Dulwich Hamlet and Arsenal U23s both hit woodwork in Champion Hill friendly

18 July 2022 Kai Bennett

Dulwich Hamlet drew 0-0 with Arsenal’s U23 team on Saturday afternoon at Champion Hill.

The hosts have played three pre-season friendlies after fixtures against Whitehawk and Sutton United last week.

Former Bromley duo Frankie Raymond and Jack Holland, the latter is Dulwich’s captain, both started against the Gunners.

Hamlet started quickly and hit the bar through Nana Owusu after just 15 minutes before the Gunners nearly went ahead moments later but Martin Grainger made a good save.

Charlie Patino came close once again for Arsenal when he got on the end of a whipped free-kick but Grainger made a super stop to his left.

Dulwich were under pressure and the Hamlet stopper had to be alert once again, this time to react quickly after the ball hit one of his team-mates and deflected goalwards.

Patino was causing problems for the South London club and his curling effort hit the bar – meaning both sides hit the upright inside the first 30 minutes.

Just after the restart Arsenal believed they should have had a penalty when Jack Henry-Francis was pulled down but the referee was not interested, much to the relief of the Dulwich Hamlet players.