No repeat of last season’s ring-a-ding goalfest as Dulwich succumbed in the second half to a Palace side, bristling with young talent...

No repeat of last season’s ring-a-ding goalfest as Dulwich succumbed in the second half to a Palace side, bristling with the sort of young talent that has the ravenous scouting parties surveying a number of whom had already forced them into regular first team contention. Indeed no goals at all in a lively first half punctured by a penalty saved from Kevin James courtesy of the well spread arms of gargantuan Hungarian custodian Péter Kurucz. Bolstered by the surprise arrival amidst the fray of manager Dougie Freedman, rolling back the years as he donned the Palace motley once more, the Eaglets finally brought through the lines to emerge victorious with three second half goals.

Gavin Rose had made a number of changes from Saturday’s surrender to the K’s his starting XI seeing the likes of Luke Hickie, Ellis Green and Carl Wilson-Dennis all back in the pink and blue. Meanwhile Freedman’s squad started with an attacking intent, a fearsome quartet of Kieron Cadogan, Ibra Sekajja, Kwesi Appiah and Bayan Fenwick in the van. Early on the youngsters showed intent linking up well to put in Cadogan who went close, first with a header after fine work from Sekajja and then smacking a shot just wide.

Moments later Fenwick saw an effort cleared off the line after a Palace corner and then began to impose himself on the game down the right. Beating his man with trickery and a burst of pace he reached the by-line only to see a low cross cut out by a last ditch tackle with Appiah waiting to tap home.

Appiah laid in the onrushing Aaron Akuruka only for Phil Wilson to make a good save rushing out from his line and then Dulwich, who had looked threatening on the counter, had a golden opportunity to draw first blood.

James daringly darted into the box only to see his charge curtailed by a late challenge from former teammate Michael Chambers, referee Mr Atkin had no option but to point for a penalty. Almost a mirror image of the last meeting of the clubs when Chambers fellow ASPIRE Academy graduate Quade Taylor had likewise conceded a spot kick. Then Junior Kadi had converted but this time the burden rested on the shoulders of James. God only knows how the massive Magyar got down to well struck shot but save it he did, diving low to his right to scoop the ball away around the upright.

Fenwick was back in the action again as the game went past the hour mark, chipping the ball into the box only for another last ditch challenge to stop Sekajja giving the Eagles the lead. James showed his quality for the home side again with a dangerous set piece but Palace continued to look the stronger and Appiah nearly made it 1-0 as the game approached half time, latching onto Cadogan’s clever pass and drawing a good save from Wilson.

The sides went into the break on level terms, with Freedman making nine changes as he introduced a swathe of youngsters, Alex Marrow in the middle the only outfielder denied R&R, whilst Rose kept faith with those that had started. The fresh legs certainly worked for six minutes later saw the Eagles had taken the lead. Industrious approach play from Gus Sow in midfield put Kieran Woodley free down the right, the young forward blammo-ing a sledgehammer drive into the bottom left corner from the corner of the area. Yet the hosts nearly snatched a leveller in a trice as James forced Kurucz into a fine stop down to his right from the edge of the box.

Hamlet refused to lie down and served notice of intent when Erhan Otzumer, fast catching the eye of the Champion Hill cognoscenti, almost scored an audacious equaliser – lobbing Kurucz from 30 yards out only to see his effort clip the top of the net with the ‘keeper all a tizzy.

Marrow was finally relived by Hiram Boateng, early in the second half, the substitute next to try his luck, a natty curler left footed flashing narrowly wide after neat build-up play with Reise Allassani.

Nevertheless, Palace did extend their lead thanks to Taylor, who came on a second-half substitute at his former ground. Jerome Williams’ corner was flicked on and buried by Taylor at the back post as Palace stretched the gap before seizing the game by the jugular in the last quarter hour.

A buzz suddenly grew amongst the Eagles’ faithful as Freedman stripped to a pristine Palace kit and brought himself on up front to much Glazier glee. Within minutes the 38 year old showed the miles on the clock meant nothing as a neat turn and a deft chip over defence set up Allassani, his effort was well saved by the imposing Wilson.

Freedman’s arrival had seen Allassani move inside from the left wing, the old stager playing just off the young cub as Eagles showed their sharpest talons, neat link up play between the vanguard pair allowed Sow to curl an effort narrowly wide, albeit courtesy of a deflection.

Hard as they tried to steal the spotlight the youngsters had to take the bow to their old master as Freedman, papering the gaps between Dulwich’s defence and midfield time and again before laying through the perfect pass for Allassani to grab a much deserved goal striking the ball hard into the bottom corner of Wilson’s net. A Wellsian pass, transcending time as the hero of Palace past handed on the standard to the next generation.

And the youngster nearly returned the favour in the dying moments when he broke free through the middle, spotted an unmarked Freedman to his left, and the boss took a couple of touches before firing a low left footer towards the far corner - only to see the ball ricochet back off the upright.

There was still time for Freedman to get his name on the score-sheet but his left-foot effort from the edge of the box cannoned back off the post, momentarily quelling shouts of ‘sign him up’, so the Eagles had to be satisfied with a good workout and a 3-0 victory.

DHFC Starting XI: Phil Wilson, Luke Hickie, Lewis Gonsalves, Peter Adeniyi, Ahmed Deen, Ellis Green, Vernon Francis, Dean Carpenter, Erhan Otzumer, Carl Wilson Dennis, Kevin James

Palace XI: Kurucz, Akuruka, Parsons, Chambers, Holland, Daniel, Fenwick, Marrow, Appiah, Sekajja, Cadogan

Second half: Kurucz, Wynter, Taylor, Inniss, Jerome Williams, Allassani, Sow, Marrow, Porterhouse, Kai-Kai, Woodley