Dulwich Hamlet 3 Hastings United 3

Ryman Isthmian League Division One South

Saturday 10^th February 2007

Perhaps it was the sight of the Dulwich Hamlet jersey, but for some reason the Jehovah's Witnesses plying their thankless vigil outside the train station chose not to ignore me as usual on this grey, dank morning but instead thrust into an unwilling hand a short pamphlet. Their strange vision of heaven, a pseudo American midweek where the deer and the antelope roam, smiling clear-cut student types feast on apples and pumpkins, and the poppies grow plentifully presumably in order to provide something to relieve the boredom of niceness was lost on this poor hack, the devil can come a-calling as long as there is tobacco and a frothing mug of ale in the underworld. However the headline did catch the eye. "All Suffering SOON TO END!, it roared. Hah, those who claim the Almighty as omniscient would find that dogma sorely tested by a stint on the terraces of Champion Hill, for whose habitués pleasure and pain are inextricably entwined.

The visit of Hastings, galloping through the field to sit level with the Hamlet in all but goals, would prove that in abundance. Dulwich, three goals to the good, imperious in their domination, had friend and foe purring in admiration but from dancing like Sugar Ray Leonard they soon found themselves tottering against the ropes like last week's British heavyweight hopeful. First half goals from Chris Dickson and Lewis Tozer, the former a stunning dipping drive, the latter an ungainly bundle home from a corner were augmented by a sweet strike from Mazin Ahmad, his third in as many games. But then the South Coast boys decided to derail the Hamlet express as first one goal, then another, and finally deep, deep in stoppage time, a third denied the Hamlet a return to the top of the table.

A dismal defeat at Burgess Hill might have called for a wholesale cull from manager Wayne Burnett, whose pained and pensive figure had paced the Leylands Park pitch at the end of that reverse but the few changes had more to do with circumstance than tinkering. Justyn Roberts returned from the lodgers having been one of a number of victims of a purge by the Fishes management whilst Kenny Beaney made the short journey in the opposite directions the midfield reins passed to Serge Musungu making his first start of the season after a painfully long struggle with injury. On the back of four wins the visitors only major change was enforced as Ade Olorunda's nap hand of cautions saw him kicking his heels on the sidelines, though there was the worrying sight of Rhys Whyborne, whose inspirational defending had helped snuff out a Hamlet fightback in the reverse fixture at the Pilot Field.

The refreshing philosophies of both managers meant a lip smacking encounter was promised and the hungry fans were not to be denied their feast. Barely had the first died on the breeze than Dulwich might have taken an instant lead. Slick passing, a delicate lobbed pass from the returning Musungu beyond Kevin Rose finding Mazin Ahmad. Lee Worgan found himself committed; all at sea as Ahmad stabbed the ball towards goal but salvation for the United keeper lay in the figure of talismanic skipper Sean Ray, who somehow got back to sweep the ball off the goal line.

The action swung to the other end and it took a stunning price of goalkeeping from Simon Overland to preserve parity. On three minutes Russell Eldridge neatly delivered a set piece into the heart of the Hamlet penalty area, precisely locating the head of John Bradley, replacing the suspended Olorunda, the stand-in denied as Overland somehow found the elasticity to stretch and divert the ball past his lefty hand upright.

The high tempo encounter claimed its first casualty after just nine minutes as a crunching tackle left Gavin Dayes clutching his left knee in agony, limping off to be replaced by Phil Williams. Chalk and cheese the two players styles might be but Dulwich lost not of their momentum as Williams slipped seamlessly into the engine room, relishing the chance to run at the opposition ranged ahead of him, one meandering move threatening a special end but halted on the edge of the area. Moments later and Dulwich found exposed Overland out smartly on batter away an effort from Bradley who had somehow slipped the bonds of his marker. His opposite number soon topped that was a breathtaking save to keep out a fire breathing drive from the boot of Chris Dickson.

