Whitehawk v Hamlet (Isthmian League) Monday 25th August 2025
- Thread starter KPMG
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TonyWalt
Well-Known Member
A frustrating afternoon in the sun on the south coast. Whitehawk were very physical, lots of lumping the ball in the air but got their goal late in the first half, after putting us under a lot of pressure, during which Bull pulled off some great saves and there was also an acrobatic goal line clearance from one of our defenders (couldn’t see who it was from my position), but they eventually netted.
Almost as soon as we kicked off in the second half, Whitehawk defended their 1:0 lead with constant sitting down/cramp time wasting.
Almost as soon as we kicked off in the second half, Whitehawk defended their 1:0 lead with constant sitting down/cramp time wasting.
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hiraethified
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RabbleLevi
Well-Known Member
In all honesty, the pitch was drier than a weetabix and didn’t look like it had been watered in weeks, possibly intentionally. Whitehawk had the right idea and lumped the ball into the corners were a lot of there attacking threat came from and they were happy to put dangerous balls into the box. There was no passing in midfield. A lot of our passes fell short and were intercepted. We had moments when we looked dangerous, particularly on the wings with Wandio and Micha cutting inside but they were infrequent. Whitehawk had the better chances and probably deserved the win, although the pitch massively favoured their tactics. The antics and time wasting in the second half were annoying but at no point did we look like we were going to get back into the game.
Positives - defensively out players put their bodies on the line and snuffed out most of Whitehawks attacks, and Toby made some brilliant saves. We were under a lot of pressure in the first half because our midfield and attack couldn’t keep possession and get the ball moving, which I thought was largely down to the quality of the pitch. The return fixture will be interesting.
Positives - defensively out players put their bodies on the line and snuffed out most of Whitehawks attacks, and Toby made some brilliant saves. We were under a lot of pressure in the first half because our midfield and attack couldn’t keep possession and get the ball moving, which I thought was largely down to the quality of the pitch. The return fixture will be interesting.
Pink Panther
Well-Known Member
I didn't go to this one, partly because long journeys to the coast on packed trains on a hot bank holiday aren't my idea of fun, and also because of the "welcome" we received at this club two seasons ago.
Our first 4 games were either on excellent grass pitches (our own and Finchley's) or on 3G, which at least tends to be flat and reliable for passing on the floor. Whitehawk's undulating pitch is probably the worst in the division for trying to play the way we usually do. We also nicked a couple of their best players in the summer (Okonkwo and Mensah) which might have fired them up to prove a point.
Our first 4 games were either on excellent grass pitches (our own and Finchley's) or on 3G, which at least tends to be flat and reliable for passing on the floor. Whitehawk's undulating pitch is probably the worst in the division for trying to play the way we usually do. We also nicked a couple of their best players in the summer (Okonkwo and Mensah) which might have fired them up to prove a point.
Al Cunningham
Brockley Hamlet
It was a very frustrating game to watch with Dulwich not being at their best , bonehard slopey pitch and the constant breaks in play as the Whitehawk players went down at every opportunity to break up play and used other time wasting tactics. To be fair the referee added on about 20 minutes in total with the game finishing after 5pm but we failed to a get any flow going. They had done their homework marking our forward players tightly and doubling up on Luke.
They could have had more than 1 first half but great saves by Bull and an amazing clearance off the line. The goal was an unfortunate cannon off one of our defenders that fell into their forwards path. We had 2 decent chances during the game both falling to Mills. The first one in the 1st half he had time to control about 10 yards out in the centre but put it over the bar. The 2nd in the 2nd half he miscontrolled when finding space in the area and the chance was gone. Having said that he has done a sterling job playing most of all the 1st 5 games in 2 weeks.
What it does highlight is our need of another central striker . Firstly to add something different and secondly to provide a focal point when Danny isnt playing. Their a big hold up when it loiked like he was having stitches above the eye before going off
Still it has been a great start and top support yesterday which became frustrated as the game went on due to Whitehawk's anti football tactics .
They could have had more than 1 first half but great saves by Bull and an amazing clearance off the line. The goal was an unfortunate cannon off one of our defenders that fell into their forwards path. We had 2 decent chances during the game both falling to Mills. The first one in the 1st half he had time to control about 10 yards out in the centre but put it over the bar. The 2nd in the 2nd half he miscontrolled when finding space in the area and the chance was gone. Having said that he has done a sterling job playing most of all the 1st 5 games in 2 weeks.
