Needham Market 2-1 Dulwich Hamlet

Dulwich stumbled into the Play Offs with a defeat at Needham Market and will now travel to Bognor Regis Town on Thursday.

Dulwich closed the league season with a poor display that did not match the passion of around 300 fans that made the trip to Suffolk.

Gavin Rose named an unchanged side but they turned in a stuttering performance that lacked any fluency or conviction for long periods.

Despite playing with the wind in their favour in the first half, they never really got going. An early Ashley Carew corner was headed over by Mitchell Nelson but it was the home side who looked more fluent and found plenty of joy down the flanks.

One of these led to the ball pinging around the penalty area without a shot that threatened the goal.

It took a quarter of an hour for Dulwich to test Gay in the home goal, Dipo Akinyemi forcing him to dive to his left to push his effort just out of the reach of the onrushing Nyren Clunis.

Kevin James just failed to get on the end of a long ball from Ashley Carew before Brothers fired just too high for Needham Market and Edwards had to tip over a header from Mann.

Dipo Akinyemi flicked a long ball into the path of Kevin James but he scuffed his effort and Gay was able to save easily.

Needham Market took the lead in the 36th minute.when a quick break led to Jordan Brown conceding a corner and when it was delivered into the box, the ball fell to Luke Ingram to fire home.

The home side then pushed for a second and from a 43rd minute corner, the ball had to be cleared off the line.

Half Time 1-0

Dulwich opened the second half brightly with Roman Michael-Percil having a shot saved and Kevin James being clearly pushed as he tried to get on the end of a cross. Dipo Akinyemi also fired over when well placed

For the home side, Ingram broke away but his low effort was easily gathered by Preston Edwards.

Dulwich should have levelled on the hour as an Ashley Carew cross found Kevin James at the far post. His effort flew across the goal where Nyren Clunis fired wide. However, from the resulting goal kick they fell two behind, the ball being flicked on to Ingram who was clean through on goal. He lifted the ball over Edwards and fired into the net.

Dulwich reduced the deficit in the 63rd minute, and it was a goal out of nothing from Dipo Akinyemi. He won the ball 25 yards out, turned inside and rifled a low effort past Gay.

Akinyemi couldn't turn in a Clunis cross as Dulwich went in search of an equaliser that would seem ensure their play off place. Michael-Percil had an effort blocked and Nelson had a header too high.

Dulwich were now dominant as Needham Market seemed content to sit back but chances were at a premium. With a minute left, Matt Drage delivered a cross that Needham captain Miller headed past Gay but the ball crashed out off the bar.

The final chance arrived in the third minute of added time but Moss and Damian Scannell both couldn't turn the ball home in a goalmouth scramble.

Final Score 2-1