Back and forth the game flowed, a torrent of football as both sides cast caution to the winds. Dan Williams chanced his arm from long range but too high. Eldridge got on the end of a head-seeking cross from James Sims but could only find the hands of Overland. From one goal to the other, Williams turned on the gas with an incursion into the left of the area followed by a pull back across the six yard box. An almighty scramble saw Dickson's first effort caught under the feet of a prostrate Worgan. The hamlet hitman latched on to the loose ball, created space for himself but again Worgan denied him, hooking the ball away at the last. The master marksman of Champion Hill would not have to wait long before Worgan would finally be beaten, the long wait for the goal more than justified by a stunning effort that had the fans salivating. Simple build-up followed by spectacular finish, Roberts launching the ball out of defence, Leigh Bremner winning an aerial battle to nod the ball into the path of Dickson, the striker taking a few steps then unleashing a dipping, swerving drive that danced in the air as Worgan flung himself in vain to keep the ball from his net. The fates conspired to deny Dickson an equally dazzling number two just minutes later as he collected Jamie Coyle's slipped pass, left a brace of defenders in his wake and let rip with a sizzling shot that had beat a powerless Worgan only to hammer back down from the underbelly of the crossbar and away. One might have a long wait for a bus on Dog Kennel Hill but on the green sward of Champion Hill one could almost timetable the goals. Having missed one a second Hamlet strike would arrive shortly afterwards, albeit a slightly less extravagant fashion. The Hastings defence was lost at sea as Ahmad swung the ball into the six yard box, Lewis Tozer's ungainly bundle home scoring low on style marks but high on import.

A hooked effort from distance by Lee Carey failed to trouble Overland as it dropped wide of his right hand post, a brief aberration in the Dulwich dominance. The god of the penalty kick turned his face once more from Dulwich as Musungu was first to low a Bremner cross from the right, only to sent tumbling by the challenge of Tim Olorunda but with the men in Pink and Blue once more on song could there be anything but one result this afternoon?

Drastic measures from Hastings supremo Nigel Kane, pulling off a brace of players at the break, Kevin Rose withdraw from the rearguard to be replaced by the returning Whyborne whilst Eldridge making way fro Danny Ellis. The defence seemed tighter but still it was Hamlet launching wave upon wave of attacks. Almost from the restart Dickson burst into the box only to be smothered by defenders, Williams suffering a similar fate as he run on to Ahmad's slipped pass. Olorunda tried illicit methods of stalling the rampant Hamlet, a heavy challenge on Ahmad halting yet another incisive run but earning him the afternoon's first caution.

Perhaps it was the constant pressure from the marauders Hamlet assassins but Whyborne brief cameo would soon pass, his injury flaring up once more and forcing the visitors into their final substitution with still half an hour to play.

As Hastings were once more reshuffling Dulwich almost exploited this as Shawn Beveney set out on a breakneck charge from his own half of the field before slipping the ball left to Bremner. His effort was blocked but the ball ran to Ahmad, silky skills seemed to have unlocked the door but Worgan slammed it in his face twice blocking from close range. Ahmad though would have his revenge. 64 minutes on the clock and the determined winger found himself the recipient of Musungu's excellent crossfield pass, the defence opening up ahead of him, Worgan perhaps leaving too much space at his near post and well beaten as Ahmad's low drive swung away from his desperate dive.

The points seemed secure but Hastings had other ideas. Taking control of midfield, they cast caution aside and laid into the Hamlet with gay abandon but not before Dulwich had the chance to further extend the lead only for Dickson to volley over the bar from close range after meeting Coyle's cross. Two minutes by and Hastings found themselves thrown a lifeline, aided and abetted by Coyle's weak defensive header from an innocuous Lee Carey cross. The ball dropped kindly for substitute Ellis, anonymous until now, but feted as he hammered the loose ball low into the corner of the net.

