Dulwich Hamlet 2 v Horsham 2
Saturday 8th April 2006
Ryman League Division One

Reporter: Jim Bravery

“Lightning never strikes twice,” or so they say, and with the absence of a meteorologist among the ranks of the Lardy Army it is difficult to confirm whether this is, indeed, the case. What is beyond doubt, however, is that Carl Rook can strike twice as his similarly improbable statistic provided Horsham with another vital point in their quest for promotion. Just a week after his injury-time goal had earned his side maximum points against Ramsgate, the former Dover man was on hand to score with the last kick of the match to help the Hornets gain another unlikely point – their first at Champion Hill - having earlier trailed 2-0.

Three previous visits to the South London ground had all ended in defeat for the Hornets and Saturday’s match was sure to provide a tough challenge with the Hamlet players out to impress as manager Wayne Burnett begins rebuilding for the future. With no disrespect to Dulwich, Champion Hill is one of the less attractive ‘awaydays’ in the footballing calendar, with an awkward journey negotiating the dubious delights of the A23 and A205 with a dramatically sloping pitch and imposing stand that awaits and perhaps these factors were to blame for a lower than usual turnout of travelling supporters, many of whom might have been excused for wishing they’d made alternative arrangements for their Saturday afternoon entertainment having seen the hosts race into a two goal lead. Yet the Hornets are nothing if not determined these days and their battling spirit, that had seen them recover a 2-0 deficit against Kingstonian and vital late wins against Tonbridge and Ramsgate, was evident once again as they clawed their way back into the game to extend their unbeaten run to six games.

With Matt Geard sitting out the last of his two match suspension, the only change to either line-up (a rarity in recent weeks that has seen many a name change scribbled hastily onto the back pages of the matchday programme) was the return of Lee Carney for Andy Walker – the midfielder’s troublesome groin perhaps not as serious as first appeared.

Dulwich began the game with the advantage of a stiff breeze behind them but the conditions made ball control difficult with the visitors, in particular, struggling to construct any cohesive passages of play. The hosts gained the first of a plethora of free-kicks awarded them by referee Steve Briffitt as early as the second minute and the man in the middle did little to endear himself to the Horsham faithful with a number of questionable decisions with Rook frequently looking in vain for some protection from officials after a series of clashes with the uncompromising Gavin Dayes. The Horsham striker did manage to escape his marker to get a shot on target after five minutes, following a deft pass from Mark Hawthorne, but this early strike was to prove the exception rather than the norm during a wretched opening half hour from the Hornets. Dulwich were, themselves, struggling in the wind with passes frequently overhit but they always looked dangerous on the break with four or five players always in support and Eddie French had to be at his best to thwart one particular attack, timing his challenge to perfection. Former Kingstonian striker, Jean-Serge Musungu, hit a tame shot straight at Rob Frankland before more pressure from the home side saw the deadlock broken. Carney, trying to keep the ball in play on the Dulwich right, could only stand and watch as Billy Warner nicked the ball off his toes and let fly from thirty-five yards, sending a curling left foot shot into the back of the net past Frankland’s despairing late dive.

The visitors responded quickly and Paul Seuke had to be alert in the Hamlet goal to whip the ball off Gary Charman’s toes after Andy Howard’s long ball had eluded the home defence. But they could have gone further behind, just a minute later, when Chris Dickson’s cracking shot rebounded to safety off the crossbar with Frankland rooted to the spot. Carney came close to an equaliser when Seuke’s poor clearance landed at his feet but his speculative shot went wide of the post. Jamie Taylor, working tirelessly up front, looked to be within site of goal but he unselfishly played the ball into the path of John Westcott only for the winger to get closed down and the danger was averted. Nigel Brake then sent a left foot shot wide while Frankland was called into action, saving Goma Lambu’s shot. But it was a defensive lapse that allowed Dulwich to double their lead when Brake, whose defensive duties were being tested by the nippy winger, intercepted a through ball but his clearance only reached Kenny Beaney who had all the time in the world to pick out the unmarked Dickson to slot home.

