Dulwich Hamlet 1-1 QPR
Sunday 25th April
Some days it don’t come easy. I promise not every match report will begin with a tenuous lyric, least of all from Meat Loaf, but we have our reasons. Anyone who has followed this team’s progress since they adopted the pink and blue in 2019 will be used to seeing them hold their own against most opponents, enjoying two dominant seasons with a bird’s eye view of the rest of the table, but QPR have proved a challenging opponent thus far, with wins and losses peppering their history against the Hamlet, including Dulwich’s win over them in the 2019 memorial game for beloved late manager Farouk Menia. The two teams join four other clubs in 2021’s new Spring Round Robin tournament, and their budding rivalry is palpable. As Dulwich took to the field with a team that combined reliable regulars with some fierce new blood, QPR descended on Champion Hill determined to concede nothing and take everything.
QPR set out their stall early. Grabbing their first chance in the 3rd minute, their distribution presented Dulwich with twin challenges, keeping their own half closed down while piling on the threats in Dulwich’s half. Sarah Walters set up an opportunity for Lucy Monkman within minutes, but QPR had the box well-guarded and defused it smartly. A free kick for QPR near the corner could have given the visitors a chance, but they bounced it straight off Sarah Milner; moments later a corner for QPR’s Ellie Searle – who would cause the Hamlet a great deal of trouble later on – was cleared away by Dulwich.
QPR maintained their battering ram approach, with a shot that new Hamlet keeper Mia North caught cleanly. QPR continued to hammer at the Hamlet stronghold along the left wing, but right-back Liz Berkeley’s vigilant patrolling kept them thwarted. It started to look good for Dulwich; finding their feet, with new signing Madi Parsonson keeping things mobile in midfield and providing crucial connections, the hosts started to build the pressure. Searle broke for the border with another dangerous shot, but North was wise to it, returning the ball to Dulwich who pushed forward again. Parsonson sent a soaring ball into the box but saw it punched away by QPR keeper Lucie White.
The tension ramped up, each team testing the other’s defenses with some caution. Monkman and Sas Philp sought chances to get a crafty ball around White, and a long pass by Searle threatened to hand Kasha Petit an opportunity - but North was straight off her line to meet it first. Petit came back minutes later for another try, prompting an impeccable save from North who sent it sky-high and out of danger. Hickman’s foul on a charging Tiffany Skinner on the edge of the box handed QPR a free kick, but they sent it clear over the crossbar. A long-ranging cross from Parsonson offered a tantalising chance for Dulwich, but Milner couldn’t quite get a handle on it.
If the first half was a story of thwarted chances and near misses, with Dulwich subtly on the ascendancy, much of the second half belonged to QPR. As both sides returned with triple substitutions, the visitors renewed their determination to topple their hosts, with North springing into action to defend another strike in the opening minutes. Hannah Baptiste and new signing Eman Kessem brought some fire to the right wing, and the Hamlet defence looked solid, until catastrophe struck – North saved a shot but then seemed to lose sight of the ball, and in what felt like slow motion, Ellie Searle rolled it past her to break the stalemate and put QPR one up.
With Kessem picking up an injury, Monkman returned to the field, while Philp and Parsonson continued to seek holes in the QPR defence, but the West Londoners were buoyed by the new advantage and piled on the pressure, with Searle and Milly Cutler pushing relentlessly for a second goal. North was tested again, and seemed rattled, but held the line, while Monkman, Philp and Brit Saylor worked to turn the tide in the last minutes.
As the whistle approached, QPR’s Hayley Peacock crashed to the ground with a knee injury. Milner, who is also a physio, and had sustained a nosebleed herself in the first half, helped attend to Peacock until she was stretchered off. By the time play resumed, the Hamlet were into a rangy eight minutes of stoppage time, and the chilly air tasted of desperation, with Dulwich seeking redemption and QPR determined to lock down their victory.
