Dulwich Hamlet 2 Tooting & Mitcham United 1

Bostick Premier,Monday 28th August 2017

On a rather warm bank holiday Monday (yes they do exist from time to time) I visited Champion Hill, East Dulwich, for Dulwich Hamlet Vs Tooting & Mitcham United in a Bostick Premier local derby.

And most of the 1,866 crowd in attendance were anticipating a home win as on paper the hosts were certainly the stronger of the two sides. But derby games often throw up some surprises and this one began no differently.

This is because on five minutes the visitors burst into the box and we’re thwarted by what looked like a good tackle to deny them, however the referee thought otherwise and pointed to the spot. Billy Dunn stepped up to dispatch the spot kick and the visitors had an early lead in the contest.

The closest the visitors came to a goal in the first quarter of the game came in the 20th minute when they curled a free kick a foot over the visitors goal but midway through the half missed a terrific chance when after a break out of defence saw an effort sail inches over the bar.

The visitors began to ramp up the tempo thereafter and five minutes before half time saw a corner hacked clear from inside the six yard box as Tooting held firm before another corner three minutes later was headed towards Tooting’s goal but was cleared away from the goal line.

The visitors did see a rare effort blocked right on half time but the hosts had dominated the majority of the opening half but found themselves a goal behind still as the whistle went for the half time break.

And the early exchanges of the second half continued to see the hosts dominated and saw them go close twice as it looked like it would be one of those days in front of goal.

And in the 57th minute it almost got worse for Hamlet when a rare Tooting attack saw the ball flashed across the six yard box with no one coming in at the back post otherwise it would of been two for the visitors.

But just before the hour mark Dulwich finally found the breakthrough as skipper Kenny Beaney drilled home a low free kick from twenty yards and give the hosts the least they deserved.

And moments after the goal Hamlet so nearly edged in front but saw an effort hit the inside of the post and they continued to dominate and with eleven minutes remaining struck the inside of the other post unbelievably with most of the crowd convinced it had gone in, it really was that close.

But the home crowd didn’t have to wait long for their side to find a second and take the lead when with ten minutes remaining Beaney netted his second of the contest, drilling home first time after the ball had been laid into his path, and send the large home support into raptures.

And moments after the goal Hamlet poked inches wide in pursuit of what would be a clinching third and with two minutes left saw a glancing header hit the frame of the goal, the third time the hosts had hit it today, meaning the lead was still only one goal.

It proved enough though and meant Dulwich took the honours in South London’s very own ‘El Classico’. A good entertaining game and a deserved win for the home side played in a decent atmosphere.

Long Melford 1 FC Romania 2

Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round, Saturday 19th August 2017

The Emirates FA Cup returned this weekend and my latest game in my journey took me to Stoneylands for the very first time to see Long Melford host FC Romania in a Preliminary Round tie.

The hosts knocked out Hackney Wick away in the last round whilst the visitors needed a replay to finally dispatch Waltham Forest in their Extra Preliminary Round contest. After chatting with home and away officials and having a nice cup of coffee made by the home sides chairman (which was a nice touch) it was almost time for action.

The pitch was a like a carpet it has to be said, one of the best I’ve seen at this level, and it certainly suited good passing football. The opening ten minutes saw Melford create two openings, both headers, with one straight at keeper Razvan Negrila and the other one headed wide, whilst the visitors saw an effort saved well by Darren Moyes.

The hosts were then gifted a chance when a poor backpass allowed them in on goal but the effort was saved well by Negrila who had come to close the shot down.

The visitors then saw a couple of efforts blocked inside the hosts box whilst Melford saw an effort of their own well saved by Negrila in what was a fairly decent game even if their had been no goals thus far.

That was until the 26th minute when the visitors got their noses in front as hesitation in the box from the defence allowed Sergiu Pitaru to pounce and slot home, this moments after hesitant Melford defending saw the visitors drive wide of the far post, but the hosts hadn’t learned their lesson and found themselves behind.

Melford saw an effort blocked as they tried to respond to going behind before home keeper Moyes had to tip over a decent strike to prevent his side going further behind.

But with eight minutes to go before the break the Romanians did double their advantage when a great team move saw Toby Cleaver played in down the right and he duly slotted across keeper Moyes and into the far corner. It was a great goal and drew applause from all inside the ground.

The hosts came close to immediately reducing the deficit but saw the ball hacked away from goal after keeper Negrila had seen the ball lobbed over him by pacey winger Hassan Ally.

