Dulwich Hamlet 3 – 2 Wealdstone
Dulwich Hamlet3 - 2
WealdstoneAir on a G String ?
One Hamlet is enough.
Stones started well in this match, although looking a little flat at times, pressurising their hosts and forcing them to defend in numbers, before Bryan Hammatt opened the scoring on 25 minutes. Lamb won the ball in the air from the home ‘keeper, his header was met by Walker who fed Hammatt and his lob from 18 yards was good enough to beat the goalkeeper and defenders running back to cover.
As the first half progressed, Stones remained firmly in charge and on 35 minutes extended their lead when a corner from McDonnagh crossed the six yard box with no-one getting a touch before Fergus Moore at the back post scored with a diving header to put Stones into a comfortable 2-0 lead, against their hosts who only called Charlie Leary to save once in the first half.
The second half was Oh so different. Wealdstone dropped an extra ten yards and allowed Dulwich to play, and play they did. This time it was Wealdstone forced back and back, although the first Dulwich goal came from nowhere – the ball cleared from defence found French some 35 yards out and he struck an excellent shot into the top corner.
Much as this might have galvanised the Stones side back into action it didn’t and Dulwich buoyed by the goal continued to press forward, equalising on 69 minutes when poor defending saw a cross to the far post where the unmarked Moore gave Leary on the goal line no chance.
By now it was all Dulwich and although substitutions brightened Wealdstone a little it didn’t look to be enough and this was proven on 87 minutes when Stones failed to clear their lines and Pacey scored the winner.
Stones got what there second half performance deserved. Nothing.
Wealdstone: Charlie Leary, Robin Tucker (b78), Fergus Moore (35), Robert Connelley, Shayne Chandler (s79 Billy Amarteifio), Paul Lamb, Vinny Somers, Jason Shaw, Lee Walker (s62 Dennis Greene), Bryan Hammatt (26, s79 Ricky Pither), Richard McDonnagh.