Hamlet heartbreak as Police pinch it on penalties

The Aspire Academy coached Dulwich Hamlet Under 18s are out of the FA Youth Cup after losing a penalty shoot out away to the Met Police on Monday,

Dulwich dreams of adding a West Country night out to the long list of achievements in the FA Youth Cup came to disappointing end as they were bumped out of the competition by their counterparts from the Met in that cruellest of fashions, a penalty shootout.

Two hours of dingdong football, punctuated by moments of magic, madness and malcontent ended when the Met David Opoku tucked away the killer spot kick with the witching hour not too far away but before that both sides could have settled this tie long before the Russian Roulette began.

Ten minutes in and Dulwich were caught cold at the back, Jack Yerlett drawn from his line by an onrushing attacker was left in no man’s land as the ball was pulled back past him. Sliding in all Tane Caubo had to do was touch the ball into the unguarded net but somehow he contrived to turn it wide. However, his blushes were spared five minutes later when the Met took the lead in classic fashion. A free kick conceded and the dead ball delivery pumped deep to the back stick where from amongst a gaggle of defenders a blue head pounced and Connor Gales headed home.

Too often Dulwich were trying to weave their way through the brick way of the Met defence, but on 22 minutes it brought its reward as Diallang Jaiyesimi was sent tumbling in the box under the challenge of Luke Brant. With Osman Proni having failed to convert spot kicks in the last two rounds of the competition, the mantle of penalty taker fell upon Ricardo Soyoye. However, his effort was too telegraphed, Kallum Lunt pouncing to his left to push the ball out. Still Soyoye was able to redeem himself, first to the loose ball to stab it under the ‘keeper and into the net.

Jaiyesimi was unfortunate not to put the Hamlet ahead later in the half as a cheeky free kick from Proni saw the striker cut into the six-yard box and smack a low shot from an acute angle that beat Lunn but rebounded back and away off the foot of the near upright. Shortly before the break Jaiyesimi again dazzled the defence with twinkling toes on the opposite of the box but his clipped shot from close range over the ‘keeper found only the side netting.

There were chances for both sides at the start of the second half with Tarik Ibrahim shooting straight at the ‘keeper after determined work on the left and Yerlett saving at the feet of Lamar Fowakes at the over end. Yerlett was again called into action as Daniel Scantlebury broke through. One-on-one with the attacking player, Yerlett made a fine save to push the shot past his left-hand upright. However, on 58 minutes the Police cadets were back in front as good work on the right flank of the Hamlet saw the ball centred for Ethan Chislett who hit a cracking first time shot on the turn from the edge of the area that gave Yerlett no chance as it beat him into the far corner.

8 minutes later substitute Kladji Cani was a whisker away from turning in an equaliser after a corner had been nodded down at his feet, a defender’s touch knocking it away for another corner. The opportunities still arose for the Hamlet, a shot from Brian Testolin straight into the waiting arms of Lunn but time was young Hamlet’s enemy. Stoppage time, the fourth minute of five, and reckless challenge from Dudley Pearn through the back of his opponent gave Dulwich one last chance. Proni pumped the free kick into the box, the ‘keeper came to punch but missed, the ball dropped at the feet of Testolin and from six yards out he drilled it through the morass of players and it the net. The doors to the Last Chance Saloon had been opened and it was serving late.

Yet in the excitement Testolin was booked for removing his shirt in celebration, it was moment that would come back to haunt him. Seven minutes into extra time, he followed through with a shot, one that whistled over the crossbar, just after the whistle had gone for offside and the man in black was swift to dish out a second yellow card. Curiously when the Police’s Chris Ogunlana, already cautioned, planted the ball into the stands after being penalised for a foul, the same yellow card was conspicuous by its absence.

Yet even with this man advantage the Police did not exert greater control on proceeding, there were quarter chances, half chances but nary a full one and so it would go to kicks from the penalty mark. Soyoye was first up but once more Lunn would deny him. Proni and Jaiyesimi converted, Connor Hamilton planted his too high. Meanwhile the Met had seen just one saved and so it came down to substitute Opoku and his kick was hammered home to end Hamlet hopes for another season.

Teams:
Met Police: Kallum Lunn, Chris Ogunlana, Luke Brant, Dudley Pearn; Matt Hancock, Connor Gales; Daniel Scantlebury; Luke Robertson; Tane Caubo; Ethan Chislett; Lamar Fowakes
Subs: Jamie Autorino; Matt Willett; Josh Greenleaf; Ben Marett; David Opoku

Dulwich Hamlet: Jack Yerlett; Kiki Oshilaja; Abdul Lyoubi; Osman Proni; De Nairo Queva; Ricardo Soyoye; Ade Batula; Henry Histon (Connor Hamilton 78); Reece Johnson (Kladji Cani 63); Diallang Jaiyesimi; Tarik Ibrahim (Brian Testolin 69)
Subs not used: Alfie Powell; Alton Leeward

Attendance: 71