Hamlet's Nana Owusu was agonizingly close to breaking the deadlock as early as the 5th minute. The winger made a powerful run down the left, cut inside and accelerated into the box, before beating Gunners keeper Hubert Graczyk with a powerful drive that crashed against the crossbar. Salah Oulad M'Hand made Arsenal's first attempt at goal just a minute later with a 25 yard drive that was comfortably held at chest height by Charlie Grainger. There was little further goalmouth action until midway through the first half, when Arsenal created a flurry of chances. Charlie Patino unsettled Grainger with a powerful free kick from 30 yards that was pushed away as it dipped towards the foot of the post, and from the ensuing corner the ball was finally scrambled away after ricocheting around the crowded goalmouth. Hamlet were fortunate to survive unscathed after conceding possession cheaply at the back on more than one occasion. Firstly Gunners captain Matt Smith appeared to have given his team the lead with a measured shot aimed inside the far post but Ronnie Vint somehow hurled himself in front of the ball to block it when he could easily have helped it into his own net, then two minutes later Patino clipped the crossbar from 20 yards. The remaining significant chances before half time also fell to the visitors. M'Hand was off target with an acrobatic volley from a right wing cross, then a looping header hit the crossbar just before the interval.

Both teams emerged unchanged for the second half and it was the visitors who had the first chance when a quick break led to a last gasp goalline clearance. Hamlet rolled out a rapid sequence of seven substitutions in as many minutes from the hour mark, then Grainger had one final task in blocking a low cross-shot from Lino Sousa before making way for Joe Osaghae. Hamlet's fresh legs injected a greater attacking threat for the final twenty minutes and Matt Smith may have been feeling the heat as he reacted sluggishly to a pass. Kreshniq Krasniqi was quick off the mark to intercept and stride away beyond the halfway line before passing out to Traillist E on the left corner of the penalty area, who carried the ball into the box before shooting wide of the far post. Lively Gunners winger Joel Idaho gave Osaghae his first action, latching onto a through pass and forcing a save at the near post. Hamlet now began to look the likelier scorers. Triallist B curled a shot wide from 20 yards after good work from Jamie Splatt and Traillist A on the right flank, a Splatt cross was headed over the bar by Danny Mills, then Splatt had a 20 yard shot saved by Graczyk. Gunners substitute George Lewis had a shot blocked by Osaghae with his feet, then Hamlet retaliated with some great hold up play by Mills to release Traillist E for a shot that forced corner. Splatt's corner was headed over by Abubakari. Arsenal had one last opportunity to force a goal in the final minute, ratcheting up the pressure with patient passing around the fringe of the Hamlet area, but Lewis was unable to land the final blow with a wild shot that sailed into the car park.

TEAMS

Hamlet: 1 Charlie Grainger, 3 Will Wood, 6 Jack Holland (c), 7 Kalvin Kalala, 8 Frankie Raymond, 10 Sam Deadfield, 11 Nan Owusu, 15 Quade Taylor, 18 George Porter, 19 Dan Smith, 22 Ronnie Vint.

Substitutes: 5 Jamal Abubakari (for Vint 60), 9 Danny Mills (for Smith 60), 12 Triallist B (for Deadfield 60), 16 Andre Blackman (for Kalala 63), 21 Triallist E (for Owusu 63), 14 Kreshnic Krasniqi (for Porter 66), 20 Jamie Splatt (for Raymond 66), 13 Joe Osaghae (for Grainger 70), 17 Triallist A (for Wood 73).

Arsenal: 1 Hubert Graczyk, 2 James Sweet, 3 Lino Sousa, 4 Taylor Foran, 5 Zack Awe, 6 Matt Smith (c), 7 Jack Henry-Francis, 8 Charlie Patino, 9 Nathan Butler-Oyeoeji, 10 Salah Oulad M'Hand, 11 Joel Ideho.

Substitutes: 14 Charles Sagoe (for Sousa 76), 17 George Lewis (for M'Hand 76), 19 Tino Quamina (for Ideho 76). Not used: 12 Zane Monlouis, 13 James Hilson, 15 Khayon Edwards, 16 Billy Vigar, 18 Ben Cottrell.

Referee: Aji Ajibola. Assistants: Ian Bentley, Joe Dann-Pye. Fourth Official Val Anekwe.