Pitaru almost grabbed his second minutes before the break but saw his close range effort go straight at Moyes, whilst Melford saw a weak header go straight at Negrila and it meant the visitors went into the half time interval with a useful two goal cushion.

Melford knew they had to get the next goal if they were to have any realistic chance of pulling this tie back but the early exchanges of the second period saw two visiting efforts go close, one a long range effort well saved by Moyes and then another shot whistled over from an angle.

And by the time the game had reached the hour mark the visitors should of been out of sight but could not take advantage of some decent openings that came their way.

Melford were trying hard though and as the game entered it’s final twenty minutes or so started to apply pressure on the visitors goal, sending a header wide and then seeing a looping header go over, but it was clear that the home side were not out of this tie yet.

And from their next attack Luke Payne thought he had headed Melford right back into the tie after heading in off the post, however the linesman’s flag had gone up so the goal did not count. The hosts were rather upset by this decision as they claimed the ball had gone backwards when crossed, however it didn’t stand but it was a warning for the visitors.

And as the contest entered it’s final ten minutes Melford glanced a header onto the post as they continued to threaten. The visitors needed to raise their game here as a goal back for the hosts would really see them come under serious pressure.

And sure enough the hosts found a goal with six minutes of normal time remaining when the ball fell to substitute Nathan Rowe and he slotted the ball into the corner of the net and it was now very much game on.

The visitors did catch the hosts on the break on one occasion as they pressed forward for an equaliser but saw George Taban’s effort chalked off for offside then moments later they visitors sent an effort wide of the far post as the game entered stoppage time.

The hosts huffed and puffed but just could not find a way through the hard working FCR backline and after several minutes of stoppage time referee Michael Jarvis brought an end to proceedings and the ESL visitors were in the next round.

The Romanians made harder work of this than they probably should of however you have to applaud how Long Melford pushed them hard and could of easily earned a replay in the end. However its FC Romania who now wait and see who they get in Mondays First Qualifying Round draw.

Southend Manor 0 Takeley 1

Essex Senior League, Wednesday 16th August 2017

A nice local game for me on Wednesday evening saw me over at Southchurch Park inSouthend on Sea as Southend Manor hosted Takeley in an Essex Senior League contest.

Both teams had begun the campaign unbeaten with the visitors having won all four of their games in all competitions. But those wins had all come at home and this was their first away trip of the new season so could Manor inflict defeat on them for the first time this season.

The opening ten minutes saw the visitors go close on three occasions and should really have taken an early lead but they were unable to convert their early dominance into goals.

The following ten minutes saw the hosts start to grow into the contest and did flash a decent cross from the right through the penalty area as they began to show signs of settling into the game.

However the following passage of play saw the game devoid of much goalmouth action as the game remained goalless but as the game approached half time the best chance of the half since the opening few minutes saw a Manor close range effort saved.

The visitors had started well but saw the hosts grow into the game as the first half went on, however it was a half that did end goalless. The question was could anyone take the early initiative in the second half.

Well both teams saw an opening each in the first ten minutes of the second period but it remains goaless at Southchurch Park. The following few minutes saw Manor go close on three occasions whilst Takeley struck the outside of the post from a cross.

Manor though continued to have the better of the half and passed up another decent chance to go in front an so the game entered it’s final quarter hour still goalless and you felt one goal would win it.

With six minutes remaining Takeley went close in what was a rare opportunity for them in the second half as Manor should have been in front but were unable to convert the openings that had come their way.

And the hosts were to rue those missed opportunities when as the clock ticked into stoppage time a cross from the left saw Stuart Zanone poke home from close range at the near post and give Takeley the lead. It was very harsh on the home side but if you don’t take your chances you get punished eventually.

Manor tried as hard as they could to find a leveller in stoppage time but as in keeping with the game failed to find a way through and Takeley held on for the three points and keep their 100% record in tact.

The visitors really had to grind this one out against a Manor side who on another day could of been two or three goals up before Takeley’s late winner. That’s football though as you say and it was certainly a good battle between two decent sides. Both now turn their attentions to theFA Cup at the weekend.

Barkingside 1 Stansted 0

Essex Senior League, Saturday 5th August 2017

It was back to Essex Senior League action this weekend and I was over at Cricklefield forBarkingside against Stansted.

The hosts had only played one league game prior to this one, a 2-1 win at Great Wakering Rovers, whilst Stansted had lost their opening game at Wakering but had followed that up with victory at Burnham Ramblers.

Both sides exited the FA Cup at the first stage last weekend however so were looking to bounce back from that disappointment. The opening ten minutes saw the visitors with the best two openings however neither keeper had been tested so far.

