Dulwich Hamlet 2 Leatherhead 2
Leatherhead set up an FA Cup replay against Isthmian League rivals Dulwich Hamlet
after a thoroughly entertaining 2-2 draw at the Champion Hill Stadium on Saturday.
Hamlet dominated a one-sided opening half but squandered several chances going
forward, including an early penalty miss, and only achieved a one-goal advantage at
half-time.
Tanners grew in confidence in the second half. Two goals from Seb Karczewski gave
the visitors an unlikely lead and put them to within touching distance of securing a
significant cup upset.
But Dulwich levelled late in the tie with a fine strike from Anthony Jeffrey to set up
an enticing replay at Fetcham Grove on Tuesday.
Hamlet started strongly and were awarded a penalty on ten minutes after
Leatherhead’s George Hedley tripped an advancing Jeffrey in the box.
Skipper Jerome Binnom-Williams stepped forward to take the spot-kick but struck his
effort well wide of the post without testing goalkeeper Sonny Wheeler.
As the half progressed, Dulwich continued to move the ball confidently around the
pitch as they sought ways to unlock the visitors’ defence.
James Collins won the ball off Tanners defender Niran Butler before forcing a save
from Wheeler and Luke Wanadio set up another good chance for Jeffrey from the
edge of the penalty area.
Hamlet’s persistence paid off with a fine goal from Binnom-Williams on 35 minutes.
The quick thinking Dulwich captain atoned for his earlier penalty miss, firing low
through a crowded box and into the corner of the net.
The hosts continued to press forward in the run up to half-time, with Jeffrey forcing a
good save from Wheeler and Wanadio hitting another effort just wide of the post.
But those missed chances could have proved costly for Hamlet in the second half, as
the visitors clicked into gear and levelled on 51 minutes following a mix up in the
Hamlet defence.
Goalkeeper Dillon Barnes and one of his defenders failed to deal with a long
Leatherhead delivery into the penalty area. Barnes tipped the ball against the crossbar
and an advancing Karczewski bundled the rebound over the line from close range.
In the following minutes Dulwich missed a number of good opportunities to restore
their lead.
Wanadio struck a probing diagonal delivery across the six yard box that went behind
for a goal kick, Danny Mills headed over another threatening delivery from Jeffrey
and Ralfi Hand outpaced his Leatherhead marker before firing wide.
But it was a route one clearance from the visitors on 68 minutes that stunned the
Dulwich contingent into silence, as the visitors grabbed an unexpected lead.
Karczewski latched onto the ball just inside Hamlet’s half and, with a terrific burst of
pace, the Leatherhead striker took it forward with a couple of touches before firing
past Barnes into the roof of the net.
Tanners had chances to extend their lead over the next ten minutes with further efforts
from Anuar Ceesay and Kane Fitzgerald testing the Dulwich defence.
But the hosts patiently worked their way back into the tie and drew level on 84
minutes with spectacular solo effort from Jeffrey. The winger brought the ball
forward unchallenged from the touchline before shooting past Wheeler from outside
the box.
Substitute Lorenzo missed a chance for Hamlet to win the tie in added time, firing
into the side netting from a tight angle.
The draw sets up an eagerly anticipated replay at Fetcham Grove on Tuesday with
Division One South Central Leatherhead relishing the chance to re-boot their poor
start to the season by achieving a major cup upset against Premier Division Dulwich.
Dulwich Hamlet: Dillon Barnes, Michael Chambers, Dami Taiwo-Pratt (Lorenzo 82),
Luke Wanadio, Sean Bonnett-Johnson, Anthony Jeffrey, George Porter (Stefan Ilic
70), Ross Marshall (Kreshnic Krasniqi 24), Ralfi Hand, Jerome Binnom-Williams,
James Collins (Danny Mills 53)
Leatherhead: Sonny Wheeler, Jude Jeffreys, Tom Unsworth (Alex MacAllister 76),
Alfie Huckle, Niran Butler, George Hedley, Tom Kavanah, Seb Karczewski (Trey
Masikini 74), Kane Fitzgerald, Anuar Ceesay, Kwesi Ntim (Deondre Date 60)