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| Welcome to....the Hawks on tour! |
What a difference a midweek makes. 3 days earlier, The Hamlet played in front of nearly 3000, and yet 3 days later there was nary a quarter of that number there, 844, lowest of the season. It can't have been much to do with the opposition either, as Havant and Waterlooville were arguably a bigger draw than Chippenham, challenging as they are for the top 3. They brought a few too. However, it was very very cold and perhaps Hamlet fans are not the hardiest.
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| The teams line up. |
I'll be honest, I didn't even know Hamlet were at home till I heard a mate was coming up to support his locals Havant (and Waterlooville). The match was re-arranged from a December postponement, which explained the use of the same programme, save for a new teamsheet. It was another world for my mate too, as he summed up 'Dull Witch Omelette' as '£10 pieminister pies, dogs (multiple) dressed in club scarves and people drinking Prosecco on the touchline'. He was spot on there. Indeed, what could be more Hamlet than a chat in the clubhouse between 2 other mates and I...a trade unionist, a teacher and a social worker?
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| Welcome to ...(II) |
I stood behind the car wash end 1st half, with the Havant fans. (Are Dulwich the 'Haves' while Havant are....?) Mainly cos I could chat rubbish with my mate, but partly cos I couldn't be bothered to change ends. And a good decision too, as all the action was down our end, with goalkeeper Charlie Grainger performing heroics. I heard he was on loan from Leyton Orient, but t'internet suggests he's been let go. Either way, I cannot believe Orient have a finer keeper and he looks worth a punt in the football league.
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| Looking towards the Main Stand. |
Still, that Havant still hadn't scored was as much down to themselves, as former football league goalscorer Danny Kedwell (now officially the fattest full-time footballer in existence) thundered a penalty off the bar. I'll give it to a couple of Havant fans, they called it; 'this one's going over.' And it did, on the second rebound, as the first hit someone or other. I'll give it to Kedwell though, despite the weight, he still knows where the goal is and is in amongst the leading scorers. Hamlet limped in at half time, nil nil.
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| Kedwell blast the penalty off the bar. |
Hopefully Hamlet had weathered the storm and would now push on. Well, 6 mins in they did just that, actually going ahead. Their own top goalscorer Mills found himself clean through, driving it across the keeper from the right and into the opposite bottom corner. The Dultras went wild! Well, those who were there. Could the shock be on?
Well, Havant continued to spurn chances, as Grainger pulled off yet more unbelievable saves, including a couple of one-on-ones. However, the dam was finally broken as a Havant player was cut down again for a penalty on 77 minutes. This time Magri stepped up and although soft, he sent Grainger the wrong way. Five minutes later a loose ball was lashed in from the edge of the box, Grainger being given no cover whatsoever as the defence were overloaded. Then, in the last minute, more poor defending left Havant clean through. 1-3 and no more than they deserved, despite Grainger's best efforts. He needs to find himself another team - or Hamlet need a new back 4.
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| Bit busier as Hamlet kick this end 2nd half. |
£12 ent
£2 prog
£5 beer x 4 (3 Erdinger, 1 Camden Pale Ale)
= £34
The Tunes:
Late Night Tales (Jon Hopkins)
Human (Nitin Sawhney)
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