Parsonson put a long ball just past the post; it seemed the Hamlet had exhausted their last hope - and with the referee reaching for her whistle, Monkman appeared out of nowhere, zigzagging around the back of the last defender to rocket the ball through the outstretched arms of the dismayed keeper in the last touch of the game and claim the goal she’d been seeking from the jump. A writer with no shame might liken Monkman’s soul-saving equaliser to a bat out of hell, but of course we’d never do that.
With Dulwich facing QPR again next weekend in the Cup, there are lessons to be learned by both sides; Dulwich will need to up the ante to dismantle their rivals’ near-impenetrable strategy, but QPR underestimate the Hamlet’s tenacity at their peril. Here was a side that never gave up, fighting for survival to the very last and changing their fortunes with one perfectly seized opportunity. They go again in a week’s time, and we can be sure both sides will seek an emphatic, vengeful victory.
Attendance: Behind closed doors
Dulwich Hamlet
1 Mia North; 4 Liz Berkeley; 5 Rosie Stone; 3 Madi Parsonson; 7 Saskia Philps; 8 Brit Saylor (capt); 10 Daniella Tyson; 13 Ceylon Hickman; 14 Lucy Monkman; 17 Sarah Milner; 6 Sarah Walters;
Subs: Harriet Crofts; Hannah Baptiste; Eman Kessem; Phoebe Read
QPR
1 Lucie White; 2 Ellen Wardlaw; 3 Ellie Searle; 4 Ailish Carolan; Vicky Grieve (capt); 6 Merle Redhead-Ling; 7 Kasha Petit; 8 Natalie Skiverton; 9 Tiffany Skinner; 11 Melanie Hall + 1 trialist
Subs: Katie Akerman; Milly Cutler; Mollie Dench; Afiya Johnson; Eshe Johnson; Hayley Peacock; Demi Edwards
Referee: Lucy Clark
Photo: Liam Asman
Dulwich Hamlet 5 - 0 Crystal Palace Dev
Sunday 11th April
Sometimes, as Prince sang, it snows in April, which still feels less weird than watching football with no crowds. But here we are on a cold, bright Sunday afternoon with both things in evidence, and we’ll take it, because at least it’s actual, blessed live football. And more than that, a stonking 5-0 win over local rivals Crystal Palace to announce the return of the women’s first XI to Champion Hill after yet more months of lockdown exile. Today’s team included several new faces, including a keeper debut and three trialists who added flair to an already formidable roster.
The team have resumed training at the Hill in recent weeks, and delivered a capable and classy return to play. Saturday’s Grand National winner had nothing on Lucy Monkman. Seizing Sophie Manzi’s well-placed cross from the left, she shot out of the gate with a 4th minute goal; the Palace goalkeeper fumbled Monkman’s initial would-be tap-in, so she rounded the keeper to finish the job. The tone of the match was set minutes later; after a long header from Ceylon Hickman, Manzi bounced a shot off the post, but Sas Philp spanked in the rebound in the 8th minute.
Crystal Palace stepped up and offered new Dulwich keeper Mia North her first test, with a long ball from outside the box that she made light work of. However, the fatal error of a poor tackle on Ella Wales-Bonner proved a gift for Dulwich. The free kick that followed was a masterclass in how to psych out a goalkeeper already on the back foot. Manzi and Havana McElvaine both lined up at the spot to take the kick; after a particularly sneaky feint, McElvaine curled the ball neatly into the top corner, out of the reach of Crystal Palace’s keeper. With the score at 3-0 only 14 minutes into the game, the writing seemed to be on the wall for the visitors.
Palace collected themselves, intensifying their play in the midfield and tussling for dominance on the wings. They drew a free kick but were unable to puncture the Hamlet defences. They created some jeopardy a moment later, but North punched the offending ball up to the post, and a Hamlet defender cleared it away. Their last real chance of the first half came at 33 mins, but North was ready and defused it easily.