What it does highlight is our need of another central striker . Firstly to add something different and secondly to provide a focal point when Danny isnt playing. Their a big hold up when it loiked like he was having stitches above the eye before going off
Still it has been a great start and top support yesterday which became frustrated as the game went on due to Whitehawk's anti football tactics .
pompeydunc
Well-Known Member
Their antics reminded me of Concord Rangers (and some other teams) in the National South and put me right off that league. Sad to see it so blatantly unfold yesterday. Not sure there is much the ref can do, but I think the assistant added ten minutes and we played maybe fourteen minutes.
Pink Panther
Well-Known Member
I think our first ever National South Saturday home game (at Tooting) was against Concord, and that was much as yesterday's has been described. There's little we can do about it once we've conceded the first goal and ended up chasing the game, other than take our scoring chances when they arise, which obviously didn't happen yesterday. At least we won't have to watch that sort of rubbish every week, and those teams won't always prevail. Imagine playing like that and still ending up empty handed.
PartisanDulwich
Well-Known Member
Glorious day on the coast under blue skies – sadly spoilt by the game. The pitch, as stated, was bone dry, with dust rising whenever the ball was kicked and large divots forming in the goal area. Add to that the notorious hill and dip – even worse than I remembered from a previous FA Cup visit – and the ground felt unsafe, literally falling apart where it wasn’t propped up by scaffolding. Frankly, it’s surprising the pitch passes as acceptable at this level; many Sunday park pitches are in better condition.
As for Whitehawk, to be generous, they were clearly struggling with fitness. Players went down every five minutes – it became a running joke by the end.
The referee completely lost control after failing to send off a Whitehawk player when Dulwich striker Luke was clean through on goal. Then came the farce of ten minutes added time in the second half – laughable, given there were over 20 minutes of stoppages with water breaks, cramp, and head injuries to Mills and a Whitehawk player.
Mills was unlucky, missing two big chances that would surely have earned Hamlet a deserved point. Hamlet had numerous long passes go a stray – perhaps down to the dreadful pitch
Whitehawk’s goal came from a fortunate rebound (no fault of Bull, who was again in fine form), but their time-wasting after scoring was embarrassing.
Hamlet deserved a point, but Whitehawk took all three – though their style of play won’t earn them many admirers.
Dulwich fans, 200–250 strong, travelled well and were their usual joyous, mischievous selves.
As for Whitehawk, to be generous, they were clearly struggling with fitness. Players went down every five minutes – it became a running joke by the end.
The referee completely lost control after failing to send off a Whitehawk player when Dulwich striker Luke was clean through on goal. Then came the farce of ten minutes added time in the second half – laughable, given there were over 20 minutes of stoppages with water breaks, cramp, and head injuries to Mills and a Whitehawk player.
Mills was unlucky, missing two big chances that would surely have earned Hamlet a deserved point. Hamlet had numerous long passes go a stray – perhaps down to the dreadful pitch
Whitehawk’s goal came from a fortunate rebound (no fault of Bull, who was again in fine form), but their time-wasting after scoring was embarrassing.
Hamlet deserved a point, but Whitehawk took all three – though their style of play won’t earn them many admirers.
Dulwich fans, 200–250 strong, travelled well and were their usual joyous, mischievous selves.
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pompeydunc
Well-Known Member
Don't have to imagine it. We watched Hak's teams.
Pink Panther
Well-Known Member
I don't recall Hak's teams using the sort of persistent cynical spoiling tactics described of Whitehawk. The football could be a poor spectacle on an off day, and we certainly had too many of those, but that's not the same as cheating to gain an advantage without even succeeding.
AveryDave
Well-Known Member
Feels like yesterdays game was equal parts a culmination of a very limited number of players having to end a tough month with two games in three days, on a very hot day and on a subpar surface, combined with a team with enough awareness of what we’re trying to do tactically this season set up to disrupt as much as possible, and use their home conditions to their maximum advantage.
Very frustrating, but hopefully an opportunity for the players and the management to learn - the more successful you are, the more teams conspire to beat you by as foul means as fair - so if we’re going to keep progressing, something they’ll have to work out how to cope with.
Very frustrating, but hopefully an opportunity for the players and the management to learn - the more successful you are, the more teams conspire to beat you by as foul means as fair - so if we’re going to keep progressing, something they’ll have to work out how to cope with.
