Sunday 11th April

Sometimes, as Prince sang, it snows in April, which still feels less weird than watching football with no crowds. But here we are on a cold, bright Sunday afternoon with both things in evidence, and we’ll take it, because at least it’s actual, blessed live football. And more than that, a stonking 5-0 win over local rivals Crystal Palace to announce the return of the women’s first XI to Champion Hill after yet more months of lockdown exile. Today’s team included several new faces, including a keeper debut and three trialists who added flair to an already formidable roster.

The team have resumed training at the Hill in recent weeks, and delivered a capable and classy return to play. Saturday’s Grand National winner had nothing on Lucy Monkman. Seizing Sophie Manzi’s well-placed cross from the left, she shot out of the gate with a 4th minute goal; the Palace goalkeeper fumbled Monkman’s initial would-be tap-in, so she rounded the keeper to finish the job. The tone of the match was set minutes later; after a long header from Ceylon Hickman, Manzi bounced a shot off the post, but Sas Philp spanked in the rebound in the 8th minute.

Crystal Palace stepped up and offered new Dulwich keeper Mia North her first test, with a long ball from outside the box that she made light work of. However, the fatal error of a poor tackle on Ella Wales-Bonner proved a gift for Dulwich. The free kick that followed was a masterclass in how to psych out a goalkeeper already on the back foot. Manzi and Havana McElvaine both lined up at the spot to take the kick; after a particularly sneaky feint, McElvaine curled the ball neatly into the top corner, out of the reach of Crystal Palace’s keeper. With the score at 3-0 only 14 minutes into the game, the writing seemed to be on the wall for the visitors.

Palace collected themselves, intensifying their play in the midfield and tussling for dominance on the wings. They drew a free kick but were unable to puncture the Hamlet defences. They created some jeopardy a moment later, but North punched the offending ball up to the post, and a Hamlet defender cleared it away. Their last real chance of the first half came at 33 mins, but North was ready and defused it easily.

Palace turned up the heat at the start of the second half but again came unstuck. Rosie Stone was knocked flat out in a foul in front of the goal, and Sophie Manzi stepped up to take the penalty. Much has been made of the striker’s hit rate since she joined Dulwich in 2020, and in the 70th minute she banged the shot cleanly into the net. Philp followed with a belter of a shot, but the keeper was having none of it. Philp looped back round in the 75th minute with a long ball and secured her brace – 5-0! She chased the hat-trick with a searing shot from outside the box, but was thwarted by a valiant save from the Crystal Palace keeper.

The final minutes were ragged, with painful collisions illustrating both teams’ tiredness. While players have continued to train as far as lockdown allowed, there’s no substitute for being able to maintain stamina and conditioning with full matches, and while high-level women’s football has continued, teams further down the pyramid have been firmly deprived of match play. Though crowds will not return for a while, at least a string of games now follows for the Hamlet, allowing them to stretch their legs again. For today though, all credit is due for a comfortable win and an ensemble performance from a home team who have no intention of letting their reputation slip.

Dulwich Hamlet meet Fulham away in their next outing on Sunday 18 April (BCD).

Dulwich Hamlet:
1 Mia North; 3 Havana McElvaine; 7 Saskia Philp; 8 Brit Saylor (capt); 9 Sophie Manzi; 13 Ceylon Hickman; 14 Lucy Monkman; 16 Ella Wales-Bonner; 20 Harriet Crofts; + 2 trialists
Subs: Zoe Elmore; Liz Berkeley; Rosie Stone; Jordan Williamson; + 1 trialist

Crystal Palace WFC Development A:
Saskia Kacary; Maddie Rendell; Elissa Stonebrook; Kadelia Wilkins; Lydia Soltana; Rio Rosenberg; Alice Wood, Rosa Tims; Diana Tobe; Helen Parraga; Alex Hayman

Subs: Elizabeth Santiago; Eleanor Hutchings; Emily Treacy

Referee]: Lucy Clark

Photo: Liam Asman