Palace turned up the heat at the start of the second half but again came unstuck. Rosie Stone was knocked flat out in a foul in front of the goal, and Sophie Manzi stepped up to take the penalty. Much has been made of the striker’s hit rate since she joined Dulwich in 2020, and in the 70th minute she banged the shot cleanly into the net. Philp followed with a belter of a shot, but the keeper was having none of it. Philp looped back round in the 75th minute with a long ball and secured her brace – 5-0! She chased the hat-trick with a searing shot from outside the box, but was thwarted by a valiant save from the Crystal Palace keeper.
The final minutes were ragged, with painful collisions illustrating both teams’ tiredness. While players have continued to train as far as lockdown allowed, there’s no substitute for being able to maintain stamina and conditioning with full matches, and while high-level women’s football has continued, teams further down the pyramid have been firmly deprived of match play. Though crowds will not return for a while, at least a string of games now follows for the Hamlet, allowing them to stretch their legs again. For today though, all credit is due for a comfortable win and an ensemble performance from a home team who have no intention of letting their reputation slip.
Dulwich Hamlet meet Fulham away in their next outing on Sunday 18 April (BCD).
Dulwich Hamlet:
1 Mia North; 3 Havana McElvaine; 7 Saskia Philp; 8 Brit Saylor (capt); 9 Sophie Manzi; 13 Ceylon Hickman; 14 Lucy Monkman; 16 Ella Wales-Bonner; 20 Harriet Crofts; + 2 trialists
Subs: Zoe Elmore; Liz Berkeley; Rosie Stone; Jordan Williamson; + 1 trialist
Crystal Palace WFC Development A:
Saskia Kacary; Maddie Rendell; Elissa Stonebrook; Kadelia Wilkins; Lydia Soltana; Rio Rosenberg; Alice Wood, Rosa Tims; Diana Tobe; Helen Parraga; Alex Hayman
Subs: Elizabeth Santiago; Eleanor Hutchings; Emily Treacy
Referee]: Lucy Clark
Photo: Liam Asman
Dulwich Hamlet Women sign Daniella Tyson and Liz Berkeley
Dulwich Hamlet are pleased to announce the signings of Daniella Tyson and Liz Berkeley.
Tyson, a midfielder, joins from Exeter City and brings experience from the National League. At Exeter she helped the team to a league title in 2019 and was named Player’s Player of the Season in 2019/20.
She said, “I’m excited to get to know the team and play with them. I’ve heard a lot about how good the fans are here and the amount of people that you get, so that will be incredible when all the fans are here eventually.”
“I usually play as a CAM, an attacking midfielder. I’d like to think I can bring a bit of creativity to the team.”
Full back Berkeley signs from AFC Wimbledon and will join up with former teammate Sophie Manzi at Dulwich. Previously, she has played for Crystal Palace and Whyteleafe. At Palace, she was part of the team who won the 2015/16 FA Women's Premier League Division One in an unbeaten season.
“[Sophie Manzi] was in my ear quite a lot, saying it was a good club”. she said. “Obviously I’ve seen a lot about the club and since you’ve come over to Dulwich, I’ve been really impressed with the set-up. That’s helped me make the decision.”
“The position I play is full-back. I’ve played on the right, the left…sometimes I’ve played in a back three as well. My attributes are probably speed and my one vs. one defending.”
“I’m really excited to make my debut here at the club. Manzi’s told me how exciting it is to play in front of all these people!”
With the return of organised sport, Tyson and Berkeley were able to meet their new teammates for the first time and join in with a full training session at Champion Hill.
Photos: Liam Asman
London Seaward Reserves 0 Dulwich Hamlet 9
A Wednesday night trip over the Thames into the East End to the wide-open spaces of the Mile End Stadium bathed beneath the twinkling lights of Canary Wharf where money rides and people crawl. Just the tonic the Hamlet needed after too many frustrating results of late although it must be too early to say whether the midweek massacre of the East Londoners reserves could be a way out of the desert or just another fruitful oasis on the journey.
It took a while for the Hamlet to find their flow but once they did, they quickly got their teeth into the opposition.
