Staines Town 1-1 Dulwich Hamlet

Dulwich dropped to 4th place, although this was a well earned point and the third one all draw between these two sides this season.

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Dulwich named an unchanged side from last week's win over Needham Market, which at least meant there were no further injury problems. However, Ibrahim Kargbo & Rickie Hayles were fit to return to the bench and there was a place for new signing Reise Allassani, whose promising professional career has stalled after injury problems that have kept him out for over a year.

Both sides were cagