Dulwich Hamlet 2-0 Lewes

Dulwich ground out a hard earned victory over Lewes in front of over 700 fans at Champion Hill.

Dulwich opened brightly and, as early as the 3rd minute, Laurent Hamici turned well but shot wide. Good work on the left from Xavier Vidal & Marlon Patterson saw Nyren Clunis stab a 6th minute effort wide.

The game entered into a lull with Lewes happy for The Hamlet to monopolise possession. However, with a robust visiting midfield and the home side lacking the fluency to move the ball quickly & accurately, there were no clear openings for the home side.

In fact, it was Lewes who should have taken a 20th minute lead as sloppy defending allowed the ball to be played to the usually legal Terry Dodd but he snatched at the chance and pus h ed his shot well wide.

In the closing minutes of the half, Lewes came close again. Nathan Crabb was just wide, Dodd forced a scrambling save from Phil Wilson & George Branford s as his cross clip the far post.

Half Time 0-0

A slip by Jordan Hibbert soon after the resumption let in Jack Dixon. He set up Luke Blewden who shot well wide of the target.

With the match in a protracted period of play that was high on effort but low on quality it came as surprise when Dulwich took the lead on 58 minutes.

Good work on the right saw a cross delivered into the Lewes box and Nyren Clunis was left all alone to put Dulwich ahead.

Following the goal, Lewes suddenly showed more a ambition going forwards and George Branford was unlucky to see his 20 yard shot strike the outside of the post.

There was much endeavour on both sides without any end product until the final few minutes. In the last minute Nathan Crabb set up Luke Blewden but he was again off target for the visitors. For Dulwich, Abdul Mansaray set up Xavier Vidal but his weak shot was easily held & Nigel Neita found Banks equal to his shot.

Deep into stoppage time, if took 2 good blocks to keep out the visitors & from the resulting corner Dulwich were able to break upfield where Abdul Mansaray found himself with a run on goal. He showed great composure by feeding Xavier Vidal who scored into the unguarded net to secure the points.

Full Time 2-0
Attendance 763
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