The opening goal came midway through the first half as a poor defensive clearance was pounced on by Sas Philp. A neat pass slipped in Sophie Manzi for an angled run into the box. A first effort was scuffed, blocked by a defender but Manzi was not to be denied, snapping up the loose ball and tucking it emphatically home inside the near post. A second goal was added within minutes as Rosie Stone lofted a ball deep to the back of the box, the host’s keeper pushing away the ball as Sarah Milner attacked the cross but only into the path of Hannah Baptiste who tucked home from 15 yards out. The custodian atoned for that with brave keeping defying Manzi soon after, denying the Dulwich striker with a courageous save at her feet after some tricky skills in the six-yard box. However, she found herself beaten for a third as halftime approached, Manzi’s slide rule pass from just inside the Seaward half dissecting the defence and sending Sas Philp storming through on goal to finish with a crackerjack shot past the ‘keeper at her right hand. Still time for another goal before the half time oranges. Out on the wing, Philp robbed a hesitant right back of the ball, cutting inside to centre for Manzi to clinically finish into the far bottom corner of the net.
The floodgates were now well and truly open. The whistle had barely gone to restart proceedings when Hannah Baptiste added to the Hamlet’s growing tally. An under-hit clearance was hooked back into Baptiste’s path and with the goal in her sights she unleashed a thunderbolt shot from 25 yards out. It might have taken a nick off a defender on the way but with power and precision a-plenty there was no doubt where the ball was heading – the back of the net. Just after the hour mark two of the Hamlet substitutes combined to make it 6 nil. Released on the right Ellie Milbourn scampered down the wing before delivering a deadly low ball across the face of goal that Jordan Williamson devoured at the back of the box with an adroit finish. Anna Jowle proved she can be just adept with her head as with her feet attacking a corner from the right to make it seven diverting the ball past the defenders on the line. Returning from her Covid induced hiatus Lucy Monkman was perhaps a tad fortunate to bag the Hamlet’s eight, a shot on the run from distance as she cut in from the wing bobbling on the pitch as the slippery shot squirmed through a shellshocked custodian’s legs.
The hosts must have been praying for a final whistle and an escape from their torment but Dulwich still one last bullet in their ammunition. Baptiste’s strength in midfield allowed her to advance before slipping a pass through to Jowle in the box. Sent tumbling by the defender’s presence Jowle preserved, getting back to her feet before tucking the ball into the path of the onrushing Jo Gibson who finished with aplomb bringing Dulwich’s blitz of the East End to a conclusion.
Team:
DHFC: 1 Saskia Reeves-Priestley; 2 Minnie Cruttwell; 4 Chana Hinds; 5 Rosie Stone; 7 Sas Philp; 9 Sophie Manzi; 15 Hannah Baptiste; 17 Sarah Milner; 18 Anna Jowle; 20 Harriett Crofts; 21 Jasmine Lacrette
Substitutes: 12 Ellie Milbourn; 13 Rhea Gall; 14 Lucy Monkman; 19 Jordan Williamson; 22 Jo Gibson
Goal scorers: Sophie Manzi 22, 45; Hannah Baptiste 28, 49; Sas Philp 44; Jordan Williamson 62; Anna Jowle 71; Lucy Monkman 78; Jo Gibson 90
Report by Paula Griffin
Dulwich Hamlet 0 - 1 Leyton Orient
Highlights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJQIwZ3A4EI
Sunday 18th October
A socially distanced entrance queue stretching down the road, striped scarves flying out of the Mega Container (open for the first time this season, merch fans) and a booze trolley making its merry rounds: there was a festival buzz as the Hamlet prepared to take on the auld enemy, Leyton Orient, in what would prove to be their most challenging FA Cup battle yet. Dulwich already enjoy impressive crowd numbers at this level in women’s football, but yesterday marked a new watershed. With the doors closed for DHFC men’s matches, the team more than doubled their typical Sunday attendance as a crowd of 582 came out to watch.
Leyton Orient have proved a stiff opponent before. Sitting in the next league up, the two teams are evenly matched, and their last few meetings have been a tussle for control, with Dulwich prevailing at home in February, but Leyton doing it on a cold night in Mile End two weeks later.
