Five years and a Covid pandemic have passed since these sides last met in Hamburg and unfortunately it wasn’t to be Dulwich’s day as the visitors were victorious thanks to a tidy brace from their striker Julius Zaher.

The Hamlet, playing nine trialists during the afternoon, including Kreshnic Krasniqi, did level matters through Michael Chambers, his third goal against Altona, but the visitors return to Hamburg with the Jäger-Kail Cup and continue the record of the away side winning this fixture.

The rain cleared over Champion Hill just in time for the fourth meeting between these historic clubs and it was an exciting contest from the get go. Sanchez Ming continued from where he left off at the end of last season and caused havoc down the right-hand side, with his pace and pinpoint passing. In the 13th minute a great run and cross from Ming found new signing, Anthony Jeffery on the left-hand side of the box but the winger’s shot hit the side netting.

Jeffery was once again troubling the Altona defence and a bit of magic in the 30th minute saw him turn his man and was through on goal but the Altona defence was once again there to clear the ball away. During the first half, Dulwich found themselves playing long balls up to Danny Mills whose strength and aerial prowess resulted in him being fouled frequently by the Altona defence.

On the stroke of half time Ming made a terrific darting run in from the right hand side but he couldn’t keep his curling shot down. Despite some nice attacking play in the first half the Altona defence denied Dulwich any clear-cut chances and the game was goalless going into the break.

It was all change at half time, as Dulwich started the second half with a completely new eleven than they had in the first half. Altona started strong and found much joy attacking down the left hand side. Julius Zaher had a chance to give the visitors the lead in the 47th minute, after a well weighted pass from the left wing found him in the box but Michael Chambers was there clear the ball away.

It was a sign of things to come for Dulwich, as once again Altona attacked down the left hand side in the 55th minute with the ball across finding an open Zaher who laced the ball past R’avan Constable.

Despite the second half being all Altona, Alfie Allen showed his calibre and dominated the midfield and in the 63rd minute he set up the Dulwich equaliser. Allen whipped in a corner from the right hand side, with the ball bouncing off a cluster of players before the returning Chambers found the ball at his feet and smacked it in from six yards. Allen nearly set up Chambers for his second a minute later but the Dulwich centre back couldn’t keep his header on target.

At 1-1, both sides were very much in the game with some end to end football and chances being created by both sides. Time and time again Dulwich found themselves near the Altona goal but couldn’t find the clinical pass required to break through the German defence.

Their best shot at finding a winner came in the 73rd minute with a free kick right on the edge of the box. Adrian Clifton stepped up to take it but he couldn’t keep his shot down.

Altona, once again, came thundering down the left hand side in the 77th minute and a shot, which should have really been saved by Constable, bounced off the keeper and was poked in by Zaher for his second. Dulwich once again struggled to break down the Altona defence in the last 10 minutes and Altona continued to press forward, Zaher might have got his hat-trick had it not been for an outstretched Chambers in the 87th minute who nicked the ball away from the striker.

The game ended 2-1 with a Rabble made up of both Dulwich and Altona fans singing loudly in the south London sun, which continued late into the evening. It wasn’t to be Dulwich’s day but the squad showed some real promise and moments of brilliance from Allen and Jeffrey in particular.

The Hamlet face their next pre season challenge as local rivals Bromley visit Champion Hill on Tuesday evening.

Dulwich Hamlet Line-Up: 1 Trialist (13 R'avan Constable 46'), 2 Sanchez Ming (12 Trialist 46'), 3 Craig Braham-Barrett (17 Trialist 46'), 7 Luke Wanadio (Trialist 46'), 8 Trialist (11 Alfie Allen 24'), 9 Danny Mills (c) (14 Adrian Clifton 46'), 10 Anthony Jeffrey (5 Michael Chambers 46'), 15 Trialist (6 Jerry Gyebi 46'), 16 Ademola Shokunbi (18 Jerome Binnom-Williams 46'), 20 Kreshnic Krasniqi (4 Mark Ricketts (c) 46'), 20 Trialist (19 Trialist 46')

Goalscorer: Michael Chambers 63'

Altona '93 Line-Up: 24 Denis Lohmann (33 Alex Rieseler 63'), 3 Abdul Saibou (4 Steffan Neelsen 46'), 7 Pascal El-Nemr (5 Bujar Sejdija 46'), 8 Minou Tsimba-Eggers (6 Marcus Borgmann 46'), 11 Moritz Grosche, 14 Fynn Rathjen (c) (10 Prince Hüttner 46'), 16 Lawrence Schön (31 Yannick Petzschke 54'), 18 Armel Gohoua (13 Martin Schauer 46'), 19 Gideon Baur (15 Julius Zaher 46'), 22 Michael Ambrosius, 23 Lenny Glissmann (20 Kaan Cankaya 46')

Goalscorer: Julius Zaher 55', 77'

Referee: Aji Ajibola
Attendance: 921