Dulwich Hamlet 1-3 Billericay Town

Injuries, a debatable penalty and a wonder strike played their part in a unfortunate reverse to Billericay Town.

For team line ups seehere

Dulwich made one change to the starting line-up from the win at Harlow, with Rickie Hayles coming in for Quade Taylor but Sanchez Ming was switched to the left, with Nyren Clunis on the right.

Dulwich opened brightly and within a minute Dumebi Dumaka spurned a good chance when he seized on an error but fired just wide of the target. In the third minute it took a good tackle to prevent Dumaka breaking clear and a minute later Ibrahim Kargbo fired just over.

On the right side, Nyren Clunis was causing problems with his overlapping runs that Billericay were finding hard to track but the solid centre of the Billericay defence ensured that Alan Julian was not called into action.

However, Billericay were dangerous when breaking forward and from a corner giant centre back Rob Swaine headed just over, whilst in the 11th minute Theophanous wasted a good chance by shooting straight at Preston Edwards. The covering Anthony Aceampong did enough to put him off his shot but he pulled a muscle in the act of getting across to cover and immediately left the field to be replaced by Marc Weatherstone, with Rickie Hayles switching to the centre of a back three from his starting position on the right.

Edwards then made a tremendous save from a Swaine header that seemed destined to put the visitors in front and Jake Robinson wasted an opportunity by shooting into the side netting.

Gavin Tomlin struck an effort just over before Edwards saved again from a Swaine header. Nyren Clunis then set up another chance for Dumaka that was blocked by a fine covering tackle from Swaine.

An effort from Ashley Carew then took a slight deflection and, whilst beating Julian in the visitors goal, it clipped the bar and Sanchez Ming saw his cross saw his dangerous low cross scrambled away.

Billericay forced a number of set plays and Jermaine Pennant' s delivery was always dangerous. He also had his own effort from a free kick comfortably saved by Preston Edwards.

Clunis was foiled by a tight offside call after a good exchange of asses between him, Marc Weatherstone and Gavin Tomlin and Dumaka curled another effort just too high.

However, just when it seemed that Dulwich had managed to shackle the dangerous BIllericay forwards they took the lead on 43 minutes. A lofted pass forward held up just enough in the wind for Bricknell to pull it down with one touch and then clinically finish past Edwards.

Dulwich responded positively to the setback and were quickly level. Good work on the right from Tomlin saw him stopped by a hand ball from a Leo Chambers,who inadvertently fell but then trapped the ball with his hand. After a dealy for treatment to Gavin Tomlin, Ashley Carew stepped up and sent Julian the wrong way with the penalty.

Half Time 1-1

Gavin Tomlin left the field at half time to be replaced by Nana Boakye-Yiadom and with Acheampong already departed this meant the Dulwich side was shorn of two vital players.

There was still little to choose between the teams and chances were at a premium for both sides, although Billericay looked the more dangerous with Sam Deering starting to dictate play.

Bricknell almost gave Billericay the lead when he got on the end of a through ball but, having beaten Edwards, his effort was cleared off the line by Weatherstone, covering back to atone for his mistake. From the resulting corner, Carew kicked a shot off the line.

However, the deadlock did not look likely to be broken until the award of a penalty against the home side in the 72nd minute. A high ball in the box saw Boakye-Yiadom and Weatherstone both hesitate to clear and, with both of them leaving it to each other and not looking at the ball, the ball struck Boakye-Yiadom. The referee deemed this to be deliberate and Bricknell stepped up to score from the spot.

Dulwich were now chasing the game, although continuing to defend resolutely and it appeared that they may get their break when Nyren Clunis raced clear down the middle. However, he was thwarted by a foul from behind by Konchesky when he seemed to be clear on goal, but the referee deemed it only worthy of a booking.

The young Dulwich forward line were struggling to create any clear chances, although Boakye-Yiadom's pace looked the most likely route back in to the game and he forced one regulation save from Julian and Sanchez MIng, now swapped to the right, fired an effort over the top when well placed.

With three minutes remaining Dulwich were awarded a free kick that was floated into the box. As Michael Chambers tried to get on the end of it his shirt was clearly being pulled back but the referee ignored the offence and, almost immediately, Billericay scored again.

Jake Robinson picked up the clearance and advanced to close to the half way line from where he looked up and sent an audacious shot past the retreating Preston Edwards, who had been off his line to cover as Dulwich had pushed more bodies forward.

There was still time for Edwards to pull off another flying save from a free kick before Billericay were able to celebrate a hard earned three points.

Final Score 1-3
Attendance 1688