By Nico Blakemore

Sunday 14th January 2024, the day of Dulwich Hamlet Women’s biggest game of the season taking on the league leaders and only unbeaten side in the division, Dartford FC.

Hamlet headed into the game on the back of a 4-1 win over Ashford United on the previous Sunday. Hamlet got the game underway on a freezing cold afternoon at Champion Hill. It didn’t take long for Hamlet to stamp their authority on this match. In the 16th minute a free kick was whipped in which wasn’t dealt with and Shakira Kafero-Roberts was there to head Hamlet into an early lead.

After continued pressure from the hosts creating issues for the Dartford defence, it was the visitors who surprisingly struck next. Dartford won a penalty in the 39th minute which was smashed into the right side of the goal and meant the visitors were back in the game. It looked all set for the sides to go in level at half time but not on Lily Price’s watch as around 10 yards outside the box she struck a magnificent free kick into the top of the net to see Hamlet go into the break with a 2-1 lead.

As the second half was upon us Ryan made his first change of the game as Phoebe Read replaced Anna Jowle. In the 64th minute Hamlet made their second substitution of the day as Martha Goddard replaced Angel Reid. Minutes later the lead was extended to 2 as Kafero-Roberts got herself a brace after a mix up at the back saw herself 1 on 1 with the keeper and slotting it through her legs to slot the ball home.

After an injury, Asia Harbour-Brown was forced off to be replaced by Tia Searle. In the 80th minute Hamlet looked to have sealed this monumental victory after some fabulous work down the right wing from Goddard who set up Phoebe Read who then smashed the ball into the roof of the net for Hamlet to go 4-1 up against this previously unbeaten side. Hamlet were again forced into a change as the injured Morgan Searle went off and Rhea Gall was brought on.

Dartford were able to give themselves a glimmer of hope in the 88th minute as a free kick on the edge of the box was powered into the right side of the net to cut the deficit down to 2. Just after this Hamlet made their 5th and final change of the day bringing off Phoebe Read and bringing on Grace Craven to close this game out. Seeing the game out was not what Hamlet did as Summer Roberts, on her right foot, calmly placed the hosts back into a 3 goal advantage and shoot themselves up into 2nd in the league with a game in hand on current leaders Fulham.

This 5-2 victory saw Hamlet fans go crazy with the team’s remarkable performance to end Dartford’s 11 game unbeaten run and leapfrog them in the league table. The team will be looking to win their game in hand on Fulham to boost themselves into pole position in the fight for promotion.