
Huge coverage in the 'South London Press' today
Our match on Saturday got great headlines in the 'Midweek' edition, in the absence of the 'South London big three' on Non League Day
On the back page a headline ran:
Hamlet are a big draw
Dulwich Hamlet chief executive Martin Eede has admitted that Saturday's club record home crowd took him by surprise.
The Ryman Premier Division club allowed fans to pay what they wanted on the afternoon and were rewarded with a bumper gate of 2,856.
And all the profits from the afternoon are going to two charities-The Robes Project and UK Homes 4 Heroes.
"We expected a big crowd because of the way the day was set up-but we didn't think we'd get that many," said Eede. "I don't think anybody did. We had 811 for last Tuesday's match against Margate and we thought we get over 1,000 at the weekend."
With there being no Crystal Palace, Millwall or Charlton Athletic matches at the weekend,our match had a full page report inside, in the style usually reserved for the professional sides:
IT'S FAN-OMENAL
Dulwich Hamlet smash their record attendance
Dulwich Hamlet smashed their record attendance with a crowd that even topped several Football League fixtures.
The Ryman Premier Division club's decision to make it pay-what-you-want - the brainchild of Mishi Morath and Liam Hickie- paid odd as the club easily surpassed their previous highest gate in 1992 of 1,835 against Southport in the FA Cup.
This initiative was to acknowledge Non-League Day, which emphasises the importance of grassroots football.
And the profits from Saturday's 2,856 gate-the numbers were still being crunched as our paper went to press-will go to The Robes Project and UK Homes 4 Heroes.
It was bigger than four matches in League Two and also surpassed the figure at Crawley Town's Broadfield Stadium.
Chief executive Martin Eede said: "The Mayor of Southwark was there and wasvery grateful and impressed by what he saw. There was only one non-league attendance that topped us and that was at Grimsby. It's just a shame we couldn't have taken three points, but such is life. Hopefully people who normally come will have been impressed by the occasion and stuck to what they'd normally pay. It would be nice if some of the people from the local area who were tempted along might come back again."
Dulwich Hamlet's unbeaten home record was miantained after an entertaining draw.
Ashley Carew scored both goals for Hamlet, giving them the lead on two occasions with two well-taken strikes.
The first half was a cagey affair, with poor finishing and tentative play from both sides.
Hamlet, in a 4-2-3-1 formation, were slow off the starting blocks, unable to find their shape or contain Hampton's attacking threats,particularly lively winger Luke Wanadio.
Hamlet started brighter in the second half and deservedly made the breaktrhough in the 55th minute. A dangerous cross into the box by the impressive Jordan Hibbert found Carew and his shot deflected off Hampton captain Billy Jeffreys into the net.
But this ascendancy came to an abrupt halt when Hampton striker Harris was brought down in the area by defender Kershaney Samuels, who was shown a red card for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
The penalty was smashed right down the middle of the Hamlet goal by Harris to bring the away side back into the game.
Hamlet took the numerical disadvantage in their stride and they were rewarded for their tenacity in the 78th minute.Pinnock's pass after a corner found Carew just outside the penalty area and with his first touch he placed a beautiful curling effort over the keeper.
Victory seemed to be in the bag until a lapse in concentration by Hamlet right-back Michael Kamara allowed Hampton winger Jerome Federico to get to the byline. His cross created a scramble in the box and was lashed home by substitute Mason in dramatic fashion. Hamlet boss Rose said: "We were poor in the first half and have been for a few games now. We started well in the second half and were on the front foot and looked a lot more recognisable to the team that we have been and can be"
Hamlet are at Grays Athletic tomorrow.
BEST MOMENT: The great technique shown by Ashley Carew to guide the ball over the Hampton keeper and into the net from outside the penalty area.
WORST MOMENT: Kershaney Samuels' clumsy challenge on Ben Harris. Poor defensive timing gifted the away side a penalty and a red card for the Hamlet man.
BOSS SUMMARY: "For the penalty, Kershaney was probably a little inexperienced in that position. He would have been better off going for the block. But you learn-next time he's in a position like that he'll deal with it in a better way."
STAR MAN: Ethan Pinnock-A composed and confident defensive rock throughout the game. He routinely made perfectly-timedd tackles in the penalty area to deny goal-scoring opportunities for Hampton & Richmond.
Dulwich Hamlet: Wilson 6, Kamara 6, Goncalves 5 (Patterson 68, 5), Samuels 6, Forbes 6, Pinnock 8, Hibbert 7, (I. Mansaray 87), Carew 8, Neita 6 (Boyle 70), James 5, Vidal 6. Not used: Hamici, A Mansaray.

Address
Champion Hill Stadium,
Edgar Kail Way,
East Dulwich,
London.
SE22 8BD.
Information
Social Media


