Dulwich Hamlet 2 Folkestone Invicta 2
Pre-Season Challenge Match
Tuesday 7th August 2007

Loftier opponents mean naught to the Craig Edwards and his young charges as Premier Division Folkestone Invicta were given a torrid time on a muggy night at the Hill. Twice the Hamlet led. Twice the men of Kent found a way back in as Dulwich failed to assuage the 2-2 hoodoo that has afflicted them throughout pre-season. Goals conceded might cause the man in the Hamlet hot seat a little concern but the ebullient attacking style, sometimes cavalier, sometimes erratic but ever incisive, should please both him and those on the sidelines for whom Dulwich football is as much about style as substance.

Youth took a bow to experience as Chuck Martini claimed the ‘keeper’s jersey over Sheikh Ceesay whilst ahead of him Helder Valdes returned at the heart of defence to partner Shane Mangodza. The perpetual work rate of Shawn Beveney and Stanley Muguo in the Three Bridges cauldron was rewarded, Muguo lining up alongside Daniel Morris in the striking vanguard. Beveney almost repaid that faith with a crunching drive from an early Phil Williams corner, rattling the crossbar from 18 yards after barely 2 minutes had elapsed. Amongst those ranged against the Hamlet in amber and black was Leigh Bremner, rewarded with a one year deal at the Buzzlines after scoring a consolation in defeat to Gillingham. The erstwhile Dulwich striker might have given Hamlet fans a taster of goalscoring prowess which became his albatross at Champion Hill but moments after Beveney’s woodwork-shaker, having being neatly glided in behind the defence, his angled strike proved no tester for Martini.

Attacking once more, Invicta found themselves with a man extra on the left as the Dulwich defence was stretched almost to breaking point. Ellis Remy, scorer supreme in pre-season, let go with a thunderous strike that but for the bravery of Stuart Booth might have been rippling the net. Instead the strike cannoned off the face of the foolhardy defender, who had thrown himself open the shot as if it were a live grenade, leaving him spread out spark out on the turf.

Powering forward, cutting a swathe through the nucleus of Invicta rearguard, gamekeeper turned poacher, Muguo unleashed a fearsome drive on the run, the ball hurtling towards goal but spinning of the target as Charlie Mitten stood helpless. Mitten’s goal again came under threat when Morris spotted a chink in defence and let loose with a cannonball drive from all of thirty yards, forcing the Invicta ‘keeper on to the back foot as he stretched at the last to tip the ball over the crossbar. Once more the men of Kent seemed frail at corners, Williams delivering, Beveney climbing highest but only to direct a powerful nod wide of the back stick. No rest for the defence as Beveney’s languid pass found Muguo, a shimmy losing his marker but a curled shot failing to ruffle Mitten’s feathers.

Positive play promised goals. At last after 19 minutes, the prayers of the faithful few were answered, not once, not twice but thrice. Hamlet were first on the score sheet, the defence of corners proving the Achilles heel of Invicta. Mangodza rose highest in a forest of amber and black, glancing a header towards the far post where Muguo ignored the close attentions of his marker to pirouette on the ball and hammer it firmly into the roof of the net. Not that Hamlet had much time to celebrate for within seconds of the restart parity was restored as Michael Everitt spotted Martini wandering from his line and launched a spectacular, speculative lob towards goal. Realising the danger, Martini back-pedalled furiously, legs a-blur, but to no avail, stumbling to the floor as the ball dropped behind him into the net.

A blow for Invicta as Bremner was forced from the field clutching his side, his replacement Damien Abel entering the arena just as his side were endeavouring to defend yet another Hamlet corner. As before though they were found wanting as Benson Kpaka muscled his way to the edge of the six yard box and bullet a header into the roof of the net.

Raging forward, Hamlet sought out opportunities to further their advantage, running amok in Invicta territory. Overworked Mitten had to be compus mentis as Veli Hakki delicately lifted a ball into a rampaging Morris, the big custodian spreading himself like warm butter across the path of Morris and blocking a sweet strike.

34 minutes and Folkestone at last made base camp in the corner count, forcing their first of the evening but a well-worked move came to naught after James Corbett had picked out Ryan Briggs, lurking undiscovered on the fringes of the Hamlet penalty area, the midfielder’s pass picking out Kevin Watson within range of goal. Somehow though the chance went begging as the ball was lifted beyond the goal from mere yards.

