Dulwich Hamlet 3-2 Burgess Hill Town

A goal five minutes from time gave Dulwich a narrow, yet thoroughly deserved, win over Burgess Hill Town to keep the pressure on leaders Hendon.

For match details visit here

This was an excellent game of football in which both teams negated the wind by keeping the ball on the floor and playing out from the back. It took both sides a little while to settle and the first chance came in the 10th minute. Michael Onovwigun's ball forward was misjudged by a defender and this left Nana Boakye-Yiadom through on goal. However he blasted high and wide of the near post when he should have shot across the keeper.

Boakye-Yiadom had another opportunity just a minute later after good play from Tanashe Abrahams and Nyren Clunis. The latter's cross was headed down by Nathan Ferguson and Boakye-Yiadom's effort was blocked.

Michael Onovwigun headed over after a Nyren Clunis cross was deflected to him at the far post and Clunis then missed a gilt edged chance in the 21st minute when he somehow failed to turn a Sanchez Ming cross home. Ashley Carew was just too high with a free kick after Sanchez Ming had been fouled.

Dulwich should have been awarded a penalty on the half hour when Nyren Clunis was baulked inside the penalty area but he got up and played on, shooting just wide. However, Dulwich took the lead just 4 minutes later with a goal from Nathan Ferguson. Good interplay between a number of players eventually saw the ball passed to Ferguson who thumped the ball home from 10 yards.

Dulwich pressed for a second goal but despite this couldn't find it before half time as little was seen of Burgess Hill Town as an attacking force.

Half Time 1-0

Burgess Hill introduced substitute Tony Garrod at half time and he levelled in the 47th minute when a cross from the right by Harding was directed on goal. Preston Edwards made a good save but couldn't hold on and Garrod stabbed home.

However, they were only level for 2 minutes as Nyren Clunis restored the lead for Dulwich. He stumbled through a number of challenges and then toe poked a fine effort past keeper Huxter from the edge of the box.

Burgess Hill had a good chance to level again in the 56th minute when a mistake left a four on two break but Lee Harding scuffed his effort well wide. However, they were level again in the 57th minute when a low cross was missed by the attacking player at the near post and turned into his own goal by Quade Taylor.

Dulwich pressed to regain the lead and Tanashe Abrahams had an effort blocked and Nyren Clunis whistled a cross shot just wide after he had been found in space by Nathan Ferguson. Max Huxter, the visiting keeper, blocked a good effort from Boakye-Yiadom after he had turned his marker and raced into the box.

Preston Edwards was then forced to make a good save from Rodrigues to keep The Hamlet on level terms before Dulwich grabbed the winner with 5 minutes left. Nathan Ferguson delivered a free kick into the penalty area and Michael Chambers headed home to the delight of the vast majority of the 1971 in attendance.

Looking to secure the points, Gavin Rose introduced Anthony Acheampong to shore up the defence for the last few minutes, but it was Nathan Ferguson who secured the points with a block from Pat Harding's shot from the edge of the box that seemed to be heading in.

Final Score 3-2