STONES STALEMATE STYMIES HAMLET HOPES

25.03.07

Table-topping Maidstone United left Champion Hill much the happier after an afternoon that lacked just one thing, a goal, but for that they had 'keeper Pat Mullin to thank whose marvellous reaction save denied Dulwich substitute Mazin Ahmad a late, late winner for the men in Pink and Blue. Stalemate this may have been, but there was none of the sterility in the visitors game plan that so benighted Champion Hill's last blank afternoon. Indeed had the Stones taken the chances on offer to a ravenous forward line in the first half it might have been "All Over Now" well before the half time whistle, Mo Takalobighashi producing the best of the chances on 28 minutes, letting fly with a 20 yard screamer that produced an electrifying save as Simon Overland stretched every sinew to tip the ball on to the crossbar. Too often though the Stones were guilty of missing gilt-edged opportunities, the aforementioned Takalobighashi denied in the 10^th minute after sneaking in behind Jamie Coyle but failing to beat an alert Overland at his near post. Defender Ryan Royston also had an effort blocked in the box following a free kick soon after before Takalobighashi stabbed wide following excellent work for the lithe and lively Nick Hegley out on the left wing. Hegley himself might have notched the opener three minutes before half time, ripping at the Hamlet right flank, a shot deflected across the face of goal bouncing awkwardly in from of Takalobighashi at the back post. Fortune smiled on Stones just before the break when Serge Musungu was sent through on goal, his attempt to chip an advancing Mullin thwarted as the ball bounced against the oblivious 'keeper head.

Second half brought more of the same, though Hamlet would receive a fairer allotment of the opportunities. High-octane football, played in the true spirit of sportsmanship, warmed the cockles of Champion Hill's biggest crowd of the season, 611. All this despite a chill, icy wind and grey, sad skies.

Phil Williams lashed a shot wide after Gavin Dayes had won a header. A deep throw bounced across the face of goal but Alex Tiesse failed with a weak stab at the back post to punish Dulwich. Injury to assistant referee Wayne Ingram created a hiatus in play midway through the half but once a replacement had been found there was no let up in the action. Stones used up their subs, three attackers withdrawn, two strikers and a defensive midfielder in their stead. The change sapped the impetus from the visitors; the latter twenty minutes belonged to the Hamlet. Kenny Beaney drifted in a deep cross to the back of the six yard box, Williams attempt to bundle the ball home at the far upright frustrated by Mullin. Beveney's strength dealt with his twin oppressors in Ryan Royston and Sam Tydeman but a blazing shot from all of 25 yards was mere millimetres shy of finding the top corner of the net. Stoppage time, already 10 minutes deep, was on the brink of exhaustion when Dulwich broke rapidly out of their own half from a Stones throw-in. The ball was wheedled out to Ahmad, replacing Musungu, hovering in the right channel. From an acute angle a ferocious strike but somehow Mullin produced a save of pure quality, flinging himself to his right to parry away the Hamlet man's goal bound bullet.

Frustration then for the Hamlet as the 2006-2007 season enters its final throes, the draw, though respectable sees them slip to fourth spot after Dartford drove yet another nail in the Corinthian-Casuals relegation coffin courtesy of a Jay May hat trick to leapfrog Dulwich into third spot. One week hence Dulwich will have the chance to reclaim that position when they travel to the Darts' new home at Prince's Park.

Elsewhere in Division One Dave Stevens popped up with an 83^rd minute equaliser to snatch a share of the points from second placed Hastings United, by turns denying the Sussex side the chance to join the Stones on 68 points and keeping a brief candle in the window of their own slim play-off hopes. Below Dulwich both Dover and Fleet managed victories to maintain the pressure, though Dover had an 87^th minute Byron Walker effort to thank for a narrow 2-1 victory over relegation-haunted Godalming Town whilst controversy over the sending off of Molesey 'keeper Chuck Martini marred Fleet's 3-1 victory at The Herds Renault Stadium. Of the other sides eyeing at seat on the post-season play-off merry-go-round, draws seemed the order of the day, Met Police ending 1-1 at Burgess Hill and Tooting seeing victory snatched away at the death as Kingstonian's Bobby Traynor made it 3-3 at Kingsmeadow in the dying seconds. Horsham YMCA's brief spurt in the mix seems to having spluttered to a halt as they followed up last Saturday's 0-1 defeat away to Maidstone with an identical single goal defeat by Croydon Athletic's youngster for whom Frankie Warren notched the winner in the 86^th minute. Late goals critical everywhere but the Hamlet where it was a late save that defined this pulsating game.