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Our big FA Trophy game on Saturday made big headlines in the NON LEAGUE PAPER yesterday
With the banner headlines saying...
THAT'S BOOTIFULHamlet keep Wembley dream alive in FA Trophy classic
The actual match report inside the newspaper, penned by one of their chief members of staff Matt Badcock, spread over two pages read as follows:
CAREW'S SIMPLY A CUT ABOVE
Who says the FA trophy has lost its sparkle? no one at Dulwich Hamlet, that's for sure, as Ashley Carew's late strike kept the Ryman Premier side's Wembley dream alive.
National League Macclesfield, two-time winners of the competition, had led through Luke Summerfield's long-range double.
But Quade Taylor got Gavin Rose's side back into the tie almost immediately before Carew's curling equaliser booked a replay for the lowest-ranked club left in the hat.
"We gave away goals at the start that were very cheap, and we were disappointed with ourselves," Rose said. "Once we got the ball up the pitch we caused them problems and, as the game went on, I thought we were probably the better team. Around the edge of their box our end product wasn't what it could have been and that let them off the hook a couple of times. But we were in the ascendency- obviously without the goal it was always going to be hard work. We chucked a few forwards on, we gave it a go, it could have gone one way or the other. But it went our way and Ashley's goal was fitting."
Make no mistake about it, this was always going to be a tricky afternoon for Macclesfield. With their booming crowds and talented team, Dulwich are undoubtedly one of No-League's big success stories in recent years.
Yet again their noisy fans turned up in force. But even they were stunned into silence just nine-minutes in by Summerfield.
Everything about the placement of the free-kick, a good 35 yards out, screamed gentle clip into the box. the on-loan midfielder had different ideas, however, and he crashed a low shot past Preston Edwards into the corner.
His second, moments after Silkmen striker Chris Holroyd had fired over, was even more impressive-and further away. Spotting the former England C man off his line he sailed the ball into the top corner.
It's taken 37 years for Dulwich to get back to this stage of the FA Trophy, and they weren't going to go quietly.
Every corner is met with the jangle of keys from supporters and they soon unlocked Macc. Keeper Scott Flinders didn't get much on his punch and the ball fell to Taylor, who thumped home.
Flinders was at full stretch to keep out Gavin Tomlin and then Marc Weatherstone, while there was a vital block from Neil Byrne to foil Ibra Sekajja in a breathless first half.
The second 45 was just as absorbing, although without as many clear opportunities. Holroyd had a tap-in rules out for off-side- he looked 0n-and he flashed another across the face, while Dulwich's Matt Drage saw his header drop wide.
But it can be a real test of endurance to keep the Pink & Blue tide at bay. Rose's side pour forward in numbers, and in players like Carew they have quality. Substitute Jacob Erskine cushioned the ball into his path and the attacker curled a wonderful finish past Flinders.
In stoppage-time, Carew almost sent his side into the final four when he hit a howitzer of his own from long range that Flinders clawed over.
Macclesfield boss John Askey felt the offside call was a big moment. "We're disappointed with the goal we scored that would have made it 3-1," Askey said. "It wasn't offside. The linesman felt the pressure a bit and gave offside. But that's what you have to put up with at times when officials aren't as strong as they should be. Even for their first goal their five has stopped the keeper from coming. that's why he ended up punching the ball, and it dropped. But no complaints, Dulwich were worthy of a draw and we live to fight another day."
STAR MAN: Ashley Carew (Dulwich)
ATT: 2,834
ENTERTAINMENT: *****(full marks out of five)
REFEREE: Neil Hair 6/10
And don't forget, there's still time to book your coach seat for the replay tomorrow night, all the way up in Macclesfield, to see if we can reach the semi-finals for the first time in our history, to take on the Non-League giants of Tranmere Rovers over two legs.
Just CLICK HERE to find out more about travel details.

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Champion Hill Stadium,
Edgar Kail Way,
East Dulwich,
London.
SE22 8BD.
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