Dulwich HamletSport

Dulwich Hamlet defender Acheampong reflects on Velocity Trophy exit – and the off-the-field situation for the Bostik League outfit

By Anthony Scales

Dulwich Hamlet stopper Anthony Acheampong has spoken of the difficulty of playing for the club amid acrimonious developments off the field – and reckons the support of Hamlet’s legendary fanbase is more important than ever.

Speaking after his side’s semi-final exit from the Isthmian League’s Velocity Trophy, the centre-back said: “We need them. Without them we can’t do anything. We need the help and support of our fans.

“We like the way other clubs have galvanised and tried to help us as well. We’ve just got to use [that support] to give us the right energy and turn it into a positive.”

Hamlet have been kicked out of their Champion Hill home and slapped with a £121,000 bill for back rent by the New York-based developer Meadow Residential, who own the site.

As a result, Tuesday night saw them make their debut at their adopted home of Tooting & Mitcham United’s Imperial Fields.

Acheampong said the unfamiliar surroundings played their part in an underwhelming display from the hosts as they were knocked out of the League Cup 4-1 on penalties by Met Police after the tie finished 0-0.

“We’re only human so these things always play a part,” said the centre-half. “But we’re always going to give our best, we appreciate all the support our fans are giving us. Every time we step on the pitch we want to win.”

Of the problems assailing the historic club, the former Barnet defender told the South London Press: “It’s difficult but the management staff have helped us because they’ve made us just focus on the football. They’ve kind of told us to just not worry about what’s going on behind the scenes.

“I can only speak for myself, I’m not fully aware of exactly what’s going on but I know it’s not a pretty sight.”

With Dulwich needing to persuade their supporters to make the eight-mile journey to Mitcham, Tuesday’s performance could not have come at a worse time.

The hosts hogged possession but did little to scare the Met, who set out a 4-1-4-1 formation to cede possession and territory to their rivals – content to sit back and deal with Hamlet’s unconvincing attempts to find a way through.

Two moments of Nyren Clunis magic almost unlocked their rearguard, however. The right wing-back’s velcro control left four defenders trailing in his wake in first-half injury time only for Muhammadu Faal’s shot to be deflected behind.

Clunis left Met midfielder Will Salmon looking like a fish out of water before dumping him on his backside and crossing to Dipo Akinyemi, whose shot was charged down by Aaron Goode just past the hour mark.

But it was the visitors who had almost taken the lead 10 minutes before the break.Tom Bird’s free-kick from wide on the right sailed over everyone, including unconvincing Coventry City loanee Corey Addai in the home goal, and dropped onto the angle of post and bar.

And it was fitting that the closest Dulwich came to a breakthrough came when Met defender Ollie Robinson almost diverted the ball into his own net in the 51st minute of a match that largely stank as much as the fumes from Beddington Sewage Treatment Works that washed over the ground shortly after.

Mercifully, the competition’s rules dictated penalties after 90 minutes, sparing the thin crowd an extra half-an-hour’s purgatory, and it fell to captain Kenny Beaney and Tanasheh Abrahams to be the Hamlet fall guys.

Beaney put his side’s first spot-kick at a perfect height for Luke Williams to save, diving to his right, and although Nathan Ferguson was on target from 12 yards, left-back Abrahams capped a long run-up by dragging his effort to the right of goal, leaving Police sub Callum Kealy to apply the coup de grâce.

Tooting & Mitcham lost 4-1 to Thurrock in the Bostik League Premier Division on Tuesday.

Peter Wedgeworth’s 55th-minute penalty made it 1-1 at Ship Lane but Charlie Stimson helped himself to a second goal of the evening with Joel Nouble and Ronnie Winn also hitting the back of the net.

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