Onward To Seaward For Ella Wales-Bonner

We have had to say farewell to one of our original squad this summer, as midfielder Ella Wales-Bonner has departed for London Seaward.

Ella is currently the sixth-highest appearance maker in our short history, playing 57 games for the Hamlet, and scoring 11 times. She was one of just six players from our first-team squad from 2019 still at the club, along with Rhea Gall, Brit Saylor, Saskia Philp, Lucy Monkman and Rosie Stone.

Ella made her Hamlet debut in our first game against Aylesford, coming off the bench for Farouk Menia's side. Her first goal came in our record 11-0 victory over Haringey Borough in the Capital Senior Cup that November.

After playing the majority of games in our first two seasons, Ella missed a large chunk of the 2021-22 season, but returned to the squad last season, making 22 appearances and scoring twice, away at Dartford and at home to New London Lionesses. Her final appearance came at the New Den in May against Millwall Lionesses.

Ella, everyone at the club would like to thank you for your excellent service over the last four years, and to AFC Phoenix prior to that, and we wish you all the best for your future at London Seaward.

A Beginner's Guide To Our Women's Competitions

Women's football in England has never been in a better place, with the memories of the Lionesses' triumph in the European Championships this summer under the Wembley Arch still fresh and forever treasured.

The Women's Super League, the top flight in the women's game within the English league pyramid, is expecting record ticket sales this year, with more than 40,000 sold alone for a clash between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur later this month, which will break an attendance record for the league.

As a football club we too hope the feel good factor extends down the pyramid to us and others, and with a little more than 400 people watching our first home game of the season, the early signs are there that people want to support their local women's sides more than ever. But if you are still a relative newcomer to the ground, you may be a little unsure of the level of football you will be watching, so here is a guide to all the competitions that we played in last season, and are expected to again this year:

London & South East Regional Women's Football League

This is one of eight leagues at Tier 5 of the football pyramid. We have played at this level since 2017, when we were still playing under the guise of AFC Phoenix. The league sits below the WSL, Women's Championship and two levels of the Women's National League.

For the 2022-23 season, there are 12 member clubs, up from 11 last season, with only one promotion place available at the end of each season, that going to the champions. At the other end of the table, the two sides bottom after 22 games will be relegated to either Division One North or South of the league.

We finished second in our first two years at this level, just missing out on promotion as AFC Phoenix, before finishing first in both of the Covid-19 cancelled seasons, but sadly not being granted promotion. Last season we finished 5th.

Our Reserves side compete in Division One North, finishing third in their debut campaign last year. The two sides are not permitted to play in the same division, meaning were the reserves to win their league this year, they would not be promoted unless our first team also won their division. Similarly, if the first team were relegated, the reserves would have to drop down a division!

Women's FA Cup

The top cup competition in women's domestic football in England, which was founded in 1970. It was designed to be an equivalent competition to the men's version, which has been played for around a century longer. Clubs from the top six tiers of the English league system are eligible to enter, with occasional entries from tier seven.

A series of byes based on the level of the league means that lower-ranked sides begin their FA Cup run earlier than those higher up the pyramid. There are three qualifying rounds and eight proper rounds to the competition. Should one of the qualifying round matches end as as a draw after 90 minutes, the games are decided from the penalty mark, with extra time brought in for the proper stages of the competition.

The Hamlet, along with the other sides at Tier 5, enter the competition at the Second Qualifying Round stage. In 2020-21, we reached this stage having come through four previous stages. Our reserves are not permitted entry to this cup. The competition is currently sponsored by Vitality.

The previous Champion Hill actually hosted the 1977 final, in which around 3,000 people saw Queen's Park Rangers beat Southampton!

L&SERWFL League Cup

This competition is open to every side that plays in either the Premier Division or Divisions One North and South of the London & South East Regional Women's Football League, meaning both our sides are eligible to take part. Games are decided by penalties if level after 90 minutes. Last season saw our first team reach the last 16, whilst the reserves went out at the previous stage.

