Dulwich Hamlet 2-1 Enfield Town

Dulwich ground out an important victory against play off rivals Enfield Town in front of another bumper crowd of 1204.

It was clear from the outset that this was a Dulwich team in a more determined mood than of late and they thoroughly deserved their victory.

The new centre back pairing of Ethan Pinnock and Matt Drage were the rocks on which Enfield's attacks faltered. They were ably supported by Jack Dixon who broke up the attacks in front of them and Ashley Carew who had his most effective game for a number of weeks.

Harry Ottaway led the line effectively and kept the heart of the Enfield Town defence fully occupied.

The match was fairly even early on with neither side able to fashion a clear opening until a 16th minute foul on Luke Wanadio saw the referee point to the spot. Ashley Carew confidently despatched the spot kick.

This seemed to settle the home side down and they had the better of the rest of the half. Harry Ottaway had a volley that whistled just wide in the 37th minute before Dulwich doubled their lead with 2 minutes of the half remaining.

Albert Jarrett seized on a mistake half way inside the visitors half and sprinted down the left before delivering a pinpoint cross that the onrushing Xavier Vidal thumped home.

Half Time 2-0

Dulwich came out for the second half in determined mood as they searched for a third goal that would end the contest. However, despite some good football, they were unable to fashion any clear chances and gradually Enfield Town began to assert themselves.

It still came as a surprise when they halved the deficit in the 68th minute as a long cross was headed back from beyond the far post and Nathan Livings sent an unstoppable volley beyond Phil Wilson and in off the underside of the crossbar, despite Ethan Pinnock's best efforts on the line

Enfield now believed that they could get something from the game and poured forward at every opportunity. However, after a skirmish following a foul midway inside the Dulwich half involving a number of players from both sides, Enfield substitute Michael Kalu was shown a straight red card for his part in the fracas.

Undeterred, the 10 men continued to put the home side under severe pressure but were thwarted by good defending from The Hamlet which meant Phil Wilson wasn't seriously tested.

In fact it was Dulwich, playing on the counter attack, who could have extended their lead. Joe Benjamin cooly cleared from his own penalty area to send Michael Abnett scampering clear but he was crowded out. Then both Joe Benjamin and Luke Wanadio had efforts just wide before the referee called a halt following over 9 minutes of stoppage time.

Final Score 2-1
Attendance 1204.

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