Dulwich Hamlet 1-2 Merstham

Dulwich suffered a shock home defeat in front of another bumper crowd at Champion Hill, as Merstham scored two goals in the last 13 minutes.

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Dulwich dominated the first half but only had a one goal lead to show for it at half time having wasted a number of chances both before and after taking the lead.

With a makeshift front pair of Nathan Ferguson and Nyren Clunis, Dulwich started brightly and it was Clunis who had an effort saved by visting keeper Ashlee Jones who was making his thrird appearance at Champion Hill this season having already appeared for Staines and Harlow.

Nyren Clunis was almost in on goal as Michael Onovwigun played the ball over the top before Ashley Carew gave Dulwich a 14th minute lead. Nyren Clunis was brought down some 25 yards out and Ashley Carew produced a trade mark free kick that went in off the underside of the bar.

Dulwich pushed for a second goal as Nyren Clunis and Sanchez Ming linked up but Ming's cross was cut out at the near post and should have taken a great chance in the 22nd minute. Nathan Ferguson accelerated away on the right and his low cross was scuffed goalwards by Nyren Clunis, with the ball being hacked away from the line.

Sanchez Ming then had an effort saved, before Merstham threatened for the first time as an Addai cross was just too high for Hayden-Smith. Then almost immediately Nyren Clunis just failed to get on the end of a Nathan Ferguson cross.

In the 39th minute a Nathan Ferguson shot was too hot for Jones to handle, and he then baulked Nyren Clunis as he followed up but the referee was unmoved.

Half Time 1-0

Within seven minutes of the restart Dulwich had struck the bar twice. Firstly through Nathan Ferguson following a ball from Sanchez Ming, and then Carew struck the bar with another free kick from distance.

However, Dulwich lost their way from began to lose their control of the game from the hour mark. First an Abnett cross was just too high for Penny and Ryan Hall was just wide with a long range effort. For Dulwich, Nathan Ferguson ran clear in the 71st minute but his effort was blocked by Jones and Sanchez Ming fired over on the follow up.

With 13 minutes remaining Merstham grabbed an equaliser as Dulwich failed to deal with a free kick from Hall. Marc Weatherstone had his clearance blocked and it fell to the Penny who thumped home.

If that was a shock the more was to come in the 81st minute as Penny got across the near post to head a corner home.

Despite pressing, Dulwich could not muster a real chance to equalise in the time remaining and slipped to their second consecutive league defeat.

Final Score 1-2