ARCHIVE: Dulwich Hamlet v Ashford Town. Ryman League Division 1 South. 2004-5 season.

Dulwich Hamlet     2       Ashford Town   1

from Your Milton Keynes Correspondent

One of the (few) good things about our switch to the Ryman League this season has been the opportunity to visit some famous old amateur clubs – the likes of Corinthian Casuals, Tooting & Mitcham, Leatherhead, and so on. Dulwich Hamlet is another one of these. The club had its hey-day in the 1920s, when it not only had its record home crowd of 20,744 (at their old ground), but prolific goal scorer Edgar Kail was a full England international whilst still playing for Dulwich. The club also won the FA Amateur Cup (now the FA Trophy) three times in the 1930s. Kail also still holds the club record for both the number of goals in a season, and the number of goals in a career, and the current ground, Champion Hill, is located in a road named after him !  (Maybe Kingsnorth Road should be renamed Peter McRobert Boulevard, or something).

As expected, Edgar Kail Road was a pig to find, and Your Milton Keynes Correspondent spent some time poring over the London A-Z, trying to plot a route through South London. Eventually, the decision was made to go via the Dartford Bridge, then up the A20, along the A202 and down Denmark Hill. This took all of two hours and ten minutes – exactly half of that time spent crawling from Junction 3 of the M25 to the ground. (At this rate, I might as well start going to a few home matches !).

The main stand at Champion Hill can only be described as being rather grand, by non-league standards – it’s quite a large, sandstone structure, almost as large as our own stand at The Homelands, and with “DHFC” embossed in bricks on the front. There’s not much else at the ground, though, with just a roof to shelter some empty terracing on the far side. They get quite reasonable crowds here, with only one home gate of under 200 so far this season, and the main stand was fairly well populated today. That’s the advantage of, not only being located near the centre of London, but also being situated next-door to Sainsbury’s – judging by the queue of cars coming out of the supermarket car park after the match, I imagine that many people do their shopping before going on to the footy.

We also thought that we would avail ourselves of John Sainsbury’s facilities, with a coffee and panini in the in-store Starbucks, before braving the cold on a chilly, but dry, afternoon in the draughty main stand.

Getting back to the serious business of the fight against relegation, this was yet another crucial game. Early in January, I identified a sequence of eight games which I considered to be “winnable”, and suggested that we could, and should, get ten to twelve points from these games; well, this was the seventh of the eight, and we’d gained eight points from the previous six.

Dulwich started the game in 15^th place, hovering just above the relegation zone, but not really being in danger of the drop. The same cannot be said for Ashford, of course, but we at least went into it on the back of an encouraging little run of four games unbeaten.

*** THE MATCH ***

The team news headlines were that there was a debut for Solomon Henry, recently signed from Waltham Forest, on the right side of midfield, which relegated Erron Dussard to the bench; Barry Gardner was back in central defence alongside Tony Ritrovato, meaning that Chris Holmes was also named as a sub; Joby was back in attack with Paul Jones, with fellow strikers Shaun Bradshaw and Lee Blackman (reportedly still troubled by injury) on the bench. The full-backs in a 4-4-2 formation were, as usual, the twins – O’B and Tom Adlington. Eddie Achoko and Joffy continued their Little & Large act in the centre of midfield, with Tom Evans on the left. John Whitehouse – thank goodness for John Whitehouse – was in goal, so the only man not to get a mention so far is the fifth substitute, Barry Cunningham. This meant that there was no goal-keeper on the bench, with young Jake Slade playing in goal for the Ressies at Deal. An extra bum on the bench, though, was that of Ian Ross - he supervised the pre-match warm-up, but let’s hope that it’s not too long before he’s back playing again. Ritrovato captained the side, due to Matt Bower’s persistent ankle injury.

Ashford had the better of the opening ten minutes or so, but only had a wasted free-kick from Joby, and a promising, mazy run from Solomon Henry, to show for it. The first threat on our goal from the home side didn’t materialise until the ninth minute, when a free-kick from near the corner flag had to be hoofed away by Tom Adlington.

Things started to go wrong in the eleventh minute. Tony Ritrovato was turned by a long ball from the Dulwich defence, and, under pressure from Dulwich captain Charley Side, fluffed the attempted back-pass to John Whitehouse. Side pounced on this, and, with the ‘keeper already well out of his goal, had the fairly simple task of lobbing the ball into an empty net. 1-0.

