Sunday 26 September 2021

Testing times for Dulwich this week, as they took on one of the toughest teams in the league for badly needed points to try and close the gap between them and Ashford, who head up the table. In a cut-throat and increasingly physical game, Dulwich fought back against Dartford’s early lead, but it quickly became an exercise in damage limitation and resilience.

Dartford piled into the game with gusto, chancing an attempt in the opening seconds. “Not today’, said Mia North, clearing it over the wall into the gardens next door. Dartford were back at it with a corner, but Harriet Crofts dealt ably with the threat. Dulwich's defence looked on point, anticipating each threat and guarding the box well, but Dartford pressed hard and kept their own half on lockdown. Although Ella Wales-Bonner sought control of the midfield, exchanging tackles with Dartford’s Emily Reed, Dartford drew an early, invisible line at the far end of the centre circle which Dulwich struggled to break through for much of the game. Sophie Manzi sent a canny nutmeg through Dartford’s defence to set Sas Philp up with a chance, but there was no getting into the box.

Dartford forced a 19th minute shot through the Dulwich ranks, and North faced it with a decisive save. Dulwich returned the favour, as captain Brit Saylor sent a soaring cross into the box, but keeper Jade Charlton snatched it before Philp could reach it. Recent Dulwich signing Chana Hinds made herself useful all over the field, putting in the minutes in defence but also sending perfect crosses across the midfield to try and create some chances. Asia Harbour-Brown’s cross set the Hamlet up for a corner, and a moment later there was a tantalising chance for a headed goal, but the Dulwich forwards couldn’t make the connection.

Meanwhile Dartford had made themselves at home at Champion Hill and started to redecorate. In the 32nd, North saved Emily Read’s attempt but couldn’t retain the ball, and Emily Vaughan seized her chance to sneak it behind her and give Dartford the lead. Disaster struck two minutes later, as Read’s follow-up shot beat North to double Dartford’s lead. Dulwich scrambled to regroup, and a double free kick offered them a chance, with Rosie Stone retaking the shot when Dartford’s Kimberley Green was yellow-carded for breaking the wall, but her second attempt was high of the mark.

Dulwich returned from the break with more decisive energy and two subs. Pressing more, they looked for a chance to reverse their fortunes, but Dartford could smell blood, and in a scrappy battle between the two teams, they hammered away until they were able to exploit some chaos in the box, nabbing a 61st minute goal that initially looked like an own goal by Dulwich but was later claimed by Nicha Dyett. It was looking dark for Dulwich, fighting to find a foothold while Dartford capitalised on their discomfort with a fourth goal at 69 mins. They were far more organised than in the first half, but it’s hard to come back from 4-0 down when the opposition is firmly in their comfort zone.

But the one thing we never see from this team is surrender. Jo Gibson found her way down the left wing but was short of support, and a Dartford defender took the ball off her. She got her revenge a minute later, striking a blow with a much needed long-range goal from a free kick. Ella Wales-Bonner, who had been probing the Dartford backline for weaknesses, did classic Ella Wales-Bonner things and found a way through in the 92nd minute, with a crafty slalom run into the box and a perfect delivery to halve Dartford’s lead. It proved to be Dulwich’s last chance - a rare defeat to a team who took control at the start and never let up. But what the Hamlet lacked in organisation today they compensated for in heart and grit, fighting to claim their share of the scoreboard and send Dartford home happy but not complacent.

Dulwich Hamlet play Herne Bay at home in the Vitality Women’s FA Cup on Sunday 3 October.

Attendance: 291

Dulwich Hamlet:
1 Mia North; 2 Madi Parsonson; 4 Chana Hinds; 5 Rosie Stone; 6 Sarah Walters; 7 Sas Philp; 8 Brit Saylor; 9 Sophie Manzi; 16 Ella Wales-Bonner; 18 Asia Harbour-Brown; 20 Harriet Crofts

Subs:
13 Ceylon Hickman; 17 Sarah Milner; 19 Jordan Williamson; 22 Jo Gibson

Dartford:
1 Jade Charlton; 3 Georgie Davis; 4 Kimberley Green; 6 Emily Read; 9 Nicha Dyett; 10 Emily Vaughhan; 11 Katie Butts; 14 Alicia Gibbs; 16 Amy Green; 17 Charlie Torrey; 20 Rachel Ahearne

Subs:
8 Shauni Griffiths; 13 Kelly Amerasinghe; 15 Sacha Brinkley; 19 Becky Burnham; 23 Paris Smith

Referees: 
Mark Smith-Lackie
Mark Carswell
Carlton Scafe

Photo: Liam Asman