By Wilf MacDonnell at Champion Hill
An experimental Dulwich Hamlet side fell to a 2–0 home defeat against League Two Sutton United at Champion Hill on Tuesday evening as both managers rotated all eleven players during the contest.
Sutton arrived in east Dulwich off the back of a fantastic season after they finished just outside the play-off places in their first-ever campaign in the fourth tier.
The Hamlet started with a team of mixed experience, some who would expect to be involved heavily this season and others that boss Gavin Rose wanted to have a closer look at. Sutton were clearly thinking similarly as they started with two trialists.
The hosts were behind inside six minutes. Josh Neuville cut in from the left and after his initial effort was blocked, he laid the ball off to Ali Smith who turned and fired home from eight yards. The finish was befitting of a midfielder who was one of the best in the division last season.
Despite a couple of bright moments for the home side it was soon 2-0. Sutton again showed their quality as former Wolves winger Will Randall skipped away from a couple of challenges in the middle of the park and slid in a trialist striker who finished well one-on-one.
Dulwich had glimmers as the first half went on. Nana Owusu stung the palms of the Sutton trialist goalkeeper from distance and Sam Deadfield had a neat, cross-goal finish ruled out for offside.
The Champion Hill crowd were seeing some of the clubs’ new signings in action for the first time, but ultimately in the first half the home side struggled to get the front three involved against well-drilled opposition.
Half-time brought about mass substitutions for Dulwich, while Sutton Manager Matt Gray opted to wait for the 60-minute mark before making ten changes.
The home side were a different proposition in the second half. Ronnie Vint was solid at the back, Jamie Splatt brought a quality range of passing to the midfield and Danny Mills added composure up front.
In the 50th minute the changes almost paid off. Michael Timlin received the ball on the left and hung in a looping cross to the back post which Mills was there to meet it but his header was tipped over the bar.
The U’s then make their changes, including the introduction of former Arsenal man Craig Eastmond. This led to the game losing its shape, with both teams battling hard in the middle of the pitch to no avail.
However, Hamlet nearly finished on a high as Mills headed down a cross to new signing Kreshnic Krasniqi, but he took one too many touches in the box and a good chance fizzled out.
Rose won’t be too disappointed by the final score-line. The manager got the chance to look at nearly all his squad and improve the team’s fitness as they continued preparations for 2022-23.
Dulwich Hamlet’s next fixture is against Arsenal under-23’s at home this Saturday (July 16). Kick-off is 3pm.