Ryman Isthmian League Division One South
Tuesday 26th September 2006
’Twas caviar to the general, but it was–as I receiv’d it, and others, whose judgments in such matters cried in the top of mine–an excellent play, well digested in the scenes, set down with as much modesty as cunning.
The still night air of East Dulwich reverberated to archaic chants as Hamlet went to town, dancing upon the graves of the visiting G’s hopes in an exhilarating exhibition of the noble art. “Barnestoneworth, Barnestoneworth, Barnestoneworth, Barnestoneworth”, rang from the terraces in homage to a performance that once might have seemed like an oasis in a desert of barren encounters, but in Wayne’s World threatens to be a regular occurrence. For Golden Gordon read Diamond Dickson, scorer of a quality hat trick, and resplendent in golden boots but this was an evening for heroes all.
Arriving at Champion Hill propping up the table but boasting a miserly defence if impotent attack, Godalming gave little inkling of the massacre that they were about to face. In a fast and furious opening quarter hour, either side could have taken the lead. Hamlet looked jittery at the back with keeper James Pullen’s distribution lacking conviction, putting his defence under unnecessary pressure. Picked out by a cracking cross in from the right wing Shaun Lydon could, nay should have given his side a not undeserved lead with a spectacular volley but the ball flew wide of the target. In addition Danny Newman failed to capitalise on a golden opportunity whilst a strong header from Chris Boulter flew over the bar. Best of Hamlet’s chances saw Luke Cornwall overlapping on the left of the area to meet Chris Dickson’s pass but driving his shot across the face of goal.
Dame Fortune played a pivotal role in the opener after 21 minutes though the goal was credited to Nicolas Plumain. The young Frenchman, playing at right back in place of Jason Turley, was allowed a free run down the right wing. A cross delivered swerved in flight; horrified keeper Andy Parkinson stood rooted to the spot as the ball beat him at the near post.
The touch paper was ignited, Dulwich on fire. Sublime, assertive football, flowing rhythm, quicksilver movement. All Godalming could muster in response was a series of niggling fouls in a vain attempt to destroy the Hamlet’s composure but only succeeded in sparking further attacks. Phil Williams felled by a cynical challenge as he ripped a hole in the ragged rearguard. A free kick a yard beyond the edge of the penalty area. Beaney’s dead ball effort, driven in low, deflected off a defender but cannoned back off the underside of the crossbar with Cornwall unable to force home the rebound.
32 minutes, the two Moores, David and Danny combined to win the ball back close to the touchline, laying the seeds of a powerful Beaney run to the goal line from whence he pulled the ball back to the predatory Dickson, slotting the ball home through a forest of legs. Laxity in the home defence might have granted the G’s the privilege of an equaliser within two minutes as Danny Newman snuck in behind Gavin Dayes after a ball pumped in from the right wing had bounced over the centre half’s head. Pullen though was alert and spread himself large to deny the G’s a quick response.
Refusing to ease up as the half time break drew closer, Hamlet made it 3-0 on 44 minutes. Williams’ pace pummelled the midfield, his incisive pass picking out Plumain haring down the right once more. A perfect cross seemed destined for the head of Dickson, but a sly nudge from Martin Beard, unnoticed by the referee, knocked Dickson out of the ball’s path. Vain cries for a penalty had barely died in the supporters throats when David Moore, having turned the gas to keep the ball in play, turned the ball back across goal when Dickson exacted his personal revenge with a well executed finish.
Left waiting whilst their guests lingered in the dressing room, somewhere they might have wished they remained, Dulwich were soon steaming into their disheartened opponents. Three minutes in, David Moore’s curled strike from the edge of the box beat the keeper but cannoned back off the inside of the post along the goal line. Pressure unrelenting, Dulwich struck again as Beaney’s drive was paddled behind by a diving Parkinson; the resultant corner saw Lewis Tozer rise highest at the back of the box only to flick his header wide of the mark. Two minutes later and Dickson played provider as he jinked his way into the area, finding Cornwall but with the ball arriving at an awkward height, the striker could only direct his effort at Parkinson.
