The Hamlet can count themselves very unfortunate to suffer a first defeat of the season in front of season high crowd of 607.

Dulwich opened brightly and it was past the quarter hour before the visitors were seen as an attacking threat. The first good chance arrived on 21 minutes as Ian Daly slipped the ball in to the advancing Mathieu Boyer but with just the keeper to beat Boyer fired his shot wide of the near post.

Two minutes later the visitors had the lead as George Purcell struck an unstoppable drive into the top corner from fully 30 yards out that gave Phil Wilson no chance.

However, Dulwich continued to play their measured possession football and it was rewarded in the 35th minute as Billy Crook played the ball inside the full back for the advancing Ahmed Dean who delivered a cross to the near post that Nyren Clunis stabbed into the net.

Half Time 1-1

The second half followed a similar pattern with Dulwich patiently building from the back and looking threatening going forward where Ian Daly was linking play well on his debut in the unfamiliar centre forward position.

However, the high risk football that is a trademark of the way that The Hamlet play was to lead to them falling behind on 68 minutes as Peter Adeniyi was dispossessed by AFC Hornchurch substitute Stefan Payne who advanced to easily beat Phil Wilson one on one.

Dulwich pressed hard for an equaliser and Billy Crook fired a volley straight at the keeper before on 78 minutes Kevin James got clear to the right of goal and drew a challenge from behind as he went past the defender. To everybody's amazement the officials waved away what looked a certain spot kick and within a minute Payne had added a third for the visitors.

Dulwich embarked on all out attack to try to rescue the position and good work from Ian Daly & Xavier Vidal saw Ahmed Dean with a sight of goal but he fired wide. Ryan James was next to try his luck but fired wide before his header forced a fine stop from Echepare in the visitors goal.

Ethan Pinnock then headed over when well placed before Kevin James again turned the last defender and went to ground. This time it looked far less certain but the referee pointed to the spot without hesitation and Erhun Oztumer converted from the spot.

Dulwich were without the injured Dean Lodge whilst Jerome Walker limped out midway through the first half with what looked like a recurrence of his hamstring injury.

Ian Daly was voted the Supreme Engraving & Awards UK Man of the Match for his excellent debut performance having linked play well from the unfamiliar centre forward position.