Dulwich Hamlet 1-0 Witham Town

A spectacular 59th minute strike from Xavier Vidal earned The Hamlet another 3 points as they were made to work hard by a resilient Witham Town.

It was Witham who held the upper hand in the opening minutes as their pressure forced an early corner. The first threat from Dulwich did not come until the 6th minute when neat play saw Omar Koroma try to turn away from his marker in the box. He was clearly having his shirt pulled but this was on the blind side of the officials who were unmoved by the appeals.

Nyren Clunis had a shot from distance comfortably saved a minute later before Hamlet fans saw the first involvement of new signing Luke Wanadio with a good run and cross from the right.

Witham captain Tom Wraight then threatened as he carried the ball from deep in his own half; Michael Abnett managing to put in a tackle on the edge of his own box to diffuse the danger at the expense of a corner.

An 18th minute shot from Frazer Shaw was deflected for a corner following more good work from Wanadio and,from the resulting corner, Omar Koroma forced a save from Martyn Guest in the Witham goal.

Guest was then to produce one of the saves of the season as Frazer Shaw put in a cross from the left straight on to the head of Omar Koroma. His bullet header was somehow pushed wide by Guest.

The only other notable chance of the half arrived 7 minutes from the break when Jack Dixon found space that unleash a shot from 30 yards that Guest held at full stretch.

Half Time 0-0

Dulwich noticeably upped the tempo at the start of the second half and Koroma was again foiled after more good work from Wanadio. Nyren Clunis then set up Wanadio but his shot was into the side netting before his next cross saw substitute Jordan Hibbert, who had replaced Kevin James in the first half after he had sustained a nasty head wound, put the ball over the top from inside the six yard box.

On 54 minutes Phil Wilson was called into serious action for the first time. A free kick to the far post saw Nicki Beale rise highest and direct his header back across goal towards the far top corner. However, Wilson managed to claw the ball out to safety from under his crossbar.

Five minutes later the solitary goal arrived. Xavier Vidal received the ball some 25 yards out and, with minimal back lift, struck a shot that arrowed into the top left corner of Guest's goal, with the keeper this time motionless.

Two minutes later it took a good save from Wilson to prevent Wraight levelling the scores, whilst a 69th minute effort for Dulwich by Jordan Hibbert fell to substitute Harry Ottaway but he was foiled by Guest as he looked to lift the ball over the keeper.

Luke Wanadio should have sealed the points for The Hamlet with 14 minutes remaining as he was left unmarked only 6 yards out but could only head Frazer Shaw's pinpoint cross wide.

Nyren Clunis, Luke Wanadio and Harry Ottaway all had half chances to add a clinching second goal before, with 2 minutes remaining, The Hamlet were indebted to Phil Wilson who got down well to block a goalbound effort from Jamie Guy.

Final Score 1-0
Attendance 820

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