SAWYER'S SIZZLER SALVAGES POINT

11.04.10

Dulwich Hamlet salvaged a late draw with late developers, Horsham YMCA, thanks to a wonderful instinctive goal from substitute Frankie Sawyer five minutes from time, his dropping lob leaving YMCA custodian Tony di Bernardo anchored to the ground as the ball looped over him and into the net. It was just reward for industrious Hamlet who, three minutes earlier, had suffered the double whammy of losing first Ellis Wilson-Joseph to a red card then falling behind as a jerry-built wall crumbled before Luke Gedling dribbled free kick that took a cruel deflection off a defender's boot and crept under the body of Phil Wilson. With the YMCA having a early strike into the net chalked off for offside, Dulwich had grabbed a 20^th minute lead through Nyren Clunis crisp drive past di Bernardo, the tyro winger having profited from a headed pass courtesy of Sol Pinnock. However it was never plain sailing with YMCA winger Tom Lawley giving understudy right back Corriston Campbell a torrid time on the flanks and it came as little surprise when the YMCA levelled 3 minutes from the break as Lawley's trickery on the wing set up Tom Manton to supply a cross for Terry Dodd to smack a first time keyhole strike beating Wilson inside his near post.

The second half seemed to be dying in the embers until the last ten minutes when Ellis-Wilson saw red; Gedling punished the crime before Sawyer struck. Despite numerical inferiority, Dulwich could have celebrated victory with Justin Bowen, late flourishing in his striking role, banging a smart volley just wide of the upright. A sweet move, Alim Sesay laying the ball into Kevin James, the substitute's impudent back heel setting up Bowen only for the rutted pitch to hamper ball control before a flock of YMCA shirts crowded out the Hamlet man. Right at the death pitiless fate might have dealt Hamlet a cruel hand had Lawley's volley from a Gavin Geedes back flick found the net but it bounced wide to ensure honours finished even.