The Spring Round Robin rolls onward, and this week, Dulwich Hamlet faced old foes Eastbourne Town. Dulwich have prior heat with their coastal rivals; star striker Sophie ‘Banzi’ Manzi picked up her nickname after an exchange with Eastbourne that landed her with a red card and a three match suspension. This weekend’s match kept the intensity ramped to 11, but thankfully a barrage of goals replaced the hostilities of their last meeting.

Eastbourne looked to press from the beginning, seeking chances around the edges of the box, exploring the right wing for vulnerabilities. Dulwich had similar ideas, with Eman Kassem racing into the box in search of an opening in the opening minutes. Denied by Eastbourne, the baton passed to Manzi; her shot from further back was met by keeper Elleah Fenner. Dulwich looked comfortable, until a shock 12th minute goal from Eastbourne caught them completely offguard. Ella Newman darted into a low-key bit of play on the right hand side, redirected the ball and fired it breezily from the corner of the 18 yard box over Mia North’s head.

Dulwich dusted themselves off, started to build some rhythm in the midfield, and Sas Philp saw a gorgeous chance to equalise, with a clear run toward goal – the strike was solid but the keeper was ready and caught it above her head. Kassem and Madi Parsonson went to work carving out options from the right wing, and Steph Addison was nimble around Eastbourne’s defenders, but the visitors’ defensive wall along the edge of the box stopped anything getting through. Upfront, Newman and Shawna Harvey were a constant threat, and Dulwich looked to go into half time on the back foot. Hamlet captain Zoe Elmore tried a different approach, attempting a worldie from far back in midfield. Eastbourne retaliated with a long, low run through the middle, but North was ready and waiting, and collected the ball easily.

Dulwich came back from the break in determined form, with a round of subs providing fresh legs. Jordan Williamson wasted no time, taking a chance on a shot straight away that slammed into the side netting. Ella Wales-Bonner took up the challenge, and in what’s becoming a signature move, looked for a crafty route straight through the middle. No joy on the first attempt, but when the ball found her 20 yards in front of goal, Wales-Bonner arched it cleanly into the back of the net for a flamboyant 53rd minute equaliser, and Lucy Monkman, Michaella Williams and Daniella Tyson, off the pitch and moonlighting as commentators, launched into riotous song in the press box.

With a fire lit under them, the Hamlet gathered pace. A neat 61st minute cross from Rosie Stone set new girl Mia Cruickshank up and she seized the day, scoring a beauty of a goal – her first for the club – from the corner of the 18 yard box to hand Dulwich the lead. Brit Saylor took up the challenge and went after her own worldie – and found heartbreak instead as her near-perfect shot smacked off the bar instead.

Eastbourne, briefly shaken by the rush of flair from Dulwich, shook themselves and refocused. Cruickshank launched herself into a long run down the wing, but the Eastbourne defence shut her down. Minnie Cruttwell, debuting for the Hamlet, went in for a chance that was flicked away by Fenner. The pressure bore down on Eastbourne, as Wales-Bonner chased a second goal, but her shot cleared the bar. Their fortunes changed in the 77th minute, as Newman found a world of open space on the left and made the most of it. North anticipated her route and flew off her line to meet her, but the ball was past her and Eastbourne were back in the game.

Emboldened, the visitors doubled down on the attack. As the rain started to flood down, Newman found her way through Dulwich’s spread-out defence and claimed her hat-trick. At 79 minutes, Dulwich found themselves on the back foot again, with ten minutes to bring it back. The intensity ramped up with the weather, with players sliding all over the pitch, and tired legs and desperation eating away at the hosts. Dulwich looked for a way home, with Parsonson, Saylor and Wales-Bonner trying to create some magic in midfield. The answer came from Cruickshank – marking her second game with her second goal, she pierced the centre of the box with a game-saving goal in the 83rd to make it 3-3.

Could either team tip the balance? Dulwich showed more urgency, with Rosie Stone curling a free kick around the wall only to see it wither in a tangle of players in front of the box. Fenner made two more frantic saves for Eastbourne, thwarting Dulwich’s attempts to find the decider. The final opportunity was Sarah Milner’s, trying for a header off Cruickshank’s free kick, but she couldn’t quite reach it. Both teams were out of time and chances, and finished the game on a hard-fought 3-3 draw.

In a thrilling second half, these two closely matched teams fought fiercely for dominance. It’s particularly encouraging to see the younger talent staking their claim at the Hamlet. While there's room to improve on communication and organisation, and plug the holes that gift openings to opponents, it’s clear that the new crop of players have the talent and drive to maintain and build on this team’s fine reputation.

Dulwich next meet Ashford at home on Sunday 23rd May.

Attendance: Behind closed doors

Dulwich Hamlet:
1 Mia North; 2 Madi Parsonson; 3 Mia Cruickshank; 4 Steph Addison; 6 Sarah Walters; 7 Sas Philp; 9 Sophie Manzi; 11 Zoe Elmore (capt); 13 Ceylon Hickman; 15 Hannah Baptiste; 18 Eman Kassem;
Subs: 5 Rosie Stone; 8 Brit Saylor (capt); 16 Ella Wales-Bonner; 17 Sarah Milner; 19 Jordan Williamson; 12 Minnie Cruttwell

Eastbourne Town:
1 Elleah Fenner; 3 Lucy Fletcher (captain); 5 Kellie Larkin; 5 Charlotte Greenlees; 7 Nicole Baitup; 8 Georgia Sandell; 10 Ella Newman; 12 Shawna Harvey; 15 Sophie Isted; 16 Izzy Burt; 17 Faye Hannaford
Subs: 18 Amelia Chalmers; 19 Maya Beesley; 20 Lucia Law

Photo: Liam Asman