Dulwich Hamlet vs Cray Wanderers – Isthmian Premier – Saturday 11th October – Match Report
Dulwich Hamlet 1
Clunis 11
Cray Wanderers 1
Hernandez 38
Cray Wanderers remained unbeaten away from home and moved up to third in the Isthmian Premier League table after a hard fought point at fifth place Dulwich Hamlet.
A goal apiece in the first half with Nyren Clunis opening the scoring for Dulwich against his former club after eleven minutes. However seven minutes before half time Cray levelled with a poachers finish from Alex Hernandez for his fifth goal of the season. There were no further goals in the second half but the Wands were reduced to ten men with a couple of minutes left when Tom Bonner was sent off for a second bookable offence.
On a gloriously sunny afternoon in South East London both teams were not strangers to one another with the sides meeting at Flamingo Park as recently as 30th September. On that occasion it was an attacking feast of football and chances whereas this afternoon’s match although engaging and competitive maybe lacked those thrills and spills but in the end a point was about the right outcome.
Both teams were looking to bounce back from FA Trophy defeats last weekend and for Cray there were two changes to the side which lost at Bishop’s Stortford with Prosper Keto and Chris Dickson coming in for Freddie Taylor and Josh Williams. Frankie Raymond was making his 100th appearance for the Wands. Since that game Luke Allen has departed to join Welling United. For Dulwich who started the season brightly but had just gone through a run of one win in the last seven league and cup games made two changes to the side which lost to Hendon with Danny Mills and Sean Bonnet-Johnson coming in for ex-Wand Anthony Cook and Anthony Jeffrey.
The game began at a steady and sedate pace with perhaps Dulwich looking the more spritely and Sol Baugh who had a good game for the home side put over a good cross but there was no-one in the box to apply a touch.
In the 11th minute Dulwich took the lead with a goal worked down the right and Baugh’s cross-shot was blocked by Harry Seaden but fell kindly for Nyren Clunis for a simple tap in for his first goal since his return to Hamlet in the summer.
Cray looked to instantly respond and almost levelled a minute later with a great overhead kick from Chris Dickson but went just past the left post. Shortly after in the 13th minute Tom Bonner received his first yellow card.
Dulwich at this point were looking the better side without perhaps taking full advantage but did come close when Luke Wanadio’s cross into the area was cleared by Tom Bonner. Then Sean Bonnet-Johnson almost added a second when from another Baugh cross shot over the top.
Cray were still in the game and Alex Hernandez tested Toby Bull with a shot on goal ten minutes before half time.
Three minutes later Cray were level after good play down the right from Prosper Keto who found Lateef Adaja who then played the ball into the box and with Bull under pressure Hernandez was on hand to place a shot into the bottom right corner.
Just before the break Baugh was played through for Dulwich but a flag was raised for offside and at half time it was all square and all to play for.
HT: 1-1
The Wands had to make a change at half time with Remi Sutton having to go off and was replaced by Quade Taylor and a 50th Wands appearance for the former Dulwich player.
Cray almost scored straight after the break when Lateef Adaja down the right put over an excellent cross to the far post but Ashley Nzala arriving couldn’t divert his volley on goal and went past the right post.
At the other end Clunis threatened with a shot that was charged down by Adrian Gyamera while for Cray Chris Dickson found himself in with a shooting chance but was denied by a great tackle from Joseph Adewunmi.
The game then went through more of cagey spell for a while and there weren’t too many scoring chances in the last half hour.
For Dulwich, Clunis who had his customary exemplary game saw an effort blocked by Tom Bonner. Dulwich then came closest yet when Baugh saw his shot hit the woodwork via a touch from Harry Seaden and Alfie Payne looking to follow up saw the ball put behind for a corner.
The Wands introduced Kareem Isiaka and Josh Williams in the 72nd minute and almost paid dividends when Williams’ right wing cross just couldn’t get a firm touch from Isiaka in the middle and flashed wide of goal.
Ten minutes from time Williams made a run from midfield and shaped to shoot and his effort went past the left post.
It was looking like it was going to be settling for a draw but two minutes from time after a late challenge from Amadou Kassarate on Quade Taylor which earned a booking Tom Bonner was shown a harsh second yellow for seemingly looking to push Kassarate away which meant the final few minutes meant Cray had to batten down the hatches.
Despite late pressure from Dulwich including a corner the Wands held firm and picked up a decent point on the road making it four consecutive away league draws and moved up to third place on 20 points but have played more games than the other sides in the top five.
Although not a classic like the first encounter there was still some good football on show and a good noise from the Wands support on the road once again in front of an exceptional crowd of 2470.
Next Saturday Cray are on their travels again this time to FA Cup 1st Round bound Chatham Town, 3 pm ko.
Dulwich Hamlet: Toby Bull, Michael Chambers, Joseph Adewunmi, Sean Bonnet-Johnson (Anthony Cook, 80), Tom Chambers, Alfie Payne (Bodo Anidugbe, 77), Lonit Talla (Amadou Kassarate, 77), Sol Baugh, Nyren Clunis (Capt.) (Anthony Jeffrey, 72), Danny Mills, Luke Wanadio: Subs: Geofrey Okonkwo
Booked: Bull 38, Kassarate 88
Cray Wanderers: Harry Seaden, Prosper Keto, Remi Sutton (Quade Taylor, H/T), Tom Bonner (Capt.), Adrian Gyamera, Frankie Raymond, Harry Waldock, Lateef Adaja, Ashley Nzala (Josh Williams, 72), Chris Dickson (Kareem Isiaka, 72), Alex Hernandez: Subs: Nods Bobomurodov, Freddie Taylor
Sent Off: Bonner 88 (2 cautions)
Booked: Bonner 13, Taylor 85, Hernandez 90+2
Referee: Marcin Indyk
Assistants: Matthew Charles, Jacob Miller
ATT: 2470
