Oakley-Boothe secures draw in Dulwich friendly

Tashan Oakley-Boothe was on target as an action-packed friendly for our Under-23s at Dulwich Hamlet ended 1-1 on Saturday afternoon.

Both sides hit the woodwork and Kazaiah Sterling was twice denied by home goalkeeper Preston Edwards before Oakley-Boothe pinged in from the edge of the box to cancel out Nyren Clunis' first-half opener. Christian Smith could have won it for Dulwich nine minutes from time but blasted a penalty over the bar.

Oakley-Boothe took charge of the midfield in the early going as we started well in front of a near 3,000-strong pre-season crowd packed into a sunny Champion Hill but for all our good play and precise passing to work our way forward, we failed to convert our first-half chances. Rayan Clarke was left kicking himself for squandering a couple of opportunities - the best one, a near-post header under pressure from Paris Maghoma's cross that went wide on 12 minutes - while Dulwich showed their own threats as Kieran Monlouis forced a covering tackle from centre-back Jon Dinzeyi as he stormed through the middle and Ben Chapman's free-kick was tipped over the bar by trialist goalkeeper Ted Smith.

Maghoma couldn't apply the finishing touch to Maxwell Statham's excellent right-wing cross on the break but it was the National League South outfit who drew first blood on 24 minutes as Jeffrey Monakana's diagonal pass from the left was knocked back into the danger zone by skipper Danny Mills for Clunis to lunge in and steer home. Our best chance of the first period fell to captain Sterling shortly after the half-hour mark but he was denied one-on-one by goalkeeper Edwards after collecting Maghoma's reverse pass. Our attacking impetus dropped off a bit in the lead-up to half-time and Dulwich almost took advantage with a second, Monlouis' sweeping first-time shot hitting the base of Smith's right-hand post.

That exact same spot of woodwork was whacked by Dilan Markanday - a lively influence off the bench - five minutes after the restart while Sterling committed defender Quade Taylor but was again denied by Edwards as we set about pushing for a breakthrough once more. Mills planted a good chance for Dulwich wide but we were level mid-way through the second period as Markanday's shot from the edge of the area was blocked and Oakley-Boothe collected the loose ball before sending it spinning high inside the near post.

We were well on top in the moments that followed and a second goal would have been deserved - Armando Shashoua's shot cleared off the line by Taylor and Markanday firing just wide - but our hard work nearly came undone when substitute goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi saved at the feet of Ade Yusuff but the referee deemed him to have committed a foul and pointed to the spot. Oluwayemi faced Smith, but the Dulwich substitute hammered over the top.

Both sides had half-chances in the last few minutes but it ended honours even for our Development Squad for the second straight week on Under-23s Coach Wayne Burnett's return to his former club.

Match data

Goals: Dulwich Hamlet - Clunis 24; Spurs - Oakley-Boothe 66.

Yellow card: Spurs - Richards 77.

Referee: Paul Howard.

Venue: Champion Hill, East Dulwich.

Weather: Sunny, moderate breeze, 23 degrees.

Attendance: 2,931.