[b]Hamlet renaissance continues apace as Dulwich turn on the second half style to romp to an emphatic victory over a spirited opposition in Baltic conditions on a difficult pitch.[/b]

There’s a renewed buzz about the Hamlet of late as, buoyed by last week’s rollicking win over higher league opponents London Seaward, the team continued to put daylight between themselves and those struggling at the wrong end of the table, hosts Denham United amongst those in trouble. Dulwich were still missing several key players, but the future continues to look bright with those youngsters coming through continuing to impress most of all Asia Harbour Brown whose dynamic runs down the left saw her involved in a number of the goals as well as bagging a much-deserved if tad fortunate goal!

With unthawed ice still present in the car park puddles it was clear that the conditions might prove difficult, if not more for chilly spectators layered up on the side-lines than for the players. A tufty grassed, bobbly pitch proved more of a hindrance than the elements and it took some time for the game to settle into any sort of rhythm even after Dulwich claimed the upper hand with a 6th minute goal. Controlling a long pass from Rosie Stone, Harbour Brown took the ball past a defender only to be clipped by a clumsy challenge. Rather a cheap penalty but a penalty all the same and an offer Sophie Manzi could not refuse. Zara Butt in the home goal guessed correct but Manzi’s spot kick was perfectly placed high and wide to the keeper’s right.

The tricky conditions underfoot made chances hard to come by but when they did it was pretty much one way traffic in favour of the Hamlet. Ellie Millbourn’s shot on the turn from the edge of the area bounced wide of Butt’s left-hand post whilst Harbour Brown did likewise after latching on to a half-cleared corner. Millbourn was denied by Butt as she met Manzi’s pass before Manzi herself met a Stone corner with a deft header than went just the wrong side of the near upright. Just after the half-hour mark Hannah Baptiste hit a powerful shot on the run from distance that Butt spilled but recovered before any attacker could capitalise. Dulwich might have been gifted a second penalty when the ball struck the hands of a defender as she shielded her face from a strong shot but for all their endeavours and industry it was that single spot kick that separated the side at the break.

That frustration would continue into the second half with Dulwich striving hard to find the keys to unlock the home defence once again. The lack of a cushion almost proved telling just before the hour mark as a rare moment of danger allowed Denham striker Millie Congerton in only to hurry her opportunity and stab the ball wide of Saskia Reeves-Priestly’s goal. It was time to add fresh blood to the mix with Dulwich making full use of the bench. That was just what the doctor ordered with the Denham goal coming under increasing pressure until, on 70 minutes, it cracked. Receiving the ball on the left Harbour Brown laid a pass down the line to Manzi who turned inside, her sights set irrevocably on goal as she led the defence a merry dance, cutting inside one, outpacing another before being unceremoniously sent tumbling to the turf by Jo Torr’s uncompromising trip. The perfect punishment from the perfect executioner as Manzi tucked the ball nonchalantly tightly inside Butt’s left-hand post. With the men’s team currently on a barren spell of spot kicks, it seems the Dulwich skipper might be just the player to show them how to end their drought!

That second goal was just the spark Dulwich needed to light the fire. Within ten minutes those glowing embers had become a raging inferno. Harbour Brown’s storming run down the left and pinpoint delivery was the catalyst for Manzi to complete her hat trick, her goalscoring instincts finely honed as, despite a distracting bobble as the ball zipped across the face of the six-yard box, she pounced on the cross to slot the ball past the ‘keeper. Straight from the restart Dulwich snatched back possession, a creative move in the middle of the park seeing the ball switched from left wing to right as substitute Zoë Elmore’s deep ball down the wing found Minnie Cruttwell cantering down the flank. Her pass found Lucy Monkman in the box whose cheeky backheel couldn’t create the space for her to shot but was swooped on by Sas Philp, lashing a first-time effort low inside the left-hand post of the diving Butt. 60 seconds later the fifth arrived courtesy of Harbour Brown. Once more marauding on the left, Harbour Brown collected a deep delivery from Elmore, firing the ball in from a tight angle and catching Butt out, who despite her best efforts could not prevent the shot beating her at her near post.

With three more games to come in the run up to the Christmas break, the opportunity is there for Dulwich Hamlet to climb the table in the last weeks of the year. That said there must be an air of frustration to see Ashford Town (Middx) perched in pole position, setting the stage alight in the Vitality Cup and beating all before them bar that draw at Champion Hill back in October. Next stop on the revival tour Aylesford Ladies on Sunday.

Attendance: c. 40

Denham United Ladies FC:
1: Zara Butt; 2: Kodi Spencer; 3: Chloe Smith; 4: Daisy Baranowski; 5: Lauren Cox; 6: Joanne Torr; 7: Dadrian Kennedy; 8: Kayleigh Currivan; 9: Millie Congerton; 10: Annie Hewitt; 11: Keira O’Leary

Substitute used:Courtney Woolley
Substitute not used: Eva Watson

Dulwich Hamlet FCW:
1: Saskia Reeves-Priestly; 4: Chana Hinds; 5: Roisin Stone; 6: Sarah Walters; 12: Minnie Cruttwell; 15: Hannah Baptiste; 16: Ellie Millbourn; 20: Harriet Crofts; 10: Anna Jowle; 3: Asia Harbour Brown; 9: Sophie Manzi

Substitutes used: 11: Zoë Elmore; 21: Jazmine Lacrette; 14: Lucy Monkman; 7: Sas Philp
Goalscorers: Sophie Manzi 6,70,76; Saskia Philp 77; Asia Harbour Brown 78