With Christmas but a few days away, Dulwich Hamlet romped to victory in appalling weather conditions away to Corinthian-Causals in the second round of the London Senior Cup. Highlight of an evening of great entertainment was a hat trick for Ryan Moss. Remarkably it was the first by a Dulwich Hamlet player in more than a century of gamed dating back to February 2014 when Erhun Öztümer netted a treble away to East Thurrock United in a Ryman League game. Although it rained incessantly throughout the 90 minutes with a cloudburst and raging gate making the rain almost vertical, the pitch stood up remarkably well as did the standard of football on show.

Dulwich Hamlet got off to a flying start as they opened the scoring after just four minutes. Matt Drage lofted in a long pass into the Corinthian-Casuals penalty area with Ryan Moss showing dogged persistence to net at the second time of asking after ‘keeper Danny Bracken had blocked his initial attempt. Bracken was to prove the busiest of the keepers but far, later denying Damian Scannell with an outstretched boot with Ryan Moss almost thwarted as his header was cleared off the goal line; Dulwich Hamlet enjoying much the lion’s share of the contest.

Josh Uzan and Matt Reece went close for the home side, as the Casuals began to wake to the threat of a landslide, but the hosts’ attacks were few and far between. It came as no surprise when Dulwich Hamlet doubled their lead eight minutes before the interval. Jordan Clarke slipped a short pass to Ryan Moss in the inside left channel, the striker firing a clinical shot into the roof of the net from 12 yards.

The second half had barely begun when Ryan Moss completed his hat trick. Less than three minutes played and the forward slotted the ball past Bracken from 15 yards after breaking free down the left. Jordan Brown suffered an injury that forced him off the field soon after and whilst Dulwich were a man shy in the ranks, the Casuals reduced the arrears with a goal that was a tad fortunate to say the least. 55 minute on the clock and, following Ben King’s corner, Joss Uzun’s wayward shot was defected in via Jack Dixon.

The Dulwich Hamlet midfielder almost made amends later on with a fine shot from the edge of the box that drew a full-length save from the diving Bracken. However, a fourth goal for the Hamlet was not long in coming. Ashley Carew, on for the injured Jordan Brown, put over a deep cross from the left flanks finding fellow substitute Albert Jarrett, who neatly chested the ball down before crafting an exquisite finish as he hammered a left footed volley past the powerless Bracken. That would be the extent of the scoring, though not of the opportunities as late on a stunning reflex save from Bracken was all that stood between Kevin James and number five, as his close-range header was beaten out.

The win ensued Dulwich Hamlet’s place in the last eight of the competition, with a home draw against either London Bari or AFC Wimbledon. The two teams were scheduled to meet at Kingsmeadow on Saturday 9th January but that game was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch and at the time of writing no replacement date has been confirmed.

Corinthian-Casuals: Danny Bracken; Warren Morgan (Emmanuel Akokhia HT); David Hodges; Danny Dudley; Terry Murray; Ben King; Cherno Mendy; Kevant Serbony; Matt Reece (Michael Salako 68); Josh Uzun (Ronnie Hawkins 80); Juevan Spencer
Subs not used: Brandon Johnson; Reece Coleman

Dulwich Hamlet: Oshane Brown; Mitchell Nelson; Jordan Brown (Ashley Carew 55); Danny Waldren; Matt Drage; Ethan Pinnock; Damian Scannell; Jack Dixon; Ryan Moss (Albert Jarrett 65); Jordan Clarke (Kevin James 65); Jordan Hibbert
Subs not used: Nyren Clunis; Phil Wilson

Goals:
Corinthian-Casuals: Jack Dixon (og 54)
Dulwich Hamlet: Ryan Moss (4, 37, 46); Albert Jarrett (69)

Attendance: 130