Our Women’s side were finally back at Champion Hill as they took on second-placed Actonians, who were unbeaten in their opening six games and were only behind league-leaders Norwich City on goal-difference going into this fixture.

From the get-go, Dulwich started brightly with an early chance falling to captain Asia Harbour-Brown, she found herself deep into the Actonians penalty box but as she was about to shoot, the defender dispossessed her.

The Hamlet built on their brilliant start as just five minutes later, Jodie Lodge put us ahead. It looked like she was going for a cross, but the ball found itself in the back of the net. Head Coach Ryan Dempsey jokingly said he’s convinced it was a shot.

Moments later Lodge managed a goal-line clearance to deny the visitors from a corner in the nineteenth minute.

Just before the break, the Hamlet had one more big chance, this time Natasha Stephens flicked it on to Angie Dunbar-Bonnie, who drove down the wing before firing the ball into the box, it fell to Lily Price, who from 25-yards-out fired over.

After 45 minutes at home, Dulwich Hamlet lead Actonians 1-0 and it was well deserved.

The second half was underway, and Saskia Reeves Priestley was called into action, as she came sprinting out of her goal to deny Actonians, before ten minutes after getting a good hand on another shot to keep us ahead.

In the seventy-first minute we scored through Stephens, who poached a spillage from their goalkeeper to double our advantage.

Three changes happened as Tia Searle, Eleanor Hutchings and Pheobe Leitch replaced Lucy Monkman, Anna Jowle and Natalie Taylor.

The Hamlet came close again through Dunbar-Bonnie, a shot from Stephens was saved by the keeper which fell to Angie who fired over, and just before the end Stephens looked like she could’ve made it three for Dulwich, however she slipped just before her shot.

It was a clinical, defensively strong and all-round faultless display as Dulwich Hamlet beat Actonians 2-0 to provide the visitors with their first loss of the season and move just two points behind them.

Player of the Match went to Lodge, who scored and provided a goal-line clearance in the first half, and for a great defensive performance, so she’s well worthy of the award.

Next up for Dulwich Hamlet is a trip to Hampshire to play Fleet Town at The Easy As HGV Stadium in the Women’s FA Cup Third Qualifying Round, which will take place on the 13th October. 

We return to Champion Hill on Wednesday 23rd October when we host Farnham Town in the Isthmian Women's Cup. Get your tickets here.