Capital Women's Senior Cup

This trophy is jointly run by the London, Surrey and Middlesex Football Associations, as well as the Amateur Football Alliance, with the clubs entering affiliated to one of those four organisations. Last season would see us end up with heartache, as after dispatching London Seaward, Crystal Palace Development Squad and Fulham, we suffered a 2-0 loss to Ashford Town (Middx) in the final at Dorking Wanderers. Games are decided by penalties if level after 90 minutes.

Combined Counties League Midweek Cup

The fourth cup we were involved in last season, which was entered by a mixture of teams from a mixture of leagues from the South East of England. We also lost to Ashford Town (Middx) in this competition last season, bowing out in the quarter finals. Games are decided by penalties if level after 90 minutes.

WOMEN'S FIRST TEAM PRE-SEASON 2022

We are pleased to announce the pre-season Women’s dates are confirmed. We have 3 away fixtures and 3 home fixtures; we look forward to seeing you all on our travels starting at Chichester & Selsey on Sunday 24 July.

Sunday 24 July - 2pm
Away to Chichester & Selsey

Thursday 28 July - 8pm
Home to AFC Wimbeldon

Sunday 31 July - 12pm
Away London City Lionesses

Sunday 7 August - 2pm
Home to Oxford United

Thursday 11 August - 8pm
Home to London Seaward

Sunday 14 August - 2pm
Away to Bromley WFC

We look forward to welcoming you all back to Champion Hill soon.

Dulwich Hamlet FCW 0 - 2 Ashford Town (Middlesex) FC Women

Tuesday 3 May
Meadowbank Football Ground, Dorking
Capital Senior Cup

To Dorking for the second time in two days, following the men’s team’s Bank Holiday outing there, as Dulwich Hamlet Women took on the formidable Ashford Town in the Capital Senior Cup Final. Beaten only twice this season, Ashford have been the bane of everyone’s existence all year, and will likely terrorise their new peers in the next league up. For now, it fell to Dulwich to do their best to hold them back, as the two teams faced each other on a balmy Surrey evening in front of a sizeable crowd of visiting fans - the Pepper Army were out in full force and fine song as Dulwich got down to business.

Ashford made their intentions known in the opening minutes, pressing high up. Dulwich had their own plans and looked to create their own momentum: Sophie Manzi whipped the ball through midfield to set the tone and give Madi Parsonson a terrific chance on the right. Backed into the corner, she got round her mark, but there was no-one in the box to carry it safely home. Lucy Monkman had eyes on the ball a minute later but was surrounded by four Ashford sentinels - these old foes know her ability well and had no intention of giving her any room.

Dulwich continued to build the pressure, as Asia Harbour Brown launched an attack on the left. Ashford keeper Sophie Shults powered forward to thwart her but couldn’t take the ball out of play. Dulwich needed to finish it, but couldn’t quite seal the deal. Turning the tables, Ashford threatened Dulwich with an early goal - a ball that should have been cleared in the box rolled hazardously past Hamlet keeper Rebecca Sargent. Ashford rounded for another go, but Harbour Brown, on peak box-to-box form, blocked it expertly a few yards from the goal.

A hard collision between Ashford skipper Alissa Down and two Dulwich players handed the advantage to the pink & blue, and Rosie Stone took the free kick. Her smart delivery into the box gave Dulwich a chance to take the lead but again, the final word eluded them. Ashford hauled the action back down the field and returned fire with a chancey strike in the box from Jade Johnson, skied over the bar - but moments later, they found their target. Brit Saylor’s clever footwork helped her evade her mark in midfield, but Ashford’s Lavana Neufville persevered and stole the ball away to set up Ashley Cheatley, who made the most of a 30th minute opportunity to take Ashford ahead.

Monkman had revenge on her mind, pelting toward the box with no challenger in sight. But she held the ball a fraction too long and missed her window. Raging now, Dulwich swarmed the left flank looking for a way to cut Ashford down to size. Harbour Brown wove her way down the left flank, testing for weaknesses in the Ashford wall, but she couldn’t quite break through.

Dulwich faced more danger in the box, scrambling to clear it out again. Cheatley had a brace in her sights but rushed the job and fumbled her aim; mercifully for Dulwich it barrelled past the far post. Her teammates kept the heat simmering as the whistle approached, chancing their moments where they saw them, but mainly just spoiling Dulwich’s fun. An unconvincing ball found its way into Sargent’s hands and Cheatley went for another go - a stonking run at the box, which Dulwich diverted neatly as sunset fell on the first half.