Nobody expected yesterday to be easy. Dulwich started aggressively, going for gold in the opening minutes with Havana McElvaine creating a tasty chance from the corner and Sarah Milner battling for a spot on the scoreboard. That would become a running theme, but Orient goalie Naomi Ogunde was in the right place at the right time and snatched the ball away.
Disaster struck early for the Hamlet; in the 7th minute, Katherine Long snaked a deft shot between two Hamlet defenders, catching Klaudia Kovacs off guard to give Leyton the lead. Dulwich were quick to seek retaliation, drawing a free kick immediately afterward, but it sailed sky high. While the team packs plenty of foreground talent, recent successes benefited from pure 9 Sophie Manzi, now out on suspension, and it may be they haven’t quite worked out the best way to compensate. Milner was relentless in her pursuit of a goal, but Leyton brought a cast-iron backline, and gave her no room to surprise the keeper.
McElvaine tried a different tactic – a heart-stopping long ball from midfield that Ogunde had to punch uncertainly out of the way. Leyton learned their lesson, and tried to contain Dulwich in midfield as much as possible, setting the tone for a fierce battle of wills. Kovacs wasn’t tested much; though fast winger Nyara Denny had her eyes on the prize, Ali Rowe marked her with fierce precision. Orient’s tactic seemed to be to grit their teeth and hold back the hosts by any means necessary, with pincer movements in midfield and swarming them in the box to dampen every chance to score. “There but no further” was the strategy as half-time approached. Leyton nearly sealed the deal at the 42nd minute, flipping the action with a very dangerous ball that might have found the back of the Hamlet net if Kovacs, already off her line, hadn’t been handily placed to stop the shot with her body.
Orient returned from the break in a feisty mood. Skye McNally’s egregious tackle on Sas Philp drew a deserved yellow, and the Hamlet fought to restore the balance, subbing on Rosie Stone and continuing to hammer at the gates of the Orient. Leyton introduced a powerful-looking forward, Claudia Zahui, but luck had other ideas; a rocket of a free kick from McElvaine caught her square in the forehead, and she was on her feet again for mere moments before play was stopped to check her for concussion. Dulwich fought to the end for that life-saving goal, but a tired Leyton held them off to the last, securing their place in the next round.
As the ground emptied, the mood at Champion Hill remained buoyant. While the final whistle ultimately brought disappointment and an end to this year’s FA Cup dreams for south London’s finest, yesterday was a success story nonetheless, with people voting firmly with their feet and wallets for women’s football, and Champion Hill showing that, with robust safety measures and well-trained staff and volunteers, it is possible to safely host a happy crowd of ardent football supporters and keep the lights on for the game we love so dearly.
Next match: 25th October, vs Ashford Town
Next home match: 1st November, vs Dartford
Attendance: 582
Dulwich Hamlet:
1 Klaudia Kovacs; 6 Sarah Walters; 7 Saskia Philp; 8 Brit Saylor (capt); 13 Jess Hand; 14 Lucy Monkman; 17 Sarah Milner; 18 Havana McElvaine; 20 Harriet Crofts; 21 Ali Rowe; 22 Jo Gibson;
Subs used: 3 Michaella Williams; 4 Zoe Ellmore; 5 Rosie Stone; 12 Ceylon Hickman; 19 Jordan Williamson
Subs not used: None
Yellow cards: Havana McElvaine
Leyton Orient
1 Naomi Ogunde; 7 Nyara Denny; 8 Egle Trezzi; 11 Kayleigh Xidhas; 15 Lauren Heria; 17 Sophie Lee; 2 Michelle Young; 26 Cheryl Anderson; 37 Skye McNally; 39 Katherine Long; 49 Kate Kerr
Subs used: 22 Allison McCann; 31 Naomi Feltham; 34 Claudia Zahui
Yellow cards: Skye McNally
Referee: Adriana Bucar, Scott Sanders, Jawahir Roble
Photo: Liam Asman
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Edgar Kail Way,
East Dulwich,
London.
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