Twice Dulwich had chances to restore the three goal cushion, Coyle flashing a free kick across the face of goal, Bremner unable to connect before Williams lasered his way through the yellow hoards, but could not add the final flourish as Worgan got his hands to the eventual shot. This move proved the finale for Williams, a fusillade of applause marking his exit as young David Milton entered the fray in his stead. As Milton was taking his place, the Hamlet defence were almost breached once more as Ellis's dancing feet took him past a couple of attempted tackles and saw man on man with Overland, the big custodian coming out on top with a smart block. A quick break out from the resultant corner. Could Dulwich seal it? Dickson fed Bremner but Worgan came to the rescue once more with a fine save.

Thick and fast the chances came. Sam Adams drilled an angled shot fractionally over the bar, before turning provider for James Sims, up from defence, but the chance evaporated as a shot was slashed wide of the near post with the goal begging. Worgan again denied Bremner with an excellent save from a shot on the turn, as the visitors went dozed off at a quickly taken free kick.

Three minutes left and cramp claimed Dickson, Daniel Jones his replacement. Mere seconds remained of normal time. Surely a two goal mountain would too much for Hastings to climb? Throwing all hands forward, yellow shirts swarmed into the Hamlet area as Olorunda drilled in a low cross from the right. Amidst the mêlée, Adams and Ellis chanced their arm (and the odd hand if eyewitness reports are accurate) but heroic blocking denied them. Three times a charm though and Bradley benefited as the ball looped up towards him the ball nodded into an unguarded net.

Yet another Dulwich breakaway ended in failure as Musungu surged away on the left wing, rifling a cross towards Bremner at the far post, only the intervention of Ray denied the striker a shot on goal. The stage though was set for one last big push from the visitors. Stoppage time was four minutes old when a corner was won in questionable circumstances as the assistant referee, seemingly signalled a Hastings player offside, raised then lowered his flag in quick succession. Even ‘keeper Worgan was up for the corner kick but it was poor, Hamlet cleared to Jones on the sidelines but he found himself mugged by Adams. A neatly weighted cross ensued, Overland tempted from his line for cross but beaten to the ball by Dan Williams. Bradley picked up the loose ball, kept a cool head, resisting the temptation to try for glory himself and instead passed the honour and the ball to his leader, Ray, who tucked the ball home to shatter Hamlet hearts. Unbelievably that gaol sent the centre-half into double figures for the current term. With Hamlet rocking, Hastings came with a whisker of snatching all three points a farcical scenario less than a quarter hour previous but when Adams unleashed a furious drive which grazed the bar from all of 35 yards, the visiting fans were already in wonderland. Likewise those of the Hamlet but for them the wonderment was not born of joy.

Teams:

DHFC: Simon Overland; Jason Turley; Gavin Dayes (Phil Williams 11 (David Milton 76)); Justyn Roberts; Jamie Coyle (Capt); Lewis Tozer; Shawn Beveney; Serge Musungu; Leigh Bremner; Chris Dickson (Daniel Jones 87); Mazin Ahmad

Substitutes not used: Matt Dean; Billy Manners

HUFC: Lee Worgan; James Sims; Jimmy Elford; Kevin Rose (Rhys Whyborne HT Danny Spice 60)); Sean Ray (Capt.); Dan Williams; Lee Carey; Tim Olorunda; John Bradley; Sam Adams; Russell Eldridge (Danny Ellis HT)

Substitutes not used: Brett Griffin; Bernard Asante

Attendance 404

Referee: Mr Robert Smith (New Addington)

Assistants Referees: Mr Martin Lehane (Bexleyheath) & Mr Guy Marley (Bexleyheath)

Goalscoring:

1-0 DHFC Chris Dickson 27^th minute

2-0 DHFC Lewis Tozer 33^rd minute

3-0 DHFC Mazin Ahmad 64^th minute

3-1 HUFC Danny Ellis 72^nd minute

3-2 HUFC John Bradley 89^th minute

3-3 HUFC Sean Ray 90^th minute (4^th minute of stoppage time)