Royston Town 0-1 Dulwich Hamlet

A lone goal victory means The Hamlet will travel to Whitehawk in the 2nd Round of the Buildbase FA Trophy.

Dulwich line up match events here

Gavin Rose was forced to make changes from Saturday's drawn game as Michael Chambers was unfit. This meant a return to a four man defence. Sanchez Ming and Nathan Green retained their places but had to reign in some of their natural attacking instincts. Danny Carr started up front but Dumebi Dumaka was fit enough to take a place on the bench.

Royston adopted a completely different tactical approach to this game. Having pressed high up the pitch in Saturday's drawn game, this time they were happy to drop off and sit in two banks of four. As a result Dulwich was able to monopolise possession but without building sustained pressure on the home defence.

Dulwich fashioned a couple of early chances as a Nyren Clunis shot was deflected wide and Danny Carr headed a Vas Karagiannis cross wide.However, from a rare foray forward, Royston could have taken the lead in the 12th minute. A cross from the Dulwich left found Josh Castiglione arriving at the far post but he couldn't keep his volley down.

Having survived that early scare, the home side were rarely seen as an attacking threat. Instead, they worked hard to ensure that The Hamlet had little time and space in which to operate. A 19th minute free kick from Ashley Carew was too high, whilst a piece of sublime skill took Danny Carr into space but he could not direct his pass to the unmarked Gavin Tomlin.

It wss only fine goalkeeping from Joe Welch that prevented Dulwich taking a 33rd minute lead. A cross from Nathan Green reached Gavin Tomlin who laid the ball into the path of Nyren Clunis. However, his shot was deflected behind by the outstretched leg of the Royston keeper.

Despite their overwhelming possession, Dulwich only forced Welch into one more save before the break when he beat out a long range effort from Matt Drage, with another Carr header and a shot from Sanchez Ming not troubling the keeper.

Half Time 0-0

The second half saw a more open game and Welch produced a magnificent save diving to his right to keep out a 47th minute Gavin Tomlin free kick.

For the home side, Ryan Ingrey was inches wide with a fine 53rd minute effort that best Preston Edwards but also the post.

Following this scare, Dulwich were quickly back on top but, whilst their play was neat, they failed to fashion any clear opportunity until the 70th minute when Welch again foiled Clunis with his feet.

With no breakthrough forthcoming, the Dulwich defence had to be wary of a quick breakaway but Marc Weatherstone and Matt Drage were rock solid to ensure that Preston Edwards could have a quiet evening.

Both sides rung the changes from the bench and Dumebi Dumaka began to ask more questions of the home defence. However, with both teams reluctant to commit too much to attack with extra time looking likely, Dulwich struck.

Dumaka found space on the left and played the ball to the overlapping Nathan Green whose cross was met on the volley by Nyren Clunis at the far post. His effort may have been heading across, rather than into, the goal but struck Stuart Bridges and deflected in.

Dulwich now tried to see the game out by keeping possession but had to deal with one anxious moment when Royston were awarded a free kick deep Into stoppage time. With everybody, including keeper Welch, in the Dulwich penalty area, Matt Drage headed away and referee Ajibola signalled an end to proceedings.

Final Score 0-1