There was some disruption to the home defence two minutes later, when Gavin Dayes sustained a foot injury, and had to be replaced by Tom Ababio. Almost immediately, Ashford nearly broke through this defence, with a slick move. Paul Jones knocked the ball down to Tom Evans, who immediately played a through-ball forward, for Joby to chase, but he was marginally off-side.

Playing with the confidence you’d expect from a side that had taken an early lead, Dulwich, playing in pink & navy blue, began to exert some pressure. That was no excuse, however, for Tommy Adlington’s late tackle on the half-way line, in the 17^th minute, which resulted in a booking for the full-back. This was to be the first of several cautions handed out by referee Robert Smith, who was to deal cards out like Sergeant Bilko, throughout the afternoon.

Dulwich had the ball in the back of the Ashford net again in the 19^th minute, through Francis Quarm, but the linesman’s flag was already up for off-side.

Whether or not it was because his error had led to Dulwich’s opening goal, Tony Ritrovato was having a ‘mare of a first half, and, unfortunately, a series of mistakes from the big centre-half were probably the deciding factor in the game. In the 20^th minute, he took too long over a routine clearance, which was charged down, and, soon afterwards, he misplaced a pass straight to a Dulwich midfielder. In the 21^st minute, he really should have cut out a cross, but let it run across his body, for Charley Side to run on to, but John Whitehouse was alert to the danger and rushed out to make a save. In the 26^th minute, though, another Ritrovato error was punished, as Dulwich went 2-0 up. Tony jumped for the ball with Charley Side – Side won it, in spite of being at least a foot shorter than Ritrovato, and found himself through on goal. He carried the ball to the edge of the Ashford area, and slotted the ball past the advancing John Whitehouse.

The ref had his cards out again on the half hour mark, showing a yellow one to Dulwich’s Warren Burton for what didn’t even look to be a foul. Joby, who obviously has delusions about being David Beckham, curled the resulting free-kick over the wall, but also several feet over the bar. This was a thoroughly wasteful afternoon for the older of the two Thorogoods, whose scoring touch seems to have deserted him at the moment.

In the 32^nd minute, Tom Adlington – already on a yellow card – committed another foul on the far side, and it looked for a moment as if Mr Smith might book him for a second time, but it was just a free-kick. This was pumped long, into the Ashford area, and Whitehouse did well to get finger-tips to the ball, and put it behind for a corner. When the corner was swung in, JW was again there to punch clear, to the edge of the area, and Francis Quarm’s hard strike was wide of goal, but accurate enough to knock the tea from the hand of a spectator behind the goal. The PA announcer did well to call for a replacement cup of tea for him ! 

Three minutes later, new-boy Solomon Henry again showed what he is capable of – and I can confidently predict that this lad will become a favourite with the Ashford fans if he is given an extended run in the team. Ritrovato laid the ball to Henry – whose nickname will undoubtedly have to be “Thierry” – on the touch-line, at about half-way. His dribble took him infield, past three players, and ended with a left-foot shot that hit the post.

By now, things were happening almost as quickly as Your Milton Keynes Correspondent could scribble them down – this was a fast, entertaining game, which was certainly the best game of football witnessed this season – and the ball was soon heading back towards the Ashford goal. This time it was Barry Gardner, who had yet another very good game in central defence, who had to deal with an awkward, bouncing ball, facing his own goal. Under pressure from Quarm, Bazza attempted to head the ball back to John Whitehouse – Quarm anticipated well, and got a touch, but Whitehouse managed to gather the ball in.

On 37 minutes, Ashford had a corner, which was wasted, but a minute later the ball was back at the other end. Marlon Patterson, who had looked impressive in midfield for the home side, beat the Ashford offside trap. He squared the ball to Francis Quarm, in front of goal, but Quarm fluffed his side-footed effort. Dulwich really should’ve been three up !

In the 40^th minute, Paul Jones did well to lay the ball off for Joby, to give The Hobbit his first clear shooting chance – the halfling struck it well, and it needed an equally good save from Paul Seuke in the Dulwich goal. It was a corner to Ashford, but this was cleared, and the home side was immediately back on the attack, with Francis Quarm, down the right. Quarm sent in a good cross, which Tommy Adlington did well to hoike clear.

In spite of the chances at both ends, the teams went in at half-time with the score at 2-0, but there was still time for Tony Ritrovato to complete a miserable half by getting himself booked – this was in the 46^th minute, and was for an unnecessary push in the back, just outside the penalty area.

After the interval, Ashford once again started the half the brighter of the two teams. Four minutes into the half, substitute Tom Ababio conceded a corner, largely due to good pressure from Joby. This was taken by Tom Evans – an in-swinger with his left foot. Tony Ritrovato, stooping low, met the ball with his head at the near post, but his effort went just wide.

