DULWICH HAMLET RESCUE LATE DRAW WITH CRYSTAL PALACE IN YOUTH ALLIANCE

The Under 19s remain unbeaten & top of the Division but only just after salvaging a point against the young Eagles.

The ASPIRE Academy coached Under 19s remain unbeaten & top of the Division but only just after salvaging a point against the young Eagles of the Crystal Palace Foundation.

In blustery conditions at Long Lane JFC in Kidbrooke it was Crystal Palace who seized the initiative from the off. Dulwich Hamlet found themselves under the cosh from the first attack and in arrears as early as the sixth minute. The ball fell to Palace’s number seven who turned and lashing a stinging shot from the edge of the area wide of Daniel Abbotts’ outstretched left hand. Intense Palace pressure followed with a raft of chances falling the way of the hosts, including a one-on-one that saw Palace’s burly centre forward bear down on goal only to slip the ball a good yard and a half wide of the upright from close range. By contrast Dulwich Hamlet rarely troubled the Eagles’ defence strikers Henry Awokere and Arthur Curtis-McKenzie left to chase long balls out of defence that the home defence gobbled up with glee.

The second half brought a change in Dulwich Hamlet attitude with the hosts’ goal under early assault with the leveller arriving 10 minutes in. Much in the fashion of Palace’s opener, a precise pass out of defence dropped at the feet of Henry Awokere on the corner of the six-yard box. Shrugging off the attentions of his marker, the Dulwich striker turned back in on himself before rifling a steam hammer of a shot across the Palace ‘keeper and into the far corner of the net. Nip and tuck now until a controversial few minutes ignited the game into a firestorm of football. About ten minutes remained when Dulwich Hamlet were awarded a penalty, or so they thought after Cristian Bucin was tripped and sent sprawling in the box. However, the assistant referee had already flagged for an offside, incorrectly it later transpired. After consultation, the referee reluctantly reversed his decision. With their next attack Palace regained the lead in fortuitous circumstances. A wind-assisted delivery from just inside the Dulwich half wide on the left saw players challenge in the air inside the area, the ball coming off the head of a Dulwich defender to loop just out of reach of Daniel Abbotts’ grasp and into the top corner of the net. However, Dulwich rallied and were quickly back on level term as Cristian Bucin stretched every sinew to reach a short cross, looping a header over the Palace goalkeeper and into the net. There was still time for both sides to threaten again but it remained 2 apiece at the final whistle.

Though Dulwich’s 100% record in the National League Under 19 Youth Alliance had gone, they remain unbeaten and still claim top spot six points clear of Bromley Whites who moved into second spot with a 3-2 win at Thamesmead Town. Next up is a home encounter with Fulham (Sedgehill) next Wednesday 23rd November, kicking off at 2pm at Rutland Walk in Catford. As always Dulwich Hamlet fans are welcome to spectate with players and management welcoming their support.

Team: Daniel Abbotts; Olawale Agbolade; Henry Awokere; Hassan Bangura; Adrian Brown; Cristian Bucin; Arthur Curtis-McKenzie; Ronaldo Lleshi; Kevin Osei; Kiki Oshilaja; Jordan Traille
Substitutes used: Axel Garcia