Dulwich Hamlet 4-2 Harrow Borough

Ashley Carew netted twice as Dulwich recorded their first win in six games on Tuesday evening to reach the semi-finals of the London Senior Cup.

Goals from Reise Allassani, Kenny Beaney and two from Ashley Carew (including a penalty) moved Dulwich into the London Senior Cup semi finals. Combined Counties League side Balham will be their opponents in the semi-final, to be played at Champion Hill on a date to be arranged.

Dulwich dominated the first-half against Harrow. At half-time, they were 3-0 ahead and it could easily have been more. But Harrow staged a spirited fightback after the interval and, despite conceding a fourth goal, later netted twice themselves to make the scoreline more respectable.

Although they came into the game without a victory since 6th January, Hamlet made a confident start and were soon pressing hard. Ashley Carew forced a full-length save from Boro’ keeper Melvin Minter with a 20-yard drive, then Reise Allassani headed wide when Tanasheh Abrahams crossed invitingly to the back post. The opening goal arrived in the 14th minute. Reise Allassani collected a through ball from Ashley Carew on the edge of the box, skilfully turned two defenders and quickly buried a right-foot shot inside the diving Minter’s left-hand post. It was Reise’s 18th goal of the season, but his first since his hat-trick against Kingstonian on New Year’s Day.

We could have scored again shortly afterwards, but Mark Weatherstone miskicked when Ashley Carew’s corner found him eight yards from goal. Harrow missed an opportunity to equalise on 24 minutes when an excellent diagonal pass from George Moore found Charles Banya in the middle, but the Harrow man’s shot was blocked by the previously inactive Preston Edwards. Moore made an important interception at the back post when Nathan Ferguson hooked the ball across the Harrow goalmouth, then the Boro’ no. 2 was in action at the other end, just clearing the Dulwich bar with a dipping left-foot shot from 20 yards.

But Dulwich were soon back in the ascendancy and Nyren Clunis burst into the box, playing a neat one-two with Reise Allassani en route, only for Minter to make a brave block. In the 32nd minute, Reise Allassani made a run down the inside-left channel from just inside the Harrow half and on reaching the box was hauled down by Boro’ skipper Shaun Preddie. An obvious penalty, which Ashley Carew duly despatched into the top corner to Minter’s right. Muhammadu Faal hit a first-time shot wide from Nyren Clunis’ cross, and as Dulwich continued to press it became 3-0 in the 39th minute. A delightfully incisive move down the right flank culminated in Nyren Clunis cutting the ball back from the by-line to Ashley Carew who drove under the diving Minter from 15 yards. Just before half-time, the lively Moore made a pacey run down the right and crossed to former Hamlet striker Ryan Moss whose near post effort ended in the side netting.

Half Time 3-0

The second-half opened with Nyren Clunis delivering a dangerous ball in from the right that flashed across the goalmouth with no one on hand to apply the necessary finish. But after that Dulwich appeared to ease up and as both sides used all their substitutes Harrow gradually came more into the game. Moore, Michael Bryan and Kyle Beggs tried their luck, but their shots were all off-target. Then, in the 72nd minute, Dulwich scored a fourth goal. Nana Boakye-Yiadom forced a fine save from the diving Minter, but the ‘keeper could only parry the ball and after Nyren Clunis’ follow-up shot was blocked, Sanchez Ming set up Kenny Beaney on the edge of the box and the Dulwich skipper drove powerfully into the corner of the net despite Minter’s valiant effort to save.

Harrow never gave up, however, and reduced the arrears six minutes later. It was a terrific goal too, a free-kick from Moore nearly 30 yards out on the right which flew past Preston Edwards into the far top corner. At the other end, Nathan Green had a shot deflected wide, then Nyren Clunis cut inside from the left and hit a fierce shot which Minter did well to parry. In the first minute of stoppage time, Harrow scored a second when Anthony O’Connor latched onto a through ball from Banya and finished decisively past the advancing Preston Edwards. But Dulwich should have had a fifth goal just before the final whistle when Reise Allassani shrugged off his marker and slipped the ball inside to Nyren Clunis on the edge of the six-yard box, but a defender blocked his first shot and Minter saved his second.

Full Time 4-2

Report courtesy of John Lawrence