However the following period of play saw little in the way of goalmouth action but as the game hit the half hour mark Side had a couple or chances in the previous few minutes however it remained goalless.

But then came a moment of controversy as with around seven minutes of the first half remaining the hosts burst clear and rounded the keeper but were then thwarted by a foul by the keeper outside the box. Red card everyone thought but no, just a yellow and the only thing that could of saved the stopper was a covering defender behind.

The home side felt hard done by and the resultant free kick was struck wide to add to the home sides frustration.

Their frustration in front of goal continued as they missed two great chances just before the break, with the second one from a yard out after the ball was squared across goal with the finish somehow hit into the keepers hands.

The Airportmen saw a scuffed effort saved by Hunt in the Side goal in the last action of the half but the hosts had created the better chances although it had not been the best game on what was a very bobbly pitch and the game remained goalless at the break.

The opening five minutes of the second half saw the visitors start on the front foot before the hosts were soon missing chances again, missing three decent openings in as many minutes.

Stansted then saw a terrific cross almost converted at the far post by Jack Sykes whilst Side saw a header from Eamon Payne fielded well by the visiting keeper and you wondered if either side would break the deadlock.

And twenty minutes into the second half we had our answer as the hosts found the breakthrough as a cross found substitute Michael Ogboin who sent a downward header beyond the keepers dive and into the net.

The next passage of play saw Side force a decent save from the visiting keeper as they looked to seal the win and they went close again when a dipping effort from outside the box sailed inches over.

However as the game went into the final ten minutes and beyond Stansted began to apply pressure onto the Barkingside back line and created two decent chances as well as see a free kick go over the bar.

The visitors continued to search for a late leveller however found the Side backline unbreachable and they held firm to record a battling win and make it two wins from two in the division. Not the best of games but the hosts won’t care a jot and although they lost Stansted can take some positives from this one too.

Hackney Wick 0 Long Melford 1

Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round, Saturday 5th August 2017

So the Emirates FA Cup returned for another season and my latest journey began at The Old Spotted Dog Ground in Forest Gate, East London, as Hackney Wick hosted Long Melford.

Wick were entering the competition for the very first time and in only their third season as a club, whilst Melford have been around for 150 years and have plenty of history so the two clubs couldn’t be further apart in those stakes.

Both were looking to get into the next round though, as well as bag the £1,500 prize money for winning the tie, and a terrific crowd of 267 showed up to see who could do just that.

It was also ironic that the club Wick had taken over, London Bari, played their first FA Cup match against Long Melford, so that was certainly a very ironic fact to say the least.

The first ten minutes of the contest saw a chance for both sides, Melford seeing an effort saved by the keeper when well placed whilst Wick flashed a terrific ball across goal and just invading an incoming attacker.

But on the quarter hour mark the visitors edged in front when Josh Hodgson got to a ball in behind the defence first and prodded an effort beyond the keeper who almost got back to claw it out but ended up in the net with the ball and the visitors led.

Wick had a decent spell after going behind and saw an effort fly wide after the winger had cut inside his marker, but the visitors keeper had still not been tested once in the contest thus far.

The latter part of the half saw the visitors twice go close to doubling their lead but passed up both opportunities, but the Suffolk side went into the break a goal ahead and although the hosts had a lot of possession in the half, it was the visitors who looked more organised and had the better chances.

However Wick came out with renewed vigour in the second period and the opening exchanges saw the hosts putting pressure on the visitors however Melford were dealing with it well.

Wick continued to dominate possession as the half continued and the Melford keeper had to tip one effort over whilst another couple of efforts were blocked by a solid back line as the hosts continued to try and find a leveller in this

And as the game headed to its final fifteen minutes Wick missed a golden chance to equalise when after breaking through the visitors back line the hosts could only poke an effort agonisingly wide of the far post, and the moments later forced the Melford keeper into a smart save. You kind of felt it was gonna be one of those days for the ESL newboys.

And with Wick pushing hard for the leveller the visitors almost sealed it near the end when they got in on goal however the effort went inches wide but soon after the whistle blew and Long Melford had their hard earned win in the bag.

For Wick it was a frustrating afternoon and it’s a shame to exit the FA Cup at the first hurdle in their first appearance in the famous old competition, but they can now concentrate on the league and continue to improve throughout the season.

For Melford it’s another appearance in the Preliminary Round and they had to dig deep in this one to get the win, but they defended stoutly and battled hard for the victory. They now host wither FC Romania or Waltham Forest in the next round on Saturday August 19th.