Holmesdale 1-2 Dulwich Hamlet - Lots of positives to take out of the game, says Ross Mitchell

HOLMESDALE  1-2  DULWICH HAMLET
Pre-Season Friendly
Wednesday 25^th July 2012
Stephen McCartney reports from Oakley Road

HOLMESDALE coach Ross Mitchell says his side are finishing their pre-season campaign in a positive frame of mind ahead of their Kent League opener away to Deal Town in ten days’ time.

The Bromley based club, who finished in the bottom four last season, lost their penultimate pre-season friendly to Dulwich Hamlet, who sent an eye-pleasing side to Oakley Road.

Dulwich Hamlet, who suffered a heartbreaking Ryman League Division One South play-off final defeat at the hands of Whitehawk at the end of last season, sent a fast, attacking side to face Holmesdale and they came away with their first win of their pre-season campaign, courtesy of first half goals from Dominic Weston and Eku Deen.

Dulwich Hamlet’s Academy goalkeeper, Paul Idem, gifted Holmesdale their only goal of the game on the stroke of half-time, scored by midfielder Jack Highwood.

Mitchell said: “Really good work-out. They’re a really good footballing side. They kept the ball really well, but we sort of grew into the game as it went forward. It’s better than running at training so they got a good work-out.

“Lots of positives to take out of the game.  Lots of positives to take out of pre-season. It’s been a really good pre-season.  The management team have done well to assemble a stronger squad than what we had last year.  We’re definitely tighter at the back and we’ve added one or two good additions to the squad so we’re really pleased with the way things have gone.

“Results do matter in pre-season because it helps the momentum but we’ve not been smashed six or seven nil by any decent team.” 

Holmesdale created the first chance of the game, inside the opening five minutes, when Rob Wells delivered a free-kick from the right channel, but lone target-man, Steven Strotten, glanced his header into Idem’s gloves.

The visiting goalkeeper bravely smothered the ball off Highwood inside the penalty area after the midfielder latched onto Strotten’s through ball after Ricky Spain played the ball inside from the right flank.

But Dulwich Hamlet, who were wearing an unfamiliar white and black strip, broke the deadlock after 20 minutes and midfield play-maker Junior Kadi played a key-role.

Kadi played the ball over the top of the Holmesdale defence and Spain initially made the tackle on Deen on the edge of the penalty area, but the winger played the ball inside to the unmarked Weston, who swept a right-footed shot past Jamie Williams to score from 12-yards.

Mitchell said: “I think we switched off at the back, probably the only time we did and they capitalised on it. A good goal, well worked goal from them.”

Spain, a central midfielder turned emergency right-back, performed well, especially during the first half when he ventured forward and his fine diagonal pass gave Strotten a chance, but the big striker steered a left-footed shot into the side netting from a tight angle.

Mitchell was full of praise for Spain, saying, “I wasn’t here for the first two weeks of pre-season but from what I’ve seen and what I’ve been told, Spaino’s been brilliant!  He’s played where we’ve put him.  He’s natural on the ball. He can play football. He’s an intelligent footballer and he’s done really well so I’m really pleased with how he’s got on this pre-season.”

Dulwich Hamlet effectively won the game in the 33^rd minute, and Kadi was involved once again.

Kadi’s ball over the top – in between right-back Mitesh Koria and central defender Aaron Hamilton – was latched onto by Deen and the attacker picked his spot, sweeping a right-footed shot across a static Williams to find the bottom far corner.

Mitchell, a goalkeeper coach, wasn’t best pleased with the clincher.

He said: “I think Jamie knows he could have done better with it, but he done what he had to do for the rest of the game. That’s part and parcel of being a goalkeeper.  You all make mistakes but you can’t let it affect you.

“Jamie has done well for us for the rest of the games. He just made one mistake but he doesn’t need me to tell him that. He knows that himself.”

If the Holmesdale keeper was to be blamed for Dulwich Hamlet’s second goal, visiting keeper Idem made a blunder to gift Holmesdale a lifeline just before the interval.

