Last Sunday the team travelled to East London to compete in this year’s Women’s FA Cup against Barking FC. 

On the back of four wins in a row, the team went into this game full of confidence and seeking to put in another high tempo performance to ensure that they would be draw for the next round. 

With Barking competing at the same league step as Dulwich and having been promoted the previous year, a tough cup tie was expected by the traveling Hamlet supporters. 

Whilst both teams started strongly and equally had chances to break the deadlock, Hamlet started to take control of the game and in the 12 minute Angel Read came close in putting the Hamlet in front but the Barking keeper saved the close range effort.  Within minutes Hamlet had another chance to take the lead, but again the home keeper was able to save when forward Shakira Kafero-Roberts, went one-to-one with the Barking shot stopper which resulted in a corner for the visitors. 

Finally, the early Hamlet pressure paid off and in the 16 minute the visitors went ahead. A great cross into the penalty area, by Lily Price, found Kafero-Roberts who slotted her effort first time into the back of the net. 

Minutes later the lead was doubled. Another cross from out wide, this time from Reha Gall, found Summer Roberts who put the ball into the net for her first goal of the game. 

The Hamlet continued to apply pressure to the Barking defence and almost got a third in the 25 minute, but Roberts put her effort wide. 

Dulwich was now in full command of the game and in the 35 minute Phoebe Read made it three for the Hamlet! Following good work by Asia Harbour-Brown, who rounded the home team keeper, she managed to pick out Read who scored to put Dulwich three – nil to the good. 

Soon Dulwich made it four when in the 39 minute Gall scored following a Roberts head that hit the post only for Gall to head in the rebound. 

The second half started the same as the first half, with both teams having an equal opportunity with the ball.  Despite the Barking procession, the Hamlet defence stood firm and continued to pacify the Barking attacks. 

The first real chance of this half came on the 63 minute when Kafero-Roberts, who was always in the thick of it going forward, attempted a lob over the keeper but her effort went over the bar. 

Within a minute it was five for Dulwich, when Roberts scored her second of the game. 

Not long after a corner-kick delivery from Lily Price Read in the penalty area whose first time volley was headed on the line by the Barking defence. 

Roberts capped a great day by completing her first hat-trick for the club in the 80 minute. As Barking keeper came out of their box to try to collect the ball, Roberts managed to round the keeper to slot the ball into the empty net. 

That was to be the final goal of the game and in stoppage time, adding to the home teams already bad day, they went down to ten players when Kafero-Roberts was fouled denying her a goalscoring opportunity and leaving the referee no choice but to issue a red card.  The win see’s the team through to the Women’s FA Cup Third Round Qualifying away to Headstone Manor on Sunday 4 October.