History repeats itself as Dulwich downed by Cray Valley Paper Mills

There was an uncanny echo of the London Senior Cup semi final as Cray Valley repeated their 3-2 victory against a Dulwich Hamlet squad XI

There was a familiar ring to the scoreline at the Badgers Sports Ground as a Dulwich Hamlet squad team went down by the odd goal in five to the London Senior Cup champions in an uncanny echo of their defeat in the semi-final of that competition last season.

The summer has brought some new faces to the Millers personnel with a familiar face to Dulwich Hamlet fans of certain vintage with Russell Bedford wearing the skipper’s armband for the hosts. Meanwhile the Hamlet might have contained a few familiar names with Gavin Tomlin and Dumebi Dumaka playing a half each. Jamie Mascoll, Quade Taylor, Harly Wise and Mohamed Mohamed also made appearances, and there was even an appearance for Assistant Manager, Junior Kadi. However, the bulk of the squad was drawn from trialists.

The early threat came from the Hamlet but this was swiftly broken up by the hosts who created opportunities of their own only to see efforts from Danny Smith and Scott Reilly comfortably saved by Ferdinand De Sena in the Dulwich goal. On the quarter hour came the first chance for the Hamlet as Gavin Tomlin chipped a good chance wide of the target. However, it was a different story six minutes later as Gavin Tomlin was once more in the right place and this time he made no mistake as, with a composed finish, he slipped the ball under the advancing Luke Colquhoun. Late on in the half, there came an opening for Cray Valley but Ferdinand De Sena proved alert to the danger just getting out to the ball ahead of the threatening Denzel Gayle. Come the half time whistle Dulwich had proved good value for their single goal advantage but the Millers remained a threat and the second half would see that threat become concrete.

Four minutes into the second half and Gayle was once more the man on the mark, Ferdinand De Sena unable to thwart him this time as the winger jinked into the box before slotting past the Hamlet ‘keeper. On the hour mark the hosts added a second with an absolute screamer of a goal as Danny Smith let fly from fully 30 yards out, his strike fizzing into the net as Ferdinand De Sena had no answer to an Exocet drive. The hosts were buzzing now and it took just another six minutes for them to extend their lead to 3-1. 67 minutes on the clock and a quick freekick saw the industrious Gayle tee up Jordan Sandiford with a low cross in from the left, the substitute finishing with aplomb from the edge of the six-yard box. Barely two minutes had passed when a foul in the penalty area gave Dulwich an opportunity to narrow the gap, Junior Kadi rolling back the years as he tucked away the spot kick. Now the dial was turned up to 11 as Hamlet marauded forward in search of a leveller. The Pink pressure continued to be piled on as the minutes ticked away but the Millers remained resolute to the last man, hanging on as Dulwich monopolised possession but ultimately without reward as the final whistle blew maintaining the Millers’ recent Indian Sign over the Hamlet.

Teams:
CVPM:
Starting XI: Luke Colquhoun; Adam Cooper; Danny Smith; Laurence Collins; Taylor McDonagh; Joe Matthews; Russell Bedford; Jamie Miller; Scott Riley; Aaron Rhule; Denzel Gayle
Subs named: Fabrice Blawordah; Tony Coxall (GK); Josh James; Alex Nelson; Sam Bailey; Jordan Sandiford

DHFC:
Starting XI: Ferdinand De Sena; Quade Taylor; Jamie Mascoll; Mohamed Mohamed; Harly Wise; Willys Ballende; Bruno Baelo; Gustavo Ferraz; Gavin Tomlin; Caio Guimares; Liam Vandiar
Subs named: Dumebi Dumaka; Kiki Oshilaja; Lekan Osideko; Saido Jarju; Vincius Brito; Junior Kadi