YMCA AWAY DAY ENDS IN VICTORY

03.08.08

Yesterday Dulwich Hamlet travelled to Horsham YMCA, relegated from Division One South last season, suffering internal turmoil in its wake as their manager departed taking the bulk of the team with him. Craig Edwards took the opportunity to run the rule over a number of the pre-season trialists as well as some familiar faces, including Meshach Nugent who had a hearty run out after injury problems earlier in the pre-season campaign and Steve May whose work commitments have precluded him from pre-season so far. However it was Nugent's striking partner, Carlton Murray-Price to whom the early honours went as a spring heeled leap to connect with Tyran James driven cross in from the right wing saw the striker o'erleap a brace of burly defenders to bullet home a powerful header. The game was a rumbustious affair with some meaty challenges, though well-marshalled by a referee who preferred words of caution over cards. With Murray-Price in particular in fine fettle Dulwich might well have added to their advantage before the break as the bulk of efforts rained in on the home goal, one cracking effort from Nicholas Ogbanufe whistling past the far upright.

The second half was but four minutes old when Dulwich added a second, albeit in fortuitous circumstances. A penetrating charge down the right flank from fullback Falah Mulazadeh took him almost to the corner flag from whence he drilled a low hard cross in the six yard box. Nugent attempted to stab the ball home as he stretched out a leg in front of the diving Tom Rand but failed to connect. However his presence did enough to disturb the concentration of the YMCA Number One and the ball was diverted into the net off the chest of the prostrate custodian. That goal brought an early close to the scoring but not to the chances. YMCA definitely had more of the second half as late on they found a gear that had been lacking in the first hour or so. However Dulwich found a young hero in the form of Youth Team custodian Danny Baldwinson who proved a capable shot stopper when the YMCA threatened his goal.

DHFC starting XI: Danny Baldwinson, Falah Malazadeh, Billy Chattaway, Marvin Hong, Kyle Graham, Steve May, Tyran James, Mawri Rivera, Meshach Nugent, Carlton Murray-Price, Nicholas Ogbanufe.

Subs used: Stanley Muguo, Erron Dussard, Kevin Fox, Darryl Plummer, Simon St Aimie

Not used: Jamie Lunan