In the 54^th minute, Tom Adlington put Paul Jones through in the inside-right channel, with a good through-ball. Jonah chose to cross the ball, looking for Joby, when he might have shot, but the ball was easily cut out.

There was an element of sitting on the lead in Dulwich’s play, and they wasted the odd few seconds at every opportunity. The ref eventually got wise to this, and booked Kenny Beaney, in the 58^th minute, for kicking the ball away after being penalised.

Ashford continued to apply pressure – clearly believing that it’s not impossible for a team to concede a two-goal lead !  – and good hustling from Tom Evans won him a free-kick, wide on the left, near the touch-line. Joby once again was in charge of taking the free-kick, and curled the ball in towards the near post - Tony Ritrovato, who, to be fair to him, put the first half behind him and played solidly for the rest of the game, managed a glancing header, but this again went just wide of goal.

In the 65^th minute, Barry Gardner got up well to get his head to a long clearance from the Dulwich defence. A through-ball then set Joby off in the inside-left channel – his run took him into the penalty area, where he was bundled over by Kenny Beaney, for a penalty. Beaney was given a good talking-to by Mr Smith, and there was a possibility that there might be a second yellow card for the Dulwich player, but the card was not shown on this occasion. Eventually, Paul Jones was able to take the penalty, and made no mistake – it was a good strike, drilling the ball into the corner of the net, for 1-2.

Ashford were immediately on the attack after the restart, looking for the equaliser. More good work by Solomon Henry earnt a throw-in, deep into the Dulwich half. The ball was thrown to Tom Adlington, who whipped in a cross – Joby attempted an ambitious over-head kick from the edge of the area, which was blocked. In the 67^th minute, Paul Jones picked the ball up on the edge of the area, with his back, as it so often is, to goal; he turned, but his shot was tame, and straight at the goal-keeper.

In the 69^th minute, Meshach Nugent was sent on in place of Marlon Patterson, who had looked a good player in the first half. Nugent made an impact almost immediately, picking up a through-ball which Barry Gardner had to interecept, but didn’t – on this occasion, Barry was repreived by Tony Ritrovato’s excellent saving tackle ! 

On 74 minutes, Tom Evans was the next player to be shown a yellow card, in a game that was never dirty or ill-tempered – Tom’s booking was for a late tackle, but there was nothing viscious about it. Three minutes later, John Whitehouse, for once, failed to deal cleanly with a corner – whilst his handling is normally very good, he rather fumbled the cross away. The ball found its way to Ellis Conroy – which sounds like a Protestant Irish name to me – and his well-struck shot hit the angle of post and bar.

Before the goal-kick was taken, Erron Dussard became Tim Thorogood’s only substitute used in the game, replacing Tom Evans. Soon after, there was a scuffle between two aggressive little number 8s – Charley Side and Joffy Thorogood. I didn’t see what started it, but, as Joffy was involved, it didn’t necessarily need to be very much. (Side looking at him in a funny way, perhaps). Anyway, the result was a yellow card to each player, to add to the mounting total.

Ashford had had plenty of time to get the equaliser, if they’d been good enough, but, on balance, they probably didn’t create enough chances in the second half to merit a share of the points. By the 90^th minute, our boys’ efforts were getting a little desperate, and a long ball sent Jonah free down the right – his speculative, high lob into the centre caught the ‘keeper in two minds as to whether to come for it. In the event, Seuke came out and didn’t make it, but Henry’s looping header went just over the empty goal. A minute later, when all seemed lost, Ashford were given a surprise final opportunity, when a free-kick was awarded for an inocuous-looking challenge on Eddie Achoko on the edge of the area. Joby Thorogood rather snatched at this last chance, and, with the area packed with Ashford shirts, blazed the ball miles over the bar. Dad was livid !!

This was Dulwich Hamlet’s first ever victory over Ashford, in the fourth match between the two clubs. The news wasn’t too good when we arrived back in Milton Keynes, as Dorking had ended their nightmarish run of results with a 0-1 victory at Molesey, and both Banstead and Croydon got a useful point each, against the Met. Police and Tooting & Mitcham, respectively. The “target team” now is probably Newport (IoW), who still have AFC Wimbledon to play, and who are five points ahead of us, having played a game more. Regardless of other teams, of course, it’s all about Ashford picking up points, and the quest moves on to Fleet, next Tuesday night – traffic permitting !