Harlow Town 2-3 Dulwich Hamlet

Two goals in the final six minutes from substitute Muhammudu Faal gave The Hamlet three points that their performance probably didn't deserve.

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Gavin Rose named the side that played for 83 minutes against Staines Town, with Nathan Green out for a number of weeks with his dislocated shoulder. However, there was some redeployment of resources in the positions adopted with Sanchez Ming on the right and Nyren Clunis operating down the left.

There was also a place on the bench for Nathan Ferguson who was with Grays Athletic before signing for Burton Albion.

Dulwich were quickly out of the blocks and took a second minute lead through Ibrahim Kargbo. A good save from home keeper Patrick Lee lead to a corner that was delivered by Gavin Tomlin. The ball was only half cleared to Kargbo and his lob volley was angled over Lee to give The Hamlet the lead.

However, Harlow came back strongly and put the Dulwich defence under pressure. Preston Edwards was forced into a fine save from a low cross and Jack Wilkinson fired an effort just too high. Therefore, it came as little surprise when they drew level in the 9th minute.

The Dulwich defence failed to deal with a cross effectively and, when the ball was cleared out to Syrus Gordon, he thumped an effort into the top corner that gave Preston Edwards no chance.

Within a minute, Dulwich should have gone back in front but,when the ball fell to Gavin Tomlin in acres of space in the penalty area, he skied his effort way over the bar.

For Harlow, centre back Charlie Dickens fired an angled effort just too high, whilst for The Hamlet a fine ball over the top from Ibrahim Kargbo was brought quickly under control by Ashley Carew. However, he dawdled over the chance and, when he laid the ball off to Sanchez Ming, he fired high and wide.

However, Harlow were certainly looking dangerous from their set plays and the inability of the Dulwich defence to clear effectively. This eventually lead to Harlow's second goal when a needless throw in was given away and, when the throw was flicked on, Alex Read was left completely unmarked to fire past the exposed Preston Edwards.

However, as half time approached Dulwich finally showed some signs of getting back in the game. Firstly, Sanchez Ming cut in from the right and it took a fine save from Lee to push out his angled effort , although if he had looked up then Dumebi Dumaka was unmarked on the edge of the six yard box. Then a long kick from Preston Edwards found Nyren Clunis but when he cut in from the left his effort hit the post.

Half Time 2-1

Gavin Rose clearly demonstrated his dissatisfaction with the first half performance by sending the players back out just some five minutes into the half time interval. This seemed to galvanise the team at the start of the half as, within a minute of the restart, a Nyren Clunis effort was just too high.

Dulwich forced another save from Lee just a couple of minutes later. A Sanchez Ming cross was knocked down by Dumebi Dumaka but Gavin Tomlin couldn't lift his effort over the keeper. Dumaka then couldn't get the better of the keeper as a pass slipped through the defence saw him one on one, but his effort was blocked by Lee.

Nyren Clunis then forced a fine stop from Lee in the 55th minute and the keeper also pushed out another effort from Sanchez Ming.

However, Dulwich then lost their way again and Harlow looked very comfortable against a misfiring attack and, in fact, they looked the side most likely to score. Junior Dadson went very close with a fine driving run and rasping cross shot that flew past Preston Edwards but also the post.

Gavin Rose rang the changes with Nathan Ferguson, Rickie Hayles and Muhammadu Faal introduced from the bench; Hayles taking up an unfamiliar forward position as Dulwich went for an equaliser which came with six minutes remaining. A Tomlin corner was headed goalwards by Rickie Hayles and although Lee saved,he could only push the ball into the air, whereupon Faal pounced to head home from close range.

However, Harlow sensed that they could still get a winner and it took a well timed tackle from Ibrahim Kargbo to thwart a quick break down the Dulwich right whilst, with a minute remaining, Preston Edwards produced the best save of the evening.

A long throw was only cleared to the edge of the box where it was met with a rising drive that flew through a crowd of players. However, the Dulwich keeper flew to his left to produce a magnificent save that seemed to secure a point.

However, there was a sting in the tail that was very harsh on the home side.In the final minute, Nyren Clunis picked up the ball in midfield and drove forward before releasing Faal into space behind the defence. He took a couple of touches before driving high past the onrushing keeper to give The Hamlet all three points.

Final Score 2-3