Goals from Summer Roberts and Brit Saylor in the second-half weren't enough as the Hamlet lost 4-2 to Ebbsfleet United in their first home game of the season.

Following their defeat at Dartford two weeks ago, the Hamlet were looking to get back to winning ways at home in front of a strong Champion Hill crowd of 563.

Emerging to a cacophony of noise, and kicking off to a shower of confetti and pink and blue smoke, the Hamlet got themselves off to a strong start, playing on the front-foot in the attacking areas and applied pressure to the visitors.

But it was Mia Lockett who created the first real opportunity in the 22nd minute of the game, as she cut the ball onto the outside and got a shot from her right foot only for her curling effort to go just wide of the post.

Another chance came seven minutes later as Roberts got a shot away on the edge of the penalty box only for her effort to be tipped over the bar by the Ebbsfleet keeper Courtney Shanly.

A minute later and despite the hosts dominating the game, the away side took the lead through Logan O'Shea. A clearance downfield caught out Erin Corrigan, and the former Billericay forward was able to turn inside Morgan Searle, and curl a shot around Saskia Reeves-Priestley.

Things would go from bad to worse as Ebbsfleet would score their second goal in just two minutes, as Amy Russ slotted her effort into the bottom right corner following a misplaced pass from Phoebe Read. Two mistakes and suddenly we were 2-0 down.

Dulwich's new number nine Roberts was certainly making herself a handful in and around the penalty area as her header from an Erin Corrigan cross went over the bar. Not only was she a goal threat towards the end of the first half, she was also on hand to provide opportunities for her team mates, as she provided a through ball to Lockett who couldn't make the most of it in the end.

Into the second half, the Hamlet continued to create chances in search of a goal. Their persistence paid off ten minutes into the half as a great ball into the box from a corner kick from Lily Price found Roberts, who headed her effort into the back of the net.

And the home team thought they equalised four minutes later, but captain Brit Saylor's toe poked her effort agonisingly onto the post and wide.

The visitors would get their third goal of the game in the 65th minute through substitute Amelia Woodgate. Last season's top scorer had been on the pitch for just three minutes when she received a ball on the outside of the penalty area, sending a drive crashing over Reeves-Priestley and in via the crossbar.

Despite this, Ryan Dempsey's team continued to battle hard and were unfortunate not to get a second goal in the game, as Lockett hit the bar with an audacious attempt with the outside of her right foot.

This would be short lived as Dulwich conceded a fourth goal as Woodgate beat the offside trap to slot in scored her second goal of the game, two goals in just fifteen minutes for the striker.

The hostesses would finally get their second goal four minutes from time as Saylor scored from the penalty spot after Lockett was brought down in the box.

Another defeat for the home side but there were many positives to pick out despite the scoreline, with Ryan's side playing the better football throughout the afternoon, and deserved their rousing send-off from the pitch.

Dulwich Hamlet Line-Up: 1 Saskia Reeves-Priestley, 2 Jodie Lodge (20 Minnie Cruttwell 79'), 3 Asia Harbour Brown (16 Tia Searle 79'), 8 Brit Saylor (c), 9 Summer Roberts, 10 Mia Lockett, 12 Erin Corrigan, 15 Phoebe Read (11 Rebecca May 88'), 18 Morgan Searle, 19 Shakira Kafero-Roberts (17 Luna Alves Etienne 72'), 21 Lily Price

Unused Substitution: 13 Ceylon Hickman

Goalscorers: Summer Roberts 55', Brit Saylor 85' (pen)

Yellow Card: Mia Lockett FT

Ebbsfleet United Line-Up: 1 Courtney Shanly, 2 Casey Iron, 3 Millie Waud, 5 Hannah Porter, 6 Stef Simmons (4 Niamh O'Neill 80'), 7 Logan O'Shea (16 Lily Hewitt 86'), 8 Charley Clifford (15 Maddie Reynolds 41'), 10 Amy Russ, 11 Lydia Wills (9 Amelia Woodgate 62'), 14 Asanteni Charles (12 Madison Woodgate 86'), 27 Dan Carlton (c)

Goalscorers: Logan O'Shea 31, Amy Russ 33', Amelia Woodgate 65', 77'

Yellow Card: Asanteni Charles FT

Referee: Iain Bryant
Attendance: 563