Koria did well to stop Dulwich Hamlet winger Taylor Thomas in his tracks and fed the ball to winger Francis Tshikaya, who ignored Koria just inches away to him on his left as the full-back hugged the touchline. 

Tshikaya played the ball inside to Highwood and the former Corinthian player took a touch before cracking a speculative right-footed drive from 35-yards.  The ball bounced off the much-improved playing surface and Idem dived to his left but inexplicably allowed the ball to go underneath him and the ball nestled into the bottom right-hand corner.

Mitchell said: “I think Jack done really well tonight. He worked his socks off. He actually got taken off, which he was disappointed with but he worked his socks off and he got his reward with a goal.

“Jack’s got better and better as the season’s gone on really.”

Just one substitution was made at the interval – Tom Bradshaw came on for Highwood – and Holmesdale’s burly striker Strotten called Idem into action early in the second half.

Strotten stroked a right-footed free-kick over the four man wall from 28-yards and the visiting keeper saved low to his left at the second attempt.

Mitchell said: “He does well Strotts.  He’s done well all last season. He’s been really good to have around. The goals haven’t come in pre-season for him, but one thing for sure he will score goals and he’s a big part of our side, but not one single player makes a team. Everyone has got to chip in as well. We can’t just rely on him.”

Dulwich Hamlet player-manager, Gavin Rose, who was playing at right-back, could have scored in the 55^th minute when his right-footed volley looped over the crossbar after Kadi played a free-kick in from the right flank.

Then, a move involving Todd Whittle and Kadi resulted in Xavier Vidal leaning back on his shot and seeing his left-footed shot sail over the Holmesdale crossbar.

Holmesdale came agonisingly close to clawing themselves back into the game on the hour-mark, but Strotten’s right-footed angled drive, hit on the half-volley from 25-yards, flashed across Idem and narrowly passed the far post.

And the Kent League side wasted an excellent chance to equalise inside the final ten minutes.

Wells’ free-kick from midfield was knocked down by a Dulwich Hamlet defender and Strotten’s right-footed shot from penalty spot distance brought a comfortable low save from Idem.

Dulwich Hamlet created a couple of late chances to score a flattering third. 

Substitute Emmanuel Stevens hit a right-footed volley, which was cleared off the line by Holmesdale substitute defender Scott Lewis.

And then Terence Carter – who switched to striker after Kershaney Samuels came off the bench to slot in at left-back – should have scored at the death.

Carter beat the offside  trap as a ball was played over the top of the two Holmesdale central defenders and as Williams advanced outside his penalty area, Carter sent a left-footed chip sailing over the keeper’s head and he looked on in shock as the ball bounced down off the crossbar of an empty goal and Lewis was first to react to hook the ball clear.

Holmesdale play their last pre-season warm-up on Saturday when Southern Amateur League neighbours West Wickham visit Oakley Road.

Mitchell said: “We go into our last pre-season on Saturday with everyone positive.

“West Wickham will bring a good crowd with them. That will be a good attraction as well and they will also give us a really good game.

“They’re not an easy side. They’ll be a good side and it’s our last pre-season going into the last week before the season kicks-off and work on things in training.”

Holmesdale: Jamie Williams, Mitesh Koria (Billy Warner 46), Ricky Spain, Jack Highwood (Tom Bradshaw 46), Aaron Hamilton, Lyndsay Prescott-Kerr, Francis Tshikaya, Perry Rembarren (Airlee Desages 68), Chris Steadman (Scott Lewis 72), Steven Strotten, Rob Wells.

Goal:   Jack Highwood 44

Dulwich Hamlet: Paul Idem, Gavin Rose (Abdul Kanu 76), Terence Carter, Junior Kadi, Josh Turner, Ethan Pinnock, Taylor Thomas, Xavier Vidal, Dominic Weston (Kershaney Samuels 52), Todd Whittle (Carl Wilson-Denis 63), Eku Deen (Emmanuel Stevens 68).

Goals: Dominic Weston 20, Eku Deen 33

Attendance: 45
Referee: Mr Saul Kay (Sittingbourne)
Assistants: Mr Ryan Whitaker (Bexleyheath) & Mr Damon Colvin (Bromley)