DULWICH LADS LIFT JOHN ULLMAN CUP

21.05.10

The hunters have become the prey. Chatham Town, who had hunted down and devoured the gazelles of Dulwich Hamlet's Academy team in the Kent Youth League Challenge Cup final, and now arrived as favourites at Thamesmead Town's Bayliss Avenue in search of the one trophy that would complete an unprecedented quadruple of titles, found the tables turned in dramatic fashion as Ian Neal's lion cubs battled to an unexpected, though never undeserved victory.

The venue was a far cry from the glass and steel temples of football where many a final has been played out. Thamesmead's Bayliss Avenue has the builders in and cover was in short supply for those supporters sheltering from the torrential downpours that swept the arena from shortly before kickoff. However, the rain made for a slick pitch and a fast-paced passing game that zipped from end to end with gay abandon. At the heart of the Hamlet, Hulusi Mustafa caught the eye, a midfield maestro, mature beyond his years conducting the Dulwich orchestra from his podium in the engine room. However, it was in defence that Dulwich shone in the opening encounters with Olly Bell a colossus at the back keeping Chatham's lively centre forward Tom Hill in his pocket almost all evening. In addition, the Hamlet skipper made a number of vital goal saving tackles. Even when a chink of light appeared to give the Kent side the opportunity of a shot on goal there was vociferous young custodian Sam Wheeler to make a stunning save.

That said Dulwich must have been disappointed not to have taken a lead in to the halftime break for Tom Pedrotti was denied on the halftime as Dan Bull somewhat fortuitously saved his close range volley from 12 yards whilst Daniel Craig was also frustrated after a penetrating run to the edge of the area.

Having suffocated the Chatham threat in the first half, Dulwich started to make greater and greater inroads in their opponents as the second half wore on. Holes began to open up in the Kentish rearguard that Dulwich cunningly exploited. But for the slick pitch rescuing sluggish defenders the goals might have arrived sooner than they did, but they did. Midway through the second half the ball was dextrously delivered to Dulwich's wingman on the left. A powerful run to the backline and a deadly delivery in the six-yard box to find Tom Pedrotti who signed and sealed the move, neatly stroking the ball into the far corner of the net to send the scorer, his teammates and the travelling Pedrotti fan club into raptures.

Though Chatham upped the ante, they could get little change out of Bell and his compadres in defence, with young Wheeler there to make the telling save or two when the rearguard suffered a rare breach.

With little more than ten minutes left on the clock Dulwich put the tin lid on victory as Craig capped a livewire performance with an expertly taken goal. Beating his marker for pace, Craig lashed an angled ball from the corner of the penalty area across the path of the diving Bull who hands scrapped the shot but could not prevent it finding a home in the far corner of the net. A second goal, a second hand on the silverware, then, as the whistle brought proceedings to a close, a dozen and more hands upon the John Ullman Cup, bringing it back to Champion Hill.

Dulwich captain Bell was the choice of the officials as the ILCS (Kent) Man of the Match award but Dulwich had a hatful of heroes on a damp but joyous evening.

Speaking to the Southwark News Dulwich Manager Ian Neal beamed: "It was a hard game and we defended really well in the whole game but particularly in the first half.

"In the second half we took the game to them a bit more and we took our chances when they came along."

The manager added that the achievement of his side should not be underestimated. He said, "We have been underdogs throughout this competition and we have beaten a few academies along the way.

"Winning this trophy is something we should be proud of as really we are part-time, as we only come together a couple of times a week."

Neal added, "All the lads did well at the weekend but both the centre backs had great games. Olly (Bell) got the man of the match as he put in some great last ditch tackles, but we also have to remember our keeper (Sam Wheeler) played an important part as he pulled off a great save to keep us in it."