The Mighty Hams entered the weekend with a changed squad from the previous weekend, affected by surgeries and pesky holidays all over the place. What remained was still a very strong, if new look, team.
The first half was evenly contested by West Hampstead and TH&D (second place in league 2S last season), with good structure and pressing from both teams making meaningful chances difficult to come by. Eventually, TH&D broke the deadlock through a short corner drag flick around the 25 minute mark and that's how the game broke at half time.
The second half was a much more lively affair with confident penalty stroke appeals turned down on three occasions and a further three goals scored. Jamie Fortune in the West Hampstead goal rode his luck with a strong tackle on the TH&D striker, while two West Hampstead short corner routines were blocked on or around the goal line with body parts best described as a series of metatarsals and phalanges lashed together with muscle, ligaments and tendons, often encased in a device made of leather, plastic and string. These things happen and pre-season is a better place for them to happen than league games.
A good team move and a West Hampstead error pounced on ruthlessly by TH&D added their second and third goals, after which it would be fair to say that West Hampstead were looking tired and a little disorganised. Despite this, they fought back and fought hard, pulling a goal back through Kutts Pandanda following Owen Baker's enterprising pressing and determined strength on the ball around the 60 minute mark.
Those two West Hampstead players combined again a couple of minutes later to find Kutts Pandanda sent off after a TH&D player took exception to being tackled (it's a long story, with a weird conclusion).
At final whistle, the result was West Hampstead 1 - 3 Tulse Hill & Dulwich and ultimately a fair score on the balance of play.
Despite this, there were plenty of positives for West Hampstead; the midfield looked unplayable when things clicked and the wide half-backs were brought into play, while new signing Owen Baker brings his pre-season tally to a goal and an assist from the two games and the press was effective and West Hampstead limited TH&D well through large portions of the match. One learns more from a battling defeat than from an easy victory.
Next week, the Mighty Hams face Wapping 2s away in the league. We're ready, are you?
Man of the match - Joey Kenny
Our Partners
We will do our best to get back to you as soon as possible.
