The Hamlet are back as pre-season begins with a 5-1 victory in the Channel Islands over Jersey Bulls and several new faces make their first appearances for the Pink and Blues. 

It took only four minutes for Lonit Talla to open the scoring. Striker Ogo Obi lost control of the ball on the attack, but it fell luckily to Talla outside the box to thunder through the outstretched hands of Jersey’s Pierce Roche and into the top left. 

Not long later, Obi drove into the left side of the box and played a perfect ball across to Solomon Baugh to tap home Hamlet’s second of the afternoon. 

Ibrahim Bangura impressed at left-back. His link up play with Baugh and Talla had the travelling South Londoners consistently on the front foot. Over on the right, Nyren Clunis’ cross took a heavy deflection off a defender and looped over the keeper for 3-0.

The King of Camberwell would be impactful again minutes after, squaring to Obi who scored a goal on debut. A fantastic start to life at Dulwich Hamlet for the ex-Farnham forward. 

Hamlet were a threat up top and solid at the back. Only from a set piece could Jersey Bulls have any chance of scoring, and they did with a curled free kick on the stroke of half-time.

The break gave the visitors the opportunity to shake the squad up. Off the bench came Danny Mills to latch onto the end of Luke Wanadio’s whipped in cross from the left.

5-1 the score, Mark Dacey gave first minutes to the youth. Tahreem Williams, just 18 this week, came on at left back and proved his abilities from the off. Down the left flank he battled away, won several tackles and looked to build chances for Dulwich’s sixth. 

Keidi Xhika wriggled around struggling red shirted defenders effortlessly and was brought down in the box. He would be denied the penalty however, as the ref called it back for an initial foul on the sideline.

In the middle of the park, the experienced and newly signed Samir Carruthers looked like he’d been a staple in the side for years. 

At full-time the players went straight over to the incredible supporters that have travelled by sky and sea to see their Pink and Blues off the coast of France. 

About the game, Mark Dacey said, ‘the senior lads lead by example, and the young lads realised the intensity they have to play at. It was a good experience for them. It took pressure of them with it just being a friendly. They’ve understood a little bit more what they need to do. The level of squad depth means everyone is fighting for places.”