French was trying desperately to rally his troops and, while Hawthorne was receiving treatment, Taylor was brought down just outside the Dulwich penalty box. Westcott’s ball in was well cleared but Taylor sent the loose ball back into the danger zone and Charman saw his header strike captain Jamie Coyle to earn the visitors a corner. Charman felt certain he had got his side back in the game on thirty-nine minutes when his powerful close range header was spectacularly saved by Seuke and Rook headed the loose ball narrowly wide. Encouraged by this, Horsham continued to push their opponents in the closing stages of the half with Taylor’s overhead lob forcing a save from Seuke. Beaney put a half chance wide for Dulwich following a corner, but, with play now entering injury time, French’s determination saw him reduce the arrears, the Horsham skipper heading home the rebound after Seuke had done well to save his first effort and, almost immediately, Mr Briffitt blew for half-time.

Horsham’s hopes of claiming something from this match were rocked within three minutes of the restart when Hawthorne was unable to continue after picking up a knee injury that is likely to keep him out of Tuesday night’s visit of Fleet Town and Ian Payne was sent on at right-back with Tom Graves being pushed into midfield. A snap shot from Lambu almost caught Frankland out, the ball rebounding off the ‘keeper’s legs before being scrambled away to safety, and the two players were in competition again shortly after with Frankland diving bravely at the forward’s feet. Horsham were enjoying more possession now, with the hosts restricted to the occasional, yet threatening, breakaway. It seemed as though Charman might put the Hornets level when Frankland’s huge, wind assisted, clearance fell kindly for him but, with everyone expecting the shot, he laid the ball off to Westcott and a good opening was wasted as the chance went wide of the far post.

At the other end, Dickson had an effort well saved by Frankland and Beaney looked to break through the static Horsham defence but, fortunately, Howard left the offside appeals to his colleagues as he made up ground to rob the striker and clear the danger. Horsham had a half-hearted penalty appeal when Charman’s header looked to have hit a Dulwich hand and Graves went close with a strong header from Brake’s cross. With the game entering its closing stages, both sides decided to introduce fresh legs with Nicolas Plumain replacing the injured Dayes and James Cant coming on for Westcott.

Dickson was desperately unlucky when Frankland’s weak clearance fell straight at the striker’s feet and, as the ‘keeper moved quickly off his line to try and atone for his error, Dickson cleverly lobbed the ball back over his head only to see it rear up off the inconsistent surface and hit the underside of the crossbar before bouncing back into play – much to Frankland’s obvious relief. Burnett looked to close the game up by replacing striker Phil Williams with Sam Friskey, a midfielder recently signed from Erith & Belvedere, as the Hornets went in search of an equaliser. A long through ball saw Jason Turley concede a corner, under pressure from Taylor, and the resulting kick bobbled about in the penalty area before Howard swung a leg, sending the ball wide of the upright. With shades of the match against Kingstonian, in which the Hornets scored a late equaliser after trailing 2-0, Horsham manager John Maggs sent on Dominik Hudak to provide the side with a three pronged attack but, before the big substitute had even touched the ball, Dickson was through again, forcing Frankland into another brave save.

With time ticking away, the visitors forced a corner and, when Carney’s cross was headed back by Howard, the height of Hudak and Rook caused problems for the Dulwich defence allowing Rook to apply the finishing touch to complete a stirring comeback. Although there was just a minute remaining, the Horsham players believed they could find an unlikely winner but time was against them and Dulwich were left feeling aggrieved that they had allowed their visitors to snatch a point after being second best for so much of the game.


Horsham: 1.Rob Frankland 2.Tom Graves (Hudak) 3.Nigel Brake 4.Eddie French 5.Andy Howard 6.Mark Hawthorne (Payne) 7.Lee Carney 8.John Westcott (Cant) 9.Jamie Taylor 10.Carl Rook 11.Gary Charman Subs: 12.Dominik Hudak 14.Ian Payne 15.Florian Mateos 16.James Cant 18.Gary Elliott

Dulwich Hamlet: 1.Paul Seuke 2.Jason Turley 3.Billy Warner (Salaam) 4.Wasi Damali 5.Jamie Coyle 6.Gavin Dayes (Plumain) 7.Goma Lambu 8.Kenny Beaney 9.Serge Musungu 10.Chris Dickson 11.Phil Williams (Friskey) Sub: 12.Yinka Salaam 14.Joel Greaves 15.Nicolas Plumain 16.Sam Friskey 17.Jani Seitsonen

Goalscorers

Dulwich Hamlet: Warner (13), Dickson (29)

Horsham: French (45), Rook (90)

Att: 341