Summer Roberts returned to Motspur Park with Dulwich Hamlet and headed the only goal of the game as the visitors knocked Fulham Women out of the League Cup at the quarter-final stage this afternoon.
Roberts, released by Fulham at the end of last season, looped home her twentieth goal in as many appearances over Ellie Parker and into the top corner from Rhea Gall’s free-kick to settle a London derby between two of the promotion contenders from the London and South East Regional Premier Division. The Hamlet had dominated the first period, with the hosts arguably paying their visitors – roared on by the Pepper Army – too much respect in the first half, although Fulham did lay siege to their goal late on, with Georgia Heasman spurning a good opportunity to equalise.
The visitors found space along either flank with the impressive Asia Harbour-Brown drilling over from outside the box in the eight minute before the lively Shakira Kafero-Roberts teed up Summer Roberts, with the latter unable to direct her strike on goal. The rapid Angel Reid posed real problems for Megalie Mendes down the right flank and Phoebe Read went close with a couple of shots from distance. Lily Price lashed a free-kick over from a central position before Harbour Brown’s composure deserted her just before half-time when she strode onto a clever flick from Roberts.
Fulham had offered little in the way of a goal threat, having concentrated on defensive organisation, and trying to keep the visitors in check. Ella Tagliavini, playing as a holding midfielder this weekend, had their best chance when she wriggled free to head Mendes’ free-kick towards goal, but her effort was easily held by Saskia Reeves-Priestley. Steve Jaye’s side were forced to take the game to their opponents once Roberts had shaken off the attentions of Cat Beaver to give Dulwich the lead – and it made for a far more watchable contest.
The hosts’ best move of the match almost provided an equaliser on the hour mark. Skipper Mary Southgate, making her 150th appearance for the club, surged along the left flank, linking up with Sophie Manzi, and whipped a lovely ball over the square Hamlet defence to find Heasman at the back post. The winger – usually so reliable in the penalty area – shot a couple of yards wide with only Reeves-Priestley to beat.
Parker then redeemed herself by smothering a shot from Lucy Monkman after she presented the Dulwich substitute with a chance to double the lead before making a brilliant save to keep out a header from Britt Saylor. Fulham poured forward looking for a late leveller with substitute Ede Buchele seeing a shot deflected wide and, despite forcing a succession of corners, the Whites couldn’t breach a disciplined Dulwich defence. Mendes drove a free-kick over the bar with three minutes left, whilst Heasman’s flick through a crowded penalty area was well gathered by Reeves-Priestley as time ticked away.
The visitors could have made sure of progression in stoppage time but Saylor smacked a shot against the crossbar after excellent play from Kafero-Roberts. That miss proved academic as Hamlet held on to reach the last four to the delight of their travelling fans.
FULHAM WOMEN (3-4-3): Parker; Southgate, Beaver, Dale; Bird, Mendes, Tagliavini (Barron-Clark 45), Christison-McNee; Heasman, Adamson, Manzi (Buchele 70). Subs (not used): Gibbs, Allen, Murtagh.
BOOKED: Tagliavini, Dale.
REFEREE: Ian Bryant.
DULWICH HAMLET WOMEN (4-3-3): Reeves-Priestley; Lodge, Harbour Brown (Crutwell 76), Corrigan, M. Searle (Gall 23); Saylor, Reed, Price; Kafero-Roberts, Reid, Roberts (Monkman 76). Subs (not used): Hickman, Craven.
GOAL: Roberts (49).
REFEREE: Ian Bryant.
