DOVER DEMOLISHED

01.05.10

Gavin Rose's Dulwich Hamlet Youth team made it through to the semi-finals of the John Ullman Cup last night with a comprehensive demolition of a jaded looking Dover side, missing a number of key players. Dulwich too had their absentees with Adam Molloy on England Schoolboy duty at Burton Albion. Both sides had endured a heavy schedule of games in recent weeks as the Kent Youth League struggles to catch up on fixtures lost to the weather during the winter ravages.

Having played the previous evening, beating VCD 1-0 in a league game, Dulwich could be forgiven a slow start something Dover profited from early when a long ball down the middle saw the Dulwich stand-in 'keeper catch in No Mans Land as the ball was clipped over him. However, the goal only served to goad Dulwich into action and like a pricked lion, the Hamlet boys were soon ripping into their far travelled opponents. A quick double strike gave Dulwich an advantage they would never surrender. First Nyren Clunis finished off a cross after ghosting in unheeded at the back of the penalty area. That goal added to by Roy Odiaka stroking home a close range effort inside a crowded six-yard box.

The stoked up Hamlet lads gave no quarter to their tired antagonists, the second half pretty much one-way traffic as Dulwich contrived to miss as many chances as their created. Dover's response not pretty with some none too subtle tackles employed to stymie Hamlet raids. Not to be drawn into a wrestling match by such devious tactics, Dulwich maintained their dignity and stretched the lead late on in the half with a fine finish from Omar Lawson. The winger zipped down the flanks, Dover defenders Will E. Coyotes to his Roadrunner, cutting sharply into the box and drilling a precise finish low inside the hapless goalkeeper's near post from a seemingly impossible angle. Could Dulwich cap that? Yes they could as Clunis made certain of victory with a stunning goal to light up Champion Hill in the dying embers of the game. Juggling the ball some 25 yards out, the quicksilver wingman turned and bulleted an unstoppable shot that whizzed past the clawing hand of the 'keeper before the ball buried itself in the corner of the net.

The result sets up an intriguing semi-final as Dulwich Hamlet meet Dulwich Hamlet, Ian Neal's North Division team facing Rose's lads with a place in the final at Thamesmead on Sunday 16^th May at stake. The game is scheduled to take place next week at Champion Hill though a date has yet to be agreed. Updates as they are received.