No disgrace in defeat!

Saturday 28th March 2009
"The Rabblers" 2,
Hayes Lane Ultras (Bromley supporters') 5
at Belair Park, West Dulwich
IFA League match.

Despite yet another defeat "The Rabblers" aquitted theselves well against a visiting Bromley side with some very talented players, the main two protagonists clearly being above the usual standard of opposition we come up against in supporters' games.

Beaten...yes. But this was a strong performance from surprisingly youthful "Rabblers" line up. And even an older debutant Andy MacDonald, finally making an appearance after a couple of seasons nagging from the rest of the aquad behind the goal, who didn't disgrace himself in midfield.


Despite always being behind we battled well, and at times actually strung some rare half decent passes together.


In fact we actually came close to taking the lead when a free kick just outside the area was quickly taken by Steve Rickerby, a good effort which flew just wide of the post. With a little bit more power I have no doubt it would have rippled the back of the net rather than roll towards the pond. It wasn't long after when Bromley showed us how to score when the ball was knocked through the middle of the park, which another player latched onto, nipped in & lobbed the ball over an advancing Matt Hammond, who stretched in vain. One down.

The surburbanites continued to pressure us, & another goal attempt was thwarted by a superb clearance off the line by the evergreen Ian Wright. Despite being a goal down football is still supposed to be fun. And it was...for everyone apart from an eye watering Aaron Whitton, and he suffered the pain of the ball getting him right in the nuts! Ouch! He did recover though, with no help from the sidelines as there were no volunteers to be 'spongeman!'

Chances were at a premium for us, as we tried to push forward, but were held back by the Bromley defence. And the scoreline was doubled when a powerful strike from their big forward smashed into the back of the net that Matt Hammond was powerless to stop, even though he got his fingertips to it.

Now it was a case of hoping to hold on until haf-time, maybe reducing the arrears. But with a quarter of an hour left on the clock both teams & all those on the sidelines were left totally bemused when 'our' referee Phil Baker blew for the break early! Quickly realising he'd cocked up big time,, not having taken into account that our 10.30am kick off had actually commenced at ten forty three! Before he did blow for the real interval we had another chance to score, but an effort from young Ethan Meade ' on loan' from Alleyns School football/hockey/cricket* team (*delete whatever excuse is applicable for him not usually turning out for us on a Saturday morning) went just wide.

After a buoyant pep talk from the 'gaffer' Mick O'Shaugnessy during the short breather from the action, it was "The Rabblers" who scored the first goal of this half. Substitute David Yuill played the ball through which ended with Ethan Meade letting off a marvellous left foot strike. Despite being buoyed by this goal Bromley were still too dominant for "The Rabblers" to grab control of the game get an equaliser. Two more goals in fairly quick succession giving the Hayes Lane Ultras a comfortable three goal cushion. The first of these, in particular, was more down to us as we failed to clear our lines, to let them have a shot. The defence, and by the 'defence' I don't specifically mean those at the back, but everyone who came back to defend in numbers, couldn't get the ball out of danger again, & with Matt beaten he was saved by having place John Prendergast on the line behind him, who stopped & cleared a certain goal.

The next goal was ours! And rightly so as David Yuill was hauled down on the edge of the box. After a few moments he got up, dusted himself down, and took the penalty, knocking it low past the keepers left. But that was to be our last goal. With Bromley getting one more before the end. The goal that never was...but was! Pushing forward they clearly had a man offside in the middle & Shaun Dooley correctly raised his flag. The referee dithered a little while, which is understandable from a man who didn't know what time of day it was earlier, & he was about to disallow the goal, when our keeper Matt Hammond sortingly booted the ball upfield for the re-start. Except it wasn't quite as 'corinthian' as it sounds... While some of their team started arguing the toss that it was a goal one of them was clearly heard t say 'don't worry about it, we don't need the goal.' At which point there was NO WAY we could disallow it! We are NOT a team to be patronised! And Matt told the bloke "Don't worry take it!" which was when he threw the ball up the park. quite right too!


After that 'set to' we almost got a last gasp goal ourselves, Matt Virgo shooting from the edge of the box, but unfortunately lacking power, floating in rather than rasping.


I did note down the post-match views from the 'gaffer' Mick O'Shaughnessy, but humble apologies, I can't find the scrap of paper I jotte them down on. Instead I repeat the comments from his right had man Mark Hutton, from the IFA yahoo group:


"Dulwich playing with some younger players than we normally do started quite brightly had our moments nice goal by Ethan in the first half but where worn down by a very good Bromley side who took there chances well.Many thanks to Col & his Bromley players for a sporting game hope to see them in the summer for our annual cricket match. Dulwich goal scorers : Ethan Meade, Lawrence Marsh "

Larry on the scoresheet? News to him & the rest of us! Must've been on your blindside Hutty! ;-)

Team: Matt Hammond; Larry Marsh; Jon Tennison; Steve Rickerby; Ian Wright; Andy McDonald; Chris Tabrett; David Yuill; Ethan Meade; Aaron Whitton; James O'Shaughnessy; Jack McInroy; John Prendergast; Matt Virgo; Mishi Morath; Gary Tabrett; Phil Doyle.

Scorers: Ethan Meade; David Yuill.