Leatherhead 1-0 Dulwich Hamlet

Dulwich suffered a second consecutive defeat as they lost by a single goal at Leatherhead.

Gavin Rose shuffled the side after the home loss to Staines, restoring Ethan Pinnock to centre back, shifting Osei Sankofa to right back and bringing in Kristian Campbell on the left. Jordan Hibbert replaced the injured Damian Scannell and Jacob Erskine came back in up front.

Dulwich opened brightly and Albert Jarrett fired over after cutting in from the right. Nyren Clunis was also just crowded out as he moved in from the left.

However, it was the hosts that took a 16th minute lead as a free kick floated into the box saw Phil Walsh left unmarked and he headed home.

Dulwich should have been level a minute later. Ashley Carew floated s ball over the top but Jacob Erskine was unable to connect with keeper Wells stranded.

In the next attack Osei Sankofa cut in to the box and was sent crashing by a crude challenge. Despite the clear foul, the referee indicated that the challenge had played the ball .Phil Wilson then had to produce a good low save as the game flowed from end to end.

Good interplay from Carew & Hibbert released Sankofa and this time his effort was deflected wide. Nyren Clunis then had an effort from distance that brought a fine save from Wells before Carew flashed a shot narrowly wide.

However, Leatherhead had a chance to double their lead as an incisive move split open the centre of the Dulwich defence but Wilson got down well to save.

Half Time 1-0

The second half took a while to warm up, Jordan Hibbert having the first effort but firing straight at Wells. Dulwich then should have levelled in the 55th minute but Clunis struck the crossbar from a Carew cross. Erskine then tried to turn the ball back across goal but his efforts looked to be prevented by a hand ball.

Just past the hour Leatherhead produced a flowing attack that saw a fine pass release Hughes- Mason behind the defence but he shot wide.

Dulwich thought they had leveled in the 65th minute as Clunis had a shot saved and Carew thumped home the rebound, only for Clunis to have been flagged offside.

Dulwich seemed to run out of ideas despite ringing the changes from the bench, although they should have equalised with 8 minutes remaining. Clunis mesmerised his full back on the right and played the ball across goal. Inexplicably, every Hamlet player had attacked the near post when if just one had held back then they would have been presented with a tap in.

There was to be only one more chance and that went to the home side, only fine defending from Matt Drage,who got across to produce a well timed challenge, prevented a second goal. .

Full Time 1-0

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