We were poor going forwards, afraid of the awful pitch and intimidated by the physicality of a cynical, shitshousing, diving, time wasting Whitehawk side. We tried to play football when they were trying to win a fight. The fact that there were 10+ added minutes in both halves says a lot. We defended well but didn’t deserve anything from the game, so credit to them for getting the result, but I’d be embarrassed if I supported their antics
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editor
hiraethified
Max pics!
www.brixtonbuzz.com
In photos: It’s a frustrating Bank Holiday at the seaside as Dulwich Hamlet lose at Whitehawk, Monday 25th August 2025
Dulwich Hamlet’s unbeaten run came to a juddering stop after a frustrating encounter with Whitehawk on Bank Holiday Monday. Played on a pitch that was described as being “as dry as a We…
www.brixtonbuzz.com
Pink Panther
Well-Known Member
We've never met them in the play-offs.
Their supporters seem decent enough, but the club's absurdly rigorous search policy at the turnstiles two years ago is enough to put me off going back.
Four clubs must go down, so I hope one of them will be Whitehawk because of that. I'm not paying to be treated like a security threat the moment I arrive. I was tempted to go last weekend and watch from the hill outside after our great start to the season, but now I'm glad I didn't!
Don't Slow Down
Well-Known Member
It's been a long hatred for me, shithouse owner back in the day who tried buying his delusional way up to the football league.
Al Habd cheating blatantly to get Ray Powell sent off, then smirking and saying that's football. Ray Powell gave up on football after that incident.
We moved forward to that outrageous security 2 years ago, it left a really bitter taste and I will not be visiting there again! There was no apology from Shitehawk at any level and that disgusts me in what is meant to be non league.
Relegation is the least I wish them!
Al Habd cheating blatantly to get Ray Powell sent off, then smirking and saying that's football. Ray Powell gave up on football after that incident.
We moved forward to that outrageous security 2 years ago, it left a really bitter taste and I will not be visiting there again! There was no apology from Shitehawk at any level and that disgusts me in what is meant to be non league.
Relegation is the least I wish them!
Pink Panther
Well-Known Member
That just makes it even more pathetic, as there was clearly never a sufficient problem to justify it in the first place. I'd already bought a ticket online on the bus to the ground, as they didn't make it clear whether you could pay by card on the gate and I didn't have enough cash on me, otherwise I'd have told them where to stick their security measures and walked away.
The one reason I'd consider returning is to see Dave Blythe again. I spotted him in Max's photographs. He first watched the Hamlet in 1958 and went to a lot of away games with the Rabble. I'll never forget his legendary punch up at Worthing when he was on crutches after a hip replacement and chinned one of the locals who picked an argument with him for swearing! I know he's 20 years older than me, so he'll be 80 in December.
editor
hiraethified
I remember having a moan ten years ago!
Whitehawk down Dulwich Hamlet FC’s FA cup dreams, as a sunny seaside trip goes awry
Dulwich Hamlet’s dreams of FA cup glory came crashing down to earth on the south coast on Saturday as they became unstuck by a strong Whitehawk team.
www.brixtonbuzz.com
Pink Panther
Well-Known Member
And I was right. They missed promotion to the National Division by one match and ended up back at Step 4 (2 levels below ourselves) within 5 years.
I used to work in construction with a lifelong Brighton fan who is a personal friend of their owner Tony Bloom, and knows everyone who is anyone down there. I remember chatting to him about Whitehawk around 15 years ago and he asked a few questions about who was funding them. They were involved with Kingspan, a manufacturer of prefabricated building materials, and sounded like a right bunch of cowboys. I think one or more of them may have ended up in prison before the club collapsed but can't recall the details.
Kingspan was also implicated in the Grenfell Tower disaster:
www.bbc.com
I used to work in construction with a lifelong Brighton fan who is a personal friend of their owner Tony Bloom, and knows everyone who is anyone down there. I remember chatting to him about Whitehawk around 15 years ago and he asked a few questions about who was funding them. They were involved with Kingspan, a manufacturer of prefabricated building materials, and sounded like a right bunch of cowboys. I think one or more of them may have ended up in prison before the club collapsed but can't recall the details.
Kingspan was also implicated in the Grenfell Tower disaster:
Kingspan was dishonest and cynical, Grenfell Inquiry finds
The company is headquartered in County Cavan and employs about 23,000 people globally.
www.bbc.com
EDC
A Slightly Less Invisible Cyber Fan These Days
Thought it was a Div 1 promotion play off at Champion Hill. What am I getting confused with??
Pink Panther
Well-Known Member
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