Hamlet youngsters advance in FA Youth Cup

The Dulwich Hamlet Aspire Academy Under 18s beat Meridian VP 4-0 on Wednesday evening.

Up against sprightly and determined oppoisition Dulwich Hamlet got off to a good start when Kiki Oshilaja tapped home unmarked from a corner but with Meridian hassling and harrying at every tackle, it took some time before the Hamlet took control of the game. Indeed Merdian might well have levelled late on in the first half when a tremendous effort crashed back off the crossbar and bounced back into play.

After some chances had been squandered Dulwich grabbed a second not long before half time when Brian Testolin found the net as a deep cross was volleyed home.

Dulwich stepped up the pressure in the second but with Meridian 'keeper Abdul-Rahim Bello using every part of his anatomy to keep the Hamlet at bay, it took a moment of pure magic for the lads in Pink and Blue to add to their lead. Ade Batula was the man with the magic boots beating Bello with a ferocious shot from the left-hand corner of the area that the Meridian custodian could not keep out as it whizzed past his outstretched fingertips into the far top corner of the net.

Dulwich added a fourth when Testolin cut to the byline and chipped over a delightful cross met with a powerful downward header from Kladji Cani that squirmed under the unfortunate Bello and crawled across the line.

Victory means the Academy youngster will be at home again in the next round against Whitstable Town which is scheduled to take place in the week commencing Monday 21st September. When a date is confirmed it will be announced here.