Tiring of the G’s gamesmanship, niggling fouls, shirt pulling and their ilk, referee Ian Regan began to get busy with the cards. Snide, unnecessary retaliation saw Lydon’s name added to those of skipper Jamie Laister and James Blason, cautioned late in the first half. It would not be long before Laister would fall foul of the man in black once more. Beaten for pace once again by Dickson, the centre half resorted to a crude, blatant tug on the shirt of his tormentor, trying Mr Regan’s patience for the last time as a second yellow ended his participation.
With eleven Godalming had struggled, with ten they floundered. A brace of killer efforts within minutes had the Hamlet five ahead and still looking for more. In fact it was the visiting defence looking for Moore as he finished off a fine move for the fourth. Still shell-shocked keeper Parkinson was once more picked the ball from the netting as Dickson smote a might drive from distance, the ball going in off the upright.
No respite for the G’s defence, Williams off but in his stead the typhoon that is Eniola Oluwa. His pace won a free kick on the edge of the area, Beaney’s effort shovelled round the post by a scrambling Parkinson.
Like condemned men, Godalming depleted numbers found a new lease of life, inspired by the arrival of Ahmed Tchankou in place of Paul Anderson. A wickedly swerving effort from Shaun Elliot almost deceived Pullen, the giant keeper somehow recovering to claw the ball off his own line. Long spells of inactivity had dulled the Hamlet custodian’s senses and he was at full stretch soon after to batter away Blason’s free kick from the edge of the area.
Passing as if a summer shower, Godalming’s brief revival soon faltered as Dulwich struck again. With Godalming’s defence at sea as they struggled to snuff out yet another Dulwich attack, the ball ran to Daniel Nwanze outside the area and he had time to pick his spot before curling a precision effort into the far side of the net. Blason again tested Pullen with a thunderous shot on the run that had the Hamlet keeper at full stretch as he tipped the shot over the cross but soon it was normal service as Jean-Serge Musungu marked his return to the field of combat putting the finishing touches to a scintillating move.
That was soon put in the shade as Tchankou decided he could do without the assistance of his team-mates as a mazy run ended with a smart finish to wreck Pullen’s clean sheet dreams. However the night belonged to the Hamlet, the hardworking Cornwall, seemingly destined to end the evening goalless, at last got the reward his industry deserved. Having looped a header just over moments earlier, Cornwall was there in stoppage time to tuck away number eight.
Teams:
DHFC: James Pullen; Nicolas Plumain; Danny Moore; Daniel Nwanze; Gavin Dayes; Lewis Tozer; David Moore; Kenny Beaney (Cedric Meeko 68); Chris Dickson (Jean-Serge Musungu 74); Luke Cornwall; Phil Williams (Eniola Oluwa 63)
Subs not used: Sol Pinnock; Daniel Jones
GTFC: Andy Parkinson; Martin Beard; Shaun Elliott; James Mariner (Matt Steer HT); Jamie Laister (Capt); Paul Anderson (Ahmed Tchankou 68); Chris Boulter; James Blason; Shaun Lydon (Craig Prendergast 57); Danny Newman; Joe Chandiram
Subs not used: Roger Steer; Will Midmore
Attendance: 226
Officials:
Referee: Mr Ian Regan (Ashford, Kent)
Assistant Referees: Mr James Vallance (Putney) & Mr Wayne Ingram (New Malden)
Goalscoring:
1-0 DHFC Nicolas Plumain 21st minute
2-0 DHFC Chris Dickson 32nd minute
3-0 DHFC Chris Dickson 44th minute
4-0 DHFC David Moore 57th minute
5-0 DHFC Chris Dickson 59th minute
6-0 DHFC Daniel Nwanze 73rd minute
7-0 DHFC Jean-Serge Musungu 79th minute
1-7 GTFC Ahmed Tchankou 82nd minute
8-1 DHFC Luke Cornwall 90th minute
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