More injury worries for the visitors as Mitten’s recurrent leg injury forced him from the field with still 7 minutes of the half to play. His replacement, tyro Luke Stonebridge, soon had to show his credentials, as he was tested by Morris, the striker’s attempt to chip him from 15 yards thwarted as the young ‘keeper stretch to tip the effort round the post.

A lackadaisical start to the second half from the Hamlet and Invicta were allowed back into the game ‘ere 20 seconds from the restart had elapsed. As if their half-time drinks had been spiked with Horlicks, Dulwich dozed as Invicta’s Abel ripped a hole in the Hamlet’s right flank, his square ball in from the wing missed by all bar Remy. Though for a moment the striker struggled to tame the pass, much to his team’s relief he swung to face goal rifling he ball past Martini from three yards out.

A single flash of lightning sparked in purple, darkening skies, the highly charged atmosphere on the pitch for a moment bubbling up as Kpaka and Everitt threatened fisticuffs after a fulsome challenge from the Hamlet man. Firm words from referee Steve Daly, a gentleman’s handshake then back to the game. A nostalgic mind drifted back to when this was once the norm.

53 minutes and cantering down the right, Beveney drilled a low pass into the six yard box. Morris had been haring goalwards as Beveney charged but with the pass behind him, the stage was set for David Piper to ease the pressure with an almighty hoof to touch. Soon after it was all hands to the pump as Pink and Blue shirts flurried like flags on the breeze, bodies falling on the ball in quick succession as a host of quick fire Folkestone strikes were repulsed.

The head of Booth once more proved crucial in preventing Folkestone finding the net as a 65th minute corner was met with venom by the head of Invicta skipper, Roland Edge, the one-time Gill letting loose a pinpoint header bound for the far top corner until Booth’s timely intervention. Almost instantly Hamlet were in freeflow upfield, a multicolour tide of players in pursuit of the ball, Valdes at the head of the Hamlet herd but unable to divert home the final cross into the box.

A right-wing raid quickly switched sides as Corbett found first Remy who in turn supplied Abel in space on the left, the substitute’s excellent shot deserving of a goal but not in the eyes of Martini, who brought ripples of applause all round Champion Hill as he flung himself left to turn the ball past his upright. With the eyes of Asclepius elsewhere Invicta would lose yet another to injury when Ryan Briggs was forced to limp from the field after a crunching tackle left him writhing on the floor. As Briggs was attended to Hakki became the recipient of the evening’s first and only yellow card. Meanwhile Dulwich were making their first substitutions; off came Williams and Morris, on came Jamie Findlay and Craig Braham, a brace of young wingers with so much energy Dulwich run the floodlights off them during power strikes. Both would threaten, first Findlay on the right, Muguo upended in the box but offenders punished not.

With 8 minutes left, Remy almost punished the Hamlet rearguard for some loose defending, latching on to the ball but letting loose an angled drive into the midriff of the well-positioned Martini. At the death, Dulwich could have claimed the victory as Braham nipping at the wing found a way through to lash a ball across the face of goal but just too far ahead of the inrushing Muguo.

DHFC: Chuck Martini; Stuart Booth; Ricky Dobson; Benson Kpaka; Shane Mangodza; Helder Valdez; Shawn Beveney; Veli Hakki (Billy Chattaway 87); Daniel Morris (Craig Braham 77); Stanley Muguo (Cedric Kobongo 85); Phil Williams (Jamie Findlay 77)
Substitutes not used: Sheikh Ceesay (GK), Justin Bowen

FIFC: Charlie Mitten (Luke Stonebridge 37); David Piper; Roland Edge; Kevin Watson; Liam Friend; Samuel Okikiolu (Frankie Chapple 69); Michael Everitt (James Everitt 69); Ryan Briggs (Charlie Glyde 77); Ellis Remy; Leigh Bremner (Damian Abel 21); Jimmy Corbett
Substitutes not used: Roy Guiver; Mark Saunders

Goalscoring
1-0 DHFC Stanley Muguo 18th minute
1-1 FIFC Michael Everitt 19th minute
2-1 DHFC Benson Kpaka 21st minute
2-2 FIFC Ellis Remy 46th minute

Referee: Mr Steve Daly
Assistants: Mr Matt Worwood & Mr Peter Cruise

Dogdy Twilight Photos!