Dulwich Hamlet 1-1 Maidstone United - There's going to be a lot more twists and turns - Jay Saunders

DULWICH HAMLET 1-1 MAIDSTONE UNITED
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 26^th March 2013
Stephen McCartney reports from Champion Hill Stadium

MAIDSTONE UNITED manager Jay Saunders and his Dulwich Hamlet counterpart Gavin Rose both admitted that there will be plenty more twists and turns before the Ryman League Division One South title race is settled next month.

The Stones arrived at Champion Hill Stadium sitting proudly at the top of the table on 72 points from 34 games, three points clear of Dulwich Hamlet, who have a game in hand, but Maidstone United enjoy the cushion of a plus ten goal difference between the two clubs.

Dulwich Hamlet’s largest crowd of the season were treated to a pulsating top-of-the-table clash.

Dulwich Hamlet drew first blood by taking the lead with only 168 seconds on the clock, when winger Nyren Clunis scored with an excellent right-footed volley for his thirteenth goal of the season.

Chances came and went in an end-to-end scintillating opening half and Dulwich Hamlet squandered an excellent chance to double their lead when striker Daniel Carr was denied by a fine penalty save from Maidstone United stopper Deren Ibrahim five minutes before the break.

But Maidstone United deservedly equalised with nine minutes remaining when striker Ade Olorunda bundled home his thirteenth goal of the season, following a mistake from injured goalkeeper Phil Wilson, who was taken to hospital with a shoulder injury after the game.

”To be honest, I’m a bit disappointed we haven’t won the game,” said Saunders afterwards.

”I know Del’s saved the penalty and they’ve had a few chances here and there but I think the majority of the game we’ve had the better chances.

”Even though we went 1-0 down to a great strike, to be fair to the lad, in the first couple of minutes, it’s a great finish, but after that we’ve had some great chances.

”It’s one of those nights when you think is it going to go in for us? But one thing I give my boys’ credit for, they’ve worked their absolute nuts off tonight and got what they deserved.”

Dulwich Hamlet have won thirteen, drawn two and lost one of their sixteen home league games this season and Rose was disappointed that his side didn’t hold on to a morale boosting victory.

”I thought it was the right result,” said Rose.

”Obviously going 1-0 up and holding the lead for so long, you obviously have mixed emotions because you think that you’re close to winning the game.

”We missed a penalty and had a few other opportunities to extend the lead.  In fairness I thought Maidstone looked dangerous as well going forward. 

”Overall I thought it might’ve been a fair result.  With us winning 1-0 and missing a penalty and missing a few good chances as well it doesn’t feel great now. Overall I thought it was a fair result.”

The game got off to a cracking start, with Dulwich Hamlet opening the scoring with their first attempt on goal.

Turkish midfield magician, Erhun Oztumer, played a diagonal ball across the face of the penalty area and Clunis cracked a right-footed curling volley from sixteen-yards, which dipped over the diving Ibrahim and crashed into the top left-hand corner.

”He scored another good one (in our 3-0 home win over Whitstable Town) on Saturday,” said Rose.

”It’s probably better than that one on Saturday!

”He’s in good form. He’s been a consistent performer in the last two or three years now, so he’s done really well. He’s a credit to himself and the club.”

Rose added: “The early goal calmed the nerves a little bit and put them on the back foot so it was positive for us.

”I thought we should’ve capitalised on that a little bit more. We sort of sat back and invited them back into the game a little bit, but every time we went forward we looked like we could cause problems, but our decision making wasn’t so good on the night.”

Saunders added: “I said to them (my players) they start well and you can’t knock them. That’s a hell of a finish and you have to clap your hands! It’s a hell of a strike from the lad.

”We just switched off. (Tom Mills) just tried to push up on five and the ball’s dropped nicely for him. It’s one of them. He either hits it in the stand or he finishes it! It’s a great strike!”

That strike set the tone for an excellent evening of high-quality football, watched by two sets of vocal supporters.

