AFC Hornchurch 1-0 Dulwich Hamlet

A fourth league defeat in 5 games for The Hamlet as a George Purcell penalty gave the home side victory.

Gavin Rose shuffled the side again in an effort to get The Hamlet back on track. Terrell Forbes returned to play at right back with Michael Abnett in midfield and Albert Jarrett on the left.

It was Jarrett who looked the most likely source of a Dulwich goal as he regularly had the beating of his marker, Junior Luke.

He produced a fine cross as early as the 4th minute which home keeper Mott clawed out to Michael Abnett. Unfortunately, he couldn't keep his shot down.

Dulwich pushed forward on a difficult bumpy pitch and Nyren Clunis was just crowded out when the ball fell to him in the penalty area in the 6th minute and was just wide with a 23rd minute effort from a tight angle.

The home side were posing little attacking threat but should have gone ahead in the 25th minute. George Purcell got on behind the defence and rounded Phil Wilson but the ball took a horrible bobble and he shanked his shot wide.

Just before the half hour Dulwich had a period of concerted pressure on Thursday home goal which saw Michael Abnett have a shot blocked, Harry Ottaway head over & Michael Kamara have his header pushed out by Mott.

Seven minutes from the break Phil Wilson had to be alert to push a fine half volley from Purcell around the post.

Half Time 0-0

Shawn McCoulsky was introduced at half time in place of Terrell Forbes and he would have an eventful half. First he shot wildly wide after rounding Mott but was spared the ignominy of the miss as the Assistant had signaled for hand ball previously.

Next he was first to react to a 58th minute shot from Jarrett that reared up at keeper Mott but, from six yards out, he hit the bar when it seemed easier to score.

The home side almost capitalised on a rare Ethan Pinnock mistake in the 64th minute but Phil Wilson saved well from Reece Beckles-Richards.

The game's defining moment came in the 71st minute as Michael Kamara made a challenge in the box that clipped a home forward and the referee awarded a penalty that Purcell confidently converted.

The task was to get more difficult for Dulwich when Shawn McCoulsky was sent off for a challenge that looked a lot less serious than a nasty late challenge on Michael Abnett earlier in the half that the referee had not even deemed to be a foul. This decision clearly incensed the Dulwich bench and Gavin Rose & Junior Kadi were sent from the dugout. It also appeared that Albert Jarrett, who had earlier been substituted, was sent off for remarks made to the officials.

When the game finally got back underway, Dulwich pushed forward in search of an equaliser but failed to create anything of note and slipped to another defeat.

Full Time 1-0