Dulwich Hamlet 4-2 Hendon

Goals from Ethan Pinnock, Nyren Clunis, Ashley Carew & Dean McDonald kept The Hamlet at the head of the table.

Dulwich opened brightly and pushed Hendon back from the start, taking the lead in the 4th minute. Ethan Pinnock headed goalwards and Hendon keeper Murphy allowed his header to slip from his grasp and into the net.

Hendon gradually came into the game and Sam Murphy had an effort deflected wide by his own player whilst Pinnock and Drage both had to cut out dangerous through balls. For Dulwich, Dan Sweeney headed an Ashley Carew free kick just too high and Calum Willock was crowded out as he tried to turn in the box.

Much against the run of play, Hendon were level in the 18th minute. A blocked shot fell perfectly into the path of Russell Short and he swept it home from the edge of the box.

Rhys Murrell-Williamson almost reprised his goal against Merstham as he ran from inside his own half before losing control on the edge of the box. Then Ashley Carew had an effort that Murphy parried wide before Hendon were reduced to 10 men on the half hour; Tingey received a straight red card for an over the top tackle on Murrell-Williamson.

It took Dulwich six minutes to take advantage of their extra man. Murrell-Williamson stole the ball from Dean Cracknell and, after drifting out wire, he found Nyren Clunis on the edge of the box. He shifted the ball on to his right side and curled his effort beyond the despairing dive of Murphy.

Hendon pressed for an equaliser before the break, Ibe shooting wide and then Wilson having to be at his best when a mistake by Jordan Brown let in Aaron Morgan.

Half Time 2-1

Calum Willock should have extended the lead four minutes after the break when Vassell & Diedhou both made mistakes that left him with a clear sight of goal. Murphy was then out quickly to block a Willock effort and turned behind a Waldren cross at full stretch.

Murrell-Williamson was too high with his effort after another run that took him through the Hendon defence and Willock had a header cleared off the line after he met a Clunis cross.

However, Dulwich got their third just two minutes later in the 56th minute as Willock was brought down when poised to shoot. Carew stepped up to send Murphy the wrong way.

Murrell-Williamson had another effort just wide on the hour but Hendon were always dangerous on the break and Morgan was just crowded out on the edge of the six yard box.

Scannell had an effort saved, and Clunis had a cross palmed away from the incoming attackers, before Scannell went on a run through the middle but shot wide.

With thirteen minutes left Hendon reduced the arrears when Matt Drage put through his own goal when trying to clear a low cross. This led to some nervous moments as Phil Wilson had to save from Cracknell and block further efforts as the ball bounced around the area.

However, Dulwich nerves were settled with 5 minutes remaining as Dean McDonald received the ball in space, advanced and thumped a fourth goal beyond Murphy.

Ashley Carew then blazed over from an Albert Jarrett cross. At the other end Wilson saved well and somehow Leon Smith put the rebound wide. The Hamlet keeper denied Smith one on one in stoppage time and a Kirby header was cleared off the line before Dulwich could celebrate victory.

Final Score 4-2
Attendance 1423