Dulwich Hamlet 2 Deal Town 2

Dulwich Hamlet 2 Deal Town 2
FA Cup – First Qualifying Round
Saturday 15th September 2007

Despite playing in fits and starts, Dulwich contrived to miss a hatful of chances to put this game to bed against a well-organised, determined Deal side with already the scalp of Hamlet's Division One South rivals Corinthian-Casuals tucked in their belt. As a result the two teams must rejoin in battle this coming Tuesday in White Cliff country for the right to progress to the next round of this venerable competition. Starting brightly Dulwich soon lost their way and Deal took a well earned lead when Dave Bathgate took advantage of tentative tackling in the Hamlet penalty to let fly with a rasping shot from the edge of the box that flew past Chuck Martini between the sticks for Dulwich. It could, nay should, have 2-0 to the Kent Leaguers five minutes later when Danny Smith exploited acres of space on the left to hammer a low cross into the heart of the six yard box, but, marshalled by Craig Braham, Mark Pollard could only slide his effort wide of the back stick. With 10 minutes to the break Hamlet at last flickered into life, Henry Darko scampering away to pick up Stuart Booth's through ball but hammering his shot against the legs of 'keeper Gary Phipps. A surreptitious hand was missed as Anton Innocent found himself punished for a challenge on Paul Lamb as the two competed for a long ball out of defence but Innocent would have his vengeance 2 minutes later as Deal's right flank was exposed once more, the Hamlet striker letting loose with a shot from the tightest of angles when all in defence awaited a cross, Phipps in goal powerless as the shot cannoned off his diving body and into the back of the net. Hamlet took heart and on the stroke of half-time took the lead though fortune played dealt the visitors a dodgy hand. Benson Kpaka rose as if lifted on unseen hands to meet Innocent's deep cross to the back of the box, climbing high above his marker to turn a header goalwards. Would it have beaten Phipps? One wonders but the job was finished by unfortunate defender Josh Davidson who threw himself acrobatically at the ball in an attempt to clear, but only diverting the ball away from the hands of his stunned custodian and into the top corner of the net.
Half-time brought a change for the Hamlet as Ricky Dobson was withdrawn, the side reshuffled as Phil Williams joined the attack. The momentum of that late first rally still remained with the Hamlet but two key moments within seconds of each other would sing the pendulum back in favour of the visitors. Electric pace from Darko saw him slash through the centre of the Deal defence. Phipps committed but rounded by a determined Darko to the leave the goal gapping before him, a defender on the line but with all the goal at his mercy. Perhaps taking too long to consider, a mighty wallop on goal might at least have forced that last defender into some desperate measure to keep the ball out, but inside he chose to attempt a curling shot into the top corner, missing not by a country mile but by enough to instil hope in the Dealers. Shell-shocked Hamlet crumbled under the next Deal attack, defenders in limbo as the ball reached Lee Jones and he had no qualms with precision as the ball was struck home for an equaliser.
A determined Williams showed too much pace for the defence as Hamlet went goal hunting once more, the substitute haring into the box but a defender’s boot did enough as the shot spun wide of the far post. Unfocused finishing saw Williams loft a shot over five minutes after having been set up by Innocent before Daniel Jones, on for the unfortunate Darko, latched on to Kpaka’s pass but, stumbling as he shot, shovelled the ball over the crossbar. Thick and fast the shot rained in, Dulwich one minute, Deal the next. A searing solo charge out of defence brought Williams to the brink of the box but elected for a drive into the near bottom corner of the net, the ball grazing the wrong side of the upright. Scorer Lee Jones was allowed free rein to run at the Hamlet rearguard moments after, letting loose with a powerful drive as the goal loomed before him but striking his effort straight at Martini, its power rattling the Hamlet number one as pounced on the ball at the second attempt. Pin pong and Hamlet were back up field once more, this time Stanley Muguo skewing a shot wide when well-placed, before being caught on the back foot once more as a ball in from the right wing found Smith unguarded on the left only to strike his effort into the side netting as Booth made to cover. The replacement Daniel Jones came agonisingly close as the bagatelle of chances continued apace; stretching every sinew in his leg to reach a looped ball in from the right but his faint touch could not divert the ball home. The manic minutes rolled on, Bathgate unchecked met a cross with a firm header but straight at Martini, Beveney did likewise but his effort looped over. Neither side wanted a replay but it drew ever closed as the chances subsided but the Hamlet’s higgledy-piggledy play did not. Deal might rue the late chances that feel their way not least when late replacement John Utterson stooped low at the near post to nod a close range corner harmlessly over the bar. Instead it is down to the coast on the charabanc for Dulwich and the second chance saloon.

Teams:
DHFC: Chuck Martini; Craig Braham; Ricky Dobson (Phil Williams HT); Benson Kpaka; Shayne Mangodza; Steve Aris (Capt); Shawn Beveney; Stanley Muguo; Anton Innocent (Claudio De Almeida 82); Henry Darko (Daniel Jones 55); Stuart Booth
Substitutes not used: Rene Regis; Sheikh Ceesay (GK)

DTFC: Gary Phipps; Darren Waring (John Utterson 82); Josh Davidson; Adam Govey; Paul Lamb; Tim Austin; Lee Jones; Dave Bathgate (Capt); Mark Pollard (Lee Grounds 87); Jorden Barnett; David Corey
Substitutes not used: Michael Cassar; Jurgen Wild (GK)

Attendance: 209
Match officials:
Referee: Mr Jonathan Wheeler (Basingstoke, Hampshire)
Mr Andrew Roberts (Basingstoke, Hampshire) & Mr John Balcombe (Basingstoke, Hampshire)
Goalscoring:
0-1 DTFC Dave Bathgate 19th minute
1-1 DHFC Anton Innocent 41st minute
2-1 DHFC Josh Davidson (o.g.) 45th minute
2-2 DTFC Lee Jones 48th minute