Men First XI - Match center

Hemel Hempstead Town
Dulwich Hamlet
Sat 8 Dec 15:00 - The Vanarama National League - Vanarama National League South Full time Attendance 494

Hamlet slip to fourth straight loss

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A stunning free kick saw Dulwich leave Hemel Hempstead with no points despite dominating possession.

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The Hamlet suffered a fourth consecutive league defeat as they again failed to take their chances and gave away a preventable goal .

Playing with a strong wind at their backs, the home side opened brightly and Knowles had a first minute effort deflected wide. However, The Hamlet's neat passing allowed them to move the ball forward despite the elements against them. From one such swift break Iffy Allen was brought down to the left of the penalty area in the 9th minute but Ashley Carew wasted the free kick.

Hemel had the next chance as Carew gave the ball away in midfield and Cawley found Knowles. His cross was deflected high into the air, Preston Edwards' punch didn't travel much distance and Cawley's follow up was deflected wide. The same player also had a free kick that he struck straight into the wall.

For The Hamlet, Sanchez Ming and Nathan Green started to get forward with good effect and should have taken the lead in the 21st minute, this time Green got away down the left and delivered a low cross that Walker could only get a slight touch to, but with the goal open Sanchez Ming overran the ball and couldn't turn it home.

From another swift attack, Ming forced Walker to get down at his near post as he tried to sneak a low cross inside it but Cotter reminded them that the home side were still dangerous with a shot from distance.

However, Dulwich had control of the game as half time approached and Clunis saw his 20 yard effort tipped over by Walker in the 39th minute. From the corner, Dulwich worked a short corner routine that works on a regular basis but somehow never leads to a goal. Needless to see it, as usual, saw the ball flash across the six yard box with no Dulwich player able to anticipate it may actually work. Instead, Kpohomouh came close to turning it into his own net.

With half time beckoning Dulwich gave away what turned out to be the winning goal. Ashley Carew gave away the ball by unnecessarily turning into trouble in midfield and a swift attack meant that Dominic Vose felt compelled to halt it with a foul for which he was booked.

Parkes stepped up a hit a thunderous, rising, wind assisted effort that beat Preston Edwards high to his right hand side.

With the elements to be against them after half time this gave the home side something to hold on to and would dictate their approach to the rest of the game.

Half Time 1-0

Nathan Ferguson replaced Carew for the second half and the game took place almost exclusively in the home side's half as they set up to defend what they held. The Hamlet subsequently failed to either pick passes that got them in behind the defence or take a gamble and follow in shots from distance.

The half started as if they would do both the above. Gavin Tomlin took aim from distance and forced Walker to save low to his left at the expense of a corner. From the resulting corner, Nathan Green saw his header cleared off the line. Dominic Vose then saw a cross tipped over by the back-peddling Walker.

However, Dulwich lacked the guile to really trouble the home defence as Hemel were more than happy to hold what they had and broke up play effectively to ensure that the defence was rarely exposed and that they did not commit any players forward, leaving Cawley to try to hold up the ball if and when it came forward.

The Hamlet's passing was neither crisp or accurate enough to break down the defence and there was no physical presence when the ball did come into the box, As a result, there was little goal threat.cross flashed across the six yard box with no Dulwich player even getting close, whislt a scramble in the box saw Michael Chambers waste a headed chance and then see an effort deflected wide.

In truth, the quality of The Hamlet's play meant the home side were largely comfortable. and so after further poor crosses, wasted set pieces and the inability to just take a chance by shooting from distance, the home side could celebrate their win.

Final Score 1-0

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