him out of the selection reckoning so far. In goal James Pullen returned from his FA Cup sojourn but otherwise Dulwich went into the game unchanged bar the welcome sight of Jean-Serge Musungu among the substitutes.

The game got off to a lively start; a green sward cut smooth though dotted with crests and valleys proved ample stage for our cast of travelling players to display their arts. Rampaging forward Nicolas Plumain cut a swath down the left to feed Luke Cornwall, a low pass laid towards the penalty spot but Plumain unable to provide the final link in the chain as a mighty defensive hoof saw the ball cleared to safety. Moments later Chris Morrison exploited a gap in the Dulwich defence but a vital interception saw his close range effort deflected mere millimetres the wrong side of the upright. Morose for mere minutes, Morrison was soon the object of adulation for the Casuals as he gave his side with a classic old-fashioned headed. Plumain proved no match for Craig Carley as the tricky wing man nipped past him, delivering the ball into the heart of the Hamlet area where the waiting Morrison rose to bullet the ball past Pullen, powerless to prevent the ball finding its target.

Erroneous strategy for the Casuals, taking the lead, for the goal was to stoke the fires in the Hamlet bellies none more so than the bellicose Chris Dickson. Wayne's World may be the Academy of Arts but this was the Art of War. "Once more unto the breach, my Hamlet, or shore up the wall with your Pink and Blue dead; imitate the action of the tiger; follow your spirit and upon this charge cry, "God for Hamlet and St Wayne". Fire and brimstone, white-hot passion burning, this is war lads and we are the dogs of it.

Soon after going behind, Dickson battling into the box, a left footed attempt from an impossible angle nestling in the side netting. Chasing down Steve Sutherland, the centre-forward was frustrated as the ball rebounded off him but wide of the goal. Thick and fast the chances came. David Moore purposefully burst into the area squaring the ball for Dickson to stab the ball goalwards only for keeper Danny Andrews to deny with an acrobatic fingertip save.

Home resistance lasted little longer but waned on 24 minutes when Moore performed open heart surgery on the Casuals rearguard, exchanging passes with Kenny Beaney before slicing between the two centre halves and smashing a rip-roaring drive through Andrews, the power too much for him to keep out. The cavalier Hamlet smelt blood. Phil Williams, at times seemingly possessed of faulty Sat-Nav, finally produced a penetrating run only for his low cross to be stabbed behind for a corner, one delivered deep to Tozer, in loco ducis, but a header troubled naught but the hoardings.

Five minutes had elapsed since the goal when Moore struck again. The move had begun in unpromising circumstances as a Dulwich free kick, poorly executed, was latched on to by Moore, his radar set on goal. A diagonal run across and through the defence, subtly garnished with a low drive back across the face of a diving Andrews to put Dulwich into the lead they were not to relinquish.

It was all Walton could do to contain the Hamlet as the half wore on. Williams ruined a wonderful purposeful run that opened up the home defence with a tame strike that failed to trouble Andrews. Seconds later as Walton surrendered possession Plumain capitalised, his screaming effort full of the power the previous chance had lacked but always rising as it whistled over the crossbar. Dickson too might have added to the Hamlet's lead as last few minutes of the 45 ticked past but a powerful strike, too close to Andrews, was battered away.

Second half began ominously for the hosts as an early corner saw the ball ping around the Casuals' area, orange shirted foot soldiers throwing themselves upon grenade after grenade until the ball struck the hand of Luke Cornwall and danger was averted. Ten minutes was all that the hosts would hold out against a sea of Dulwich assaults before Dickson grabbed his obligatory goal in ebullient fashion. Hammering a hole in the home defence, he squirmed his way through, defenders strewn in his wake before finishing in fine fashion with a low angled drive that beat Andrews low at his far post. First the broadsword then the rapier, Walton were on the rack. Defenders burnt by Dickson's pace soon found themselves toasted by his tongue as they protested over a free kick, "Don't talk to me, slowcoach", aimed at a defender tormented earlier.

Walton rang the changes but little they could do could stem the tide, though Dulwich were their own worst enemies in front of goal, extra garnish added where a plain dish might suffice. A better finish from Carley might have made things interested when he took advantage of a defensive lapse to cut in towards goal but a rising shot failed to worry Pullen. Indeed the Hamlet custodian was only once truly troubled as victory drew closer, a free kick allowed too far and bouncing precariously close to sneaking in under the crossbar. The bullish David Ocquaye replaced goalscorer Morrison who limped from the fray to add to his side's injury woes.

Moore was denied a chance to complete a rare hat trick as an unpunished challenge ended his afternoon's involvement. Jamie Cheeseman came off the bench in his stead, only to suffer a similar fate in stoppage time as Danny Moore made a brief cameo appearance at the death. A swift return to Franklyn Road beckons in the League Cup, Walton must patch up their wounded, call upon reserves for the Dogs of War will be snarling at their gate once more.

Teams:

WCFC: Danny Andrews; James Crowe; Chris Woodward; Steve Sutherland; John Ambridge; Kristian Webb; Anthony Gale (David Meechan); Craig Carley; Greg Ball (Jack Watkins); Scott Harris (Capt); Chris Morrison (David Ocquaye)

Subs not used: Paul Westren

DHFC:

James Pullen; Jason Turley (Capt); Nicolas Plumain; Daniel Nwanze; Gavin Dayes; Lewis Tozer; David Moore (Jamie Cheeseman 78) (Danny Moore 90+3); Kenny Beaney; Luke Cornwall; Chris Dickson; Phil Williams

Subs not used: Sol Pinnock; Jean-Serge Musungu; Ohran Stewart

Attendance: 92

Officials:

Referee: Mr Ian Fissenden (Gravesend, Kent)

Assistant Referees: Mr Craig Hooper (Mychett) & Mr Michael Taylor (Alton)

Goal Scoring:

1-0 WCFC Chris Morrison 11^th minute

1-1 DHFC David Moore 24^th minute

2-1 DHFC David Moore 29^th minute

3-1 DHFC Chris Dickson 55^th minute