JOSH Shonibare was Dulwich Hamlet’s hero as he scored a minute from time to earn Hakan Hayrettin’s side their first victory of 2024 against Hashtag United at a sold-out Champion Hill last weekend.
Ryley Scott gave the hosts the lead in the 52nd minute before Max Cornhill levelled on 77 minutes.
But Shonibare scored just two minutes after coming on for defender Mark Ricketts to earn the Hamlet all three points in front of a 3,334 attendance…
“My heart’s in my mouth,” Hayrettin said on the club’s YouTube channel. “It was an end-to-end game, I don’t think we particularly played with the tempo we’re used to in the first half. The second half we did and we got out rewards.
“You’ve got Anthony Jeffrey, Luke Wanadio, those kinds of players in the team, the ball is going in one direction then you’re always going to have a chance.
“Again, Ryley Scott, who’s been magnificent for us, popped up in the box with a great goal.
“Then they scored, we didn’t stop the cross, the ball goes in between our centre-backs and the goalkeeper, it was a great header.
“I had to make a change, I’m looking at the clock and I had to make a change. I decided to go two up top. I know what Josh can do and that’s now twice he’s come on and scored.
“I think we fully deserved it. I know they’re a good team, Hashtag, they’re quick, they’re nippy, they play around you. But we weathered the storm a little bit, we had one cleared off the line. Then after that I thought if there was one team that was going to win it it was going to be us.
“We pressed them, pressed them, pressed them. They made changes to win it and so did we – and we got our rewards.”
Hayrettin added: “And the crowd. The hairs on the back of my neck keep standing up, and I’m just so lucky we’ve got these supporters.
“There’s a myth, the myth is they’re coming here and turning their back. Well I didn’t see that, I haven’t seen that since I’ve been here. Absolutely fantastic, full house again at Champion Hill.”
Dulwich are tenth in the Isthmian League Premier Division table, eight points off the play-offs.
Meanwhile, Hamlet stalwart Sanchez Ming made his debut for Lewes at the weekend after his release last week.
Ming, 33, started in Lewes’ 1-1 draw at Cray Wanderers. The Rooks are level on points with rivals Dulwich in ninth place but ahead on goal difference.
Ming first joined Dulwich in 2016 before leaving in the 2018-19 season and returning from Dartford in 2020.
Ming played six times in all competitions this season for Dulwich, scoring a penalty in a 3-2 Isthmian League Premier Division defeat at Horsham last August. His last appearance was in a 1-1 draw against Haringey Borough in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup in September.
He made 275 appearances and scored 24 goals.
The club said: “We’d like to thank Sanchez for all his efforts whilst playing for our football club and wish him all the best going forward.”
Lewes manager Tony Russell added: “We have been looking for a right-back for some time but wanted to wait for the right one, so as soon as we knew Sanchez was available, we were very keen to bring him in.
“He is a leader and a winner and will bring experience to the group. He is a little behind the group in terms of fitness at the moment, but once we bring him up to the level of the rest, I think he will prove to be an excellent signing for us. I’m very excited to be working with him.”
The Hamlet travel to Hastings United this Saturday for a 3pm kick-off.
