East Dulwich Sporting Crabs 3-2 Wheatsheaf Athletic
Weyell, Curtis 2
MOTM – Curtis
After four consecutive away fixtures in the Southern Sunday league, The Crabs finally made their first league appearance of the calendar year at Peckham Rye. Whilst Pearson’s side have settled fairly quickly in their new division, his team’s inconsistency of late may have been playing on his mind. With no back to back league wins to their name, it’s been a rollercoaster ride for the newly promoted Crabs.
The Crabs welcomed Wheatsheaf Athletic to the Rye – a side that comfortably took three points in the reverse fixture back in October with a 4-0 rout. The score line may have flattered their opponents on the day but The Crabs inability to defend set pieces is an issue that still keeps Pearson up at night. If there was an equivalent to having your game televised in Sunday league it would be the presence of league chairman Graham Rodber who travelled down early to inspect the pitch before officiating his first Crabs encounter for four years.
First half line-up.
Our thoughts are with George Dalman who hobbled off last week after aggravating a knee problem and it was no surprise that his name was not on the team sheet as the striker made the smart decision to rest up. With Bodkin still out, Armstrong took up his familiar role as a lone striker with the tricky playmaker Ben Daughtry looking to fill the gap between midfield and attack. Jake Farrell began the game on the left wing as Stu Wood started on the right. Club captain James Coventry returned to the side and took up his usual spot alongside Liam Weyell. With no Adam Hutchings, James Palmer returned to his centre back duties alongside Liam Macintyre while Gibson and Pearson started at full back.
After a flat performance at South London last week it was important that the boys in orange got off to a good start and whilst they struggled to put away their chances, Pearson’s side were definitely in pole position as the game got going. Armstrong and Daughtry linked wonderfully on the counter attack, something that The Crabs sorely missed last week. Wood and Pearson also pushed on adventurously looking to put pressure on a nervous looking Wheatsheaf back four.
Wheatsheaf weren’t going to be a push over though but The Crabs managed to keep them at bay. Palmer and Liam’s calm yet effective defensive display frustrated the visitor’s strike force. Whilst the Wheatsheaf front man had the legs on Palmer, the versatile Scouser used his intelligence to limit the nippy forwards chances. When called upon Dean Ashmore was quick off his line to deal with any through balls.
After failing to convert some early chances The Crabs did finally break the deadlock after Liam Weyell towered above his marker to head home his third of the season. Having defended so poorly at Clapham Common against Wheatsheaf’s corners it was rather apt that The Crabs would get their revenge in a similar fashion. Ian Armstrong seems to have recreated himself as a provider as he notched his fourth assist of the season. Liam Weyell has now been directly involved in eight goals in his ten appearances for The Crabs this season.
The lead didn’t last long though as it was yet another set piece goal that The Crabs fell victim to, this one was perhaps a bit more down to the quality of the shot as opposed to defensive shortcomings. Having chased back to the edge of his own box Daughtry tangled with a Wheatsheaf midfielder resulting in a free kick in a dangerous area. Up stepped the Wheatsheaf winger ‘Burns’ whose effort was perhaps ‘too hot to handle’ as Ashmore could only palm the curled effort off the bar and into the net. The scorer managed to get enough height and direction on the shot to make it very difficult for the Crabs’ stopper.
The mood at half time was one of disappointment having chucked away a well-earned lead so quickly but there were many reasons to be positive as East Dulwich could easily have found themselves two or three goals to the good. After a quick rest and some refreshments the home side took the field for a second half that would go down as a classic Crabs performance.
Second half line-up.
The second half was a little more scrappy than the first, a number of fouls and offsides stopping the game from flowing as both sides went in search of a winner. The best chances fell to The Crabs though as Armstrong and Daughtry spurned a number of good opportunities after some great build up. Right back David Gibson even had a chance as he hit a volley from outside the box which was comfortably saved.
The Crabs discipline once again came under scrutiny as Graham Rodber was forced to show a yellow card to usually angelic Gibson for a foul on the edge of the box. The Crabs kept their heads even as their opponents linesman/manager shouted abuse from the sidelines. “Learn how to play the game” he shouted whilst conducting the line during a Sunday League game. I’m sure the irony was wasted on him that he didn’t seem to be involved in the footballing side of proceedings.
Having huffed and puffed their way through the second half, The Crabs finally got their noses ahead.
Sam Pearson shuffled his pack and brought himself, Wood and Farrell off, allowing Murray, Taylor and Curtis an opportunity to change the game. And change the game they did, in particular the 2016 “Crab of the year” Dom Curtis.
The Crabs were perhaps helped by an injury to their opponents goalkeeper. The loud mouthed stopper may have injured his jaw arguing with the referee over a challenge by Jake Farrell but it looked like a leg injury as he limped off leaving his team in a precautious position. The goal scorer looked to become the goal stopper as the winger donned the gloves for the final fifteen minutes.
It wasn’t long before The Crabs took advantage of the makeshift keeper after a desperate foul on the right hand side of the Wheatsheaf box, Ian Armstrong once again served up a lovely cross which was met perhaps surprisingly by the unassuming figure of Dom Curtis. The tricky full back/winger sneaked ahead of his marker and nodded the ball in at the near post marking his first goal for the club. Curtis showed little emotion as his team mates congratulated him, so much so it was hard for the defenders to work out who had scored.
Once again The Crabs managed to throw away their lead as the full time whistle approached. After Rodber announced there would be six minutes of stoppage time, The Crabs knew they would have to be focussed up until the final whistle if they were going to hold onto their slim lead but the away side didn’t give up and somehow managed to get in behind the back four fairly easily. The rest of the team could only watch on as the Wheatsheaf striker poked the ball past Ashmore and into the net to draw level. The look of dejection was all too familiar as The Crabs looked set to throw away a 2-1 lead just like they did in the exact same place against Wig Army.
The Crabs didn’t let their heads drop though with the knowledge there was still four minutes to play the front line continued to press. With the final minute approaching, The Crabs won a vital corner from the right hand side. Armstrong had already provided two great assists, could he find an orange shirt. The ball was hooked in and a melee followed, Sam Pearson watched on in anticipation as the ball fell to Curtis’ head once more. The super sub’s effort was initially saved but then on the rebound he managed to connect and strike the ball into the net as the Crabs ran towards him in jubilation. Pearson couldn’t hold back his joy as he charged onto the pitch to congratulate his match winner. Like London buses, Dom Curtis waited two seasons for his first goal and there he was celebrating a match winning brace at Peckham Rye.
There was still some defending to do but The Crabs managed to see the game out this time after staying resolute for the final minute of the game. Having been on the receiving end of last minute heroics, there was no hiding the emotions as The Crabs walked off the pitch with their heads held high.
The result sees The Crabs rise to their highest point of the season of fourth in the league. Having made the equivalent position in Division 3 their own over the past three years, it shows just how well they’ve coped with the step up. The lads can’t be too complacent however as only four points separate themselves from seventh place but with South London only three points ahead, the boys in Orange will only be looking in one direction.
The Daily Crab 