The second half opened tensely for Dulwich - Rhea Gall went in for a header inside the 6yd box, but came off worst and hit the ground hard. Thankfully, after a cautionary look from the medic, she was up and at ‘em again. Dulwich revisited their mission with urgency, but needed to convert it into laser focus and avoid burning out, with Ashford threatening to run them down. Ever-dependable defender Chana Hinds looked for a way through the midfield as Ashford tried to close her down - she found Manzi, but Manzi had no-one to pass to - a recurring problem for the Hamlet tonight, as shaky transition left them all too frequently with nowhere to land and no way to create or convert opportunities.

Ashford, temporarily hit by bad luck, hit the post, and seconds later Kalani Peart was down after colliding headlong with a Dulwich player. With play quickly resumed, Ashford were straight in with a 64th minute strike, firmly noped by Sargent with a clean save to keep Dulwich’s hopes alive. Harbour Brown saw a chance to tip the balance but had nobody to connect to. Dodging her mark she peeled off a shot on target anyway, but without back-up there was no way to divert or surprise the keeper, and it rolled coolly into Shults’ arms.

Sas Philp provided fresh legs and got straight into the action, snatching control in midfield and sending Asia on a run down the left flank, but Ashford headed her off. The crowd utterly lost its proverbial kaka in the 78th minute as Monkman forced the ball forward in the most promising strike of the game and it zoomed gloriously, magically… left of the post. Football is pain. Undeterred, Dulwich summoned their grit and powered on, a doozy of a header from Chana getting things moving again. Dulwich urgently needed to put a ball away and while their legs looked tired, they didn’t look beaten - anyone that’s followed this team for any stretch of time knows they don’t back down or give up, even when things look bleak.

But Ashford knew they were on the home stretch, and in the 85th, the deadly Cheatley did it again - spanking it in at such speed that Sargent didn’t have time to pick a direction, nabbing her brace and doubling their lead. It was an unstoppable goal and a heartbreaker for this team who delivered fire and grit from the jump.

Dulwich brought the talented Minnie Cruttwell on to work some magic, and kept the searchlights on. Hinds found Philp down the left wing, but Ashford weren’t about to give away their advantage, and denied her passage. Still, with five extra minutes on the clock, Dulwich edged their way up the field, looking for pockets of opportunity to the last. There’s no shame in losing to a team this lethal, but Dulwich kept their heads up and their blood hot as the final whistle closed the game, thanking their fans on the field and in the bar as the orange-clad Ashford lifted the trophy.

Ashford’s physical and psychological stamina has placed them out front this season and given Dulwich a hell of a lot to contend with on multiple occasions. It’s been a difficult and transitional third season for Ryan Dempsey’s squad, but their skill and chemistry are anchored by a never-say-die tenacity that will set them up well for their fourth season, after a well-earned rest and regroup. With nothing but proud words pouring from the travelling supporters afterwards, this team remain the pride of Champion Hill and should know they have every Dulwich supporter behind them.

Attendance: 204

Dulwich Hamlet
1 Rebecca Sargent; 2 Madi Parsonson; 4 Chana Hinds; 5 Rosie Stone; 6 Sarah Walters; 8 Brit Saylor ©; 9 Sophie Manzi; 10 Anna Jowle; 14 Lucy Monkman; 18 Asia Harbour Brown; 32 Rhea Gall

Substitutes:
7 Sas Philp; 12 Anna Stones; 13 Ceylon Hickman; 15 Hannah Baptiste; 20 Minnie Cruttwell

Ashford Women
1 Sophie Shults; 4 Kalani Peart; 6 Anya Kinnane; 7 Lavana Neufville; 8 Hannah Pearson; 9 Ruby Linton; 10 Alissa Down ©; 11 Jade Johnson; 14 Charlotte Baker; 16 Ashley Cheatley; 21 Jordane Hoesli-Atkins

Substitutes:
5 Laura Huse; 7 Alice Frise; 12 Chloe Farrell; 27 Millie Maggioni

Image: Liam Asman