Enfield Town 0-1 Dulwich Hamlet

The brilliance of Enfield Town keeper Nathan McDonald was not enough to prevent Dulwich moving up to 2nd place in the table.

The Hamlet lined up with new loan signing Serge Makofo up front and it was the Whitehawk loanee who was to grab the only goal.

However, the margin of victory would have been much morw comfortable without the brilliance of Nathan McDonald in the Enfield goal.

Enfield, looking to continue their fine run of form following victory at table toppers Maidstone United, opened the brighter and, after two early free kicks came to nothing, brought a fine diving save from Phil Wilson in only the 5th minute.

The first threat from Dulwich came in the 13th minute as Xavier Vidal threaded a neat pass through to Makofo that home defender Ryan Doyle deflected back to McDonald who had to hurriedly clear.

A minute later, a well worked corner saw Luke Wanadio have a shot blocked which then broke to Xavier Vidal some 25 yards out. His shot was also blocked but spun into the air for Ethan Pinnock to head goalwards; McDonald clawing it away under pressure from Ashley Carew.

Dulwich scored what turned out to be the winner in the 19th minute. A wayward pass as Enfield attacked was intercepted by Ethan Pinnock who released the ball over the top to Nyren Clunis. He outpaced the covering defender and cut in on goal where his low effort was parried low to his left by McDonald. However, the loose ball was scrambled into the net by Makofo.

Dulwich were now dominant. Luke Wanadio embarked on a long run down the right wing but McDonald cut out his low cross, then fine work from Jack Dixon and Michael Abnett released Wanadio again but this time Frazer Shaw blasted over.

Good play from Vidal on the left saw his ball across the box reach Abnett but his low shot was brilliantly tipped around the post by McDonald.

Serge Makofo was just wide with a 34th minute shot on the turn and a 37th minute effort from Ashley Carew brought another fine save from McDonald.

Half Time 0-1

Dulwich opened the second half brightly, Wanadio dragging a shot wide in the opening minute. Five minutes into the half The Hamlet were to come close to a second goal. Wanadio beat Ryan Doyle on the right and delivered a low cross that somehow passed across the six yard box without being touched, this despite defenders and both Makofo & Clunis throwing themselves at the ball.

A minute later, a swift break from the home side saw Phil Wilson come quickly off his line to make a timely block to preserve the lead, whilst Michael Abnett was the next to be denied by McDonald.

A break from Xavier Vidal saw him find Makofo whose effort was blocked and then Frazer Shaw played a superbly weighted pass inside the full back to Nyren Clunis but, after cutting in from the left, he was denied by McDonald.

McDonald was at it again as he got down low to his right to push out an Ashley Carew free kick and, with 9 minutes remaining, he denied Nyren Clunis again at point blank range after a Vidal shot had fallen to him.

Enfield pressed hard for an equaliser in the closing stages but, despite a number of corners & crosses into the box, were unable to create any clear openings.

Final Score 0-1
Attendance 389

Photo copyright Joel Virgo

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