Maidstone United’s opening chance arrived in the sixth minute when Rory Hill whipped in a cross from the right and Alex Flisher’s downward header was blocked.

Their next effort was better.  Hill’s pass forward released Flisher, who won a foot race against Dulwich Hamlet right-back Luke Hickie before his left-footed shot on the turn from seventeen-yards was comfortably saved low down by giant keeper Wilson.

The versatile Tim Olorunda won possession in the middle of the park before he released Flisher through on goal but the long-throw specialist flashed his left-footed drive harmlessly wide of the right-hand post from 20-yards.

Maidstone United went close in the 20^th minute when Michael Phillips floated in a free-kick towards the far post but Ade Olorunda powered his header agonisingly wide of the far post from a tight angle.

Former Maidstone United winger Ellis Green cut in from the left before delivering a low centre into the Maidstone United box but Clunis stabbed his first time shot wide of the near post with his right-foot whilst under pressure from eight-yards.

Maidstone United’s next chance almost mirrored Dulwich Hamlet’s goal when Ian Draycott’s hooked pass gave Flisher an opening from sixteen-yards, but his left-footed volley sailed into Wilson’s grateful arms.

A low cross from Dulwich Hamlet right-back Ryan James carved open a chance for Oztumer, whose left-footed shot on the turn deflected wide beyond Ibrahim’s dive.

Ibrahim produced an excellent save to thwart Dulwich Hamlet a second goal in the 31^st minute.

Ryan James whipped in a cross from the left which was headed away by central defender Jerrome Sobers and the ball dropped at Lewis Gonsalves’ feet, who struck a low left-footed volley from 12-yards, which screamed through a crowd of players and Ibrahim had to be at his best to get swiftly down to his right to make a fine block.

Ibrahim repeated his supremacy after Dulwich Hamlet were awarded a penalty after referee Andy Laver adjudged Ade Olorunda to have caught Clunis as he was about to shoot following Oztumer’s corner from the right.

Twenty-two goal striker Carr stepped up and struck a powerfully hit right-footed penalty towards the left-hand corner, but Ibrahim dived full-length to his right to make a brilliant block.

Saunders said: “To be honest I didn’t see what happened. I asked at half-time what happened and I think Ade’s just had a swing at him and he’s caught the fella. It’s one of them. I didn’t actually see it but he’s given the penalty, so it’s a penalty.”

Reflecting on the save, Saunders said: “It was a good height but he’s gone the right way. At the end of the day the fella struck it well. It’s going in the corner but it was a nice height but I’ll take nothing away from Deren. It’s a big save for us.

”They go in 2-0 and on the front foot; it’s a different game.  All the time Del saves that it keeps us in the game.”

Rose said: “Good save from the keeper.  I don’t want to look back on negative things. The boy stepped up. He was brave. He took the penalty and some days he scores loads of penalties for us. Some days it goes well, other days it doesn’t.”

Maidstone United should have punished their profligate hosts when Ade Olorunda reached the by-line before cutting the ball back to Ian Draycott, who scuffed his shot to allow Wilson to comfortably save low to his left.

Phillips then played the ball into Ade Olorunda’s feet on the edge of the box, who turned and lashed an angled left-footed drive which screamed past the far post.

Both managers were asked what they said during the half-time interval.

”Just keep going,” said Saunders.  “I said to them, if you keep going there’s chances in this game and if you get one, I fancied to get another one. To be fair we did get one and at the end we looked the team that might go on and win it – but it wasn’t to be.”

Rose added: “At half-time I just wanted us to be a bit more positive and be more braver on the ball.”
 
Saunders was forced to make changes to his team after central defender Steve Watt was forced off through a calf injury. Later on in the second half, Tim Olorunda was forced off with a turned ankle and Hill was withdrawn with a calf strain too.

Saunders said: ”Steve Watt was willing to give it a go, but I’m not willing at this stage of the season to chance it so we brought him off.  He’s gone up for the last header of the half and just felt his calf.

”There were a lot of changes.  In the end we’ve had to change a lot of people. I’m thinking we’re running out of subs!”
 
Unfortunately, the second half wasn’t as exciting as the first half, but chances were still created.

Fans had to wait until just past the hour mark when Phillips cut a short corner to Hill, whose right-footed angled drive from outside the Dulwich Hamlet penalty area was tipped over the bar by Wilson, high to his left.

Hill then turned provider for Draycott, who dragged his left-footed shot wide from 22-yards.

Wilson had to make a brave low save to deny Hill finishing off a sublime defence splitting through ball from midfield from Maidstone United substitute Alex Brown.

Dulwich Hamlet forced their way back into the game and Kevin James curled his right-footed free-kick over the five-man wall and just wide of the left-hand post from 22-yards.

Green then rode Sobers’ challenge down the left to reach the by-line before whipping in a cross towards the far post for Clunis to loop his shot over the bar from three-yards out.

Rose explained he was forced to take goalscorer Clunis off the pitch through a troublesome groin injury, with thirteen minutes remaining.

”He’s played near enough every minute of the season this year,” explained Rose.

”Nyren is a very honest person. He works really hard for the team but we have to look after him as well or he won’t finish the season. He went out there, he worked as hard as he could. We took him off because he’s carrying a little groin injury at the moment.”

Dulwich Hamlet were denied by yet another fine save from Ibrahim.

Oztumer’s left-footed pass released Carr, who burst into the box and his right-footed shot deflected of the advancing goalkeeper’s legs and rolled out for a corner.

Ade Olorunda issued the home side a warning when he cut into the penalty area and his left-footed curler took a deflection on it’s way out for a corner.

But the league leaders deservedly equalised with nine minutes remaining to the delight of their large number of vocal traveling fans.

The move started from right-back Tommy Osborne who played the ball into substitute Paul Booth (who is now back at Maidstone United after a successful loan spell at Cray Wanderers) who played his former Lewes team-mate Draycott in behind the defence.

Draycott produced a left-footed drive from a tight angle, which was spilt by the diving Wilson and the ball rolled across the face of goal for Ade Olorunda to stab the ball over the line from four-yards out.

Saunders said: “It looks scrappy!  He said there was a bobble on the pitch and he had to keep an eye on it!

”I’m pleased for him. He’s worked hard up there. He’s caused their back two problems and I’m pleased for him to get a goal. He’s working hard and he’s scoring goals. I’m pleased for the lad.”

Rose added: “I thought we defended the goal badly from the start of the move all the way back in their half. We let them get out too easy. They went down our left hand side and I still don’t think we defended too well on the edge of the box. The ball’s gone across and unfortunately Phil’s sustained quite a bad injury to affect the cross-shot and was unable to hold it and at that time I think he sustained his injury.

”He’s gone off to A&E now and we’re hoping it’s not too bad.  He’s been excellent for us this year and we’ll know a little bit more tomorrow.”

Maidstone United pressed for a winner but Booth headed Phillips’ free-kick into the side netting and Ade Olorunda steered his shot just past the left-hand post from 20-yards.

Reflecting on the game, the Dulwich Hamlet boss said: “Yes, it was good. Two teams at the top off the league, both trying to win the game, both going for it and there were loads of people coming to watch the game. I think in fairness they can say they saw an entertaining game with two teams trying to win the game in a positive manner.”

Rose added: “In my view we weren’t playing to our strengths enough. We weren’t sticking to our beliefs enough and I felt the first 20-25 minutes of the second half we were playing a lot more like ourselves today and we caused them more problems.

”The last 20 minutes, again, the balance shifted with them going for broke and we had to try to get back into the game.”

Saunders added: “Overall, if you look at the penalty, Del’s pulled off a great save from the penalty and they’ve had some chances, but as I say we’ve had some chances. On another day, we would’ve taken them!

”To be fair to them, on the break they’re hell of a side. They’ve got a lot of pace in attack and a lot of good players and they were a threat every time they broke.”

Both managers were asked about the title race following tonight’s draw.

The Stones hold the physiological after tonight and have seven league games left to play, starting with a trip to Bourne Park to face former landlords Sittingbourne on Easter Saturday and playing Ramsgate at home on Easter Monday.

They finish their campaign against Three Bridges (home), Faversham Town (home), Walton Casuals (away), Chipstead (away) and Horsham (home).

Dulwich Hamlet, meanwhile, have eight league games remaining, and travel to Maidstone United to play this season’s Ryman League Cup Final against Concord Rangers on 9 April.

The Hamlet travel to bitter-rivals Tooting & Mitcham United on Easter Saturday, before playing Chipstead at Champion Hill on Easter Monday.

They finish their campaign against Faversham Town (away), Walton Casuals (home), Leatherhead (away), Herne Bay (away), Crawley Down Gatwick (home) and Burgess Hill Town (home).

Saunders said: “I’m not going to be happy because I wanted the three points but there’s a long way to go. There’s going to be a lot more twists and turns. I suppose at 1-0 down at half-time if you said to me one-all, I’d take it all day long, so I’m probably the happier manager because I know how Gavin’s feeling, when you’re 1-0 up you always think you should see the game out.

”There’s lots of twists and turns and we now have to focus on Saturday when we’ve got Sittingbourne away.”

Rose is desperate not to suffer play-off heartbreak for the third year running and will push Maidstone United all the way for the title.

Rose said: ”We’ve been unfortunate enough to be in this position now for the last few years so we know now at this stage of the season lots of things may happen – lot’s of twists and turns.

”Results don’t always go down to form because at this stage of the year because there’s a lot at stake. People are sometimes nervous on both sides and they don’t always perform to the highest level.

”Also you’re playing against teams who are fighting for their lives in relegation battles and they sometimes produce performances you probably wouldn’t have predicted, so the last 8-9 games are going to be tough for both sides and probably a few twists and turns along the way as well.”

Rose insisted: “We never set out to be in the play-offs. I don’t think any team should set out to be in the play-offs!  We set out to try to win the league. 

”I’m very proud of what we’ve done so far in terms of the players. They’ve been a credit to themselves and the club. 

”We’ve still got a job to do with 8-9 games left. Hopefully we can finish it off possibly to win it but if we don’t then the next step are the play-offs.  I think if we’re consistent until the end of the season you want to finish the season in good form. Just if you do end up in the play-offs you want to finish it in good form just so you go in with the right momentum.

”Our first important call is to try to win the league, of course.”

Dulwich Hamlet:  Phil Wilson, Luke Hickie, Ryan James (Ahmed Deen 46), Xavier Vidal, Peter Adeniyi, Lewis Gonsalves, Nyren Clunis (Connor French 77), Kevin James, Daniel Carr, Erhun Oztumer, Ellis Green.
Subs: Abdul Mansaray, Josh Turner, Junior Kadi

Goal: Nyrun Clunis 3

Booked:  Ellis Green 36, Ryan James 45

Maidstone United: Deren Ibrahim, Tommy Osborne, Tom Mills, Steve Watt (Danny Lye 46), Jerrome Sobers, Tim Olorunda (Alex Brown 59), Rory Hill (Paul Booth 69), Michael Phillips, Ade Olorunda, Ian Draycott, Alex Flisher.
Subs: Shaun Welford, Stuart King

Goal:  Ade Olorunda 81

Booked:  Steve Watt 16, Tim Olorunda 45

Attendance: 1,073
Referee: Mr Andy Laver (Portsmouth, Hampshire)
Assistants: Mr Roger Wells (Coulsdon, Surrey) & Mr Jamaal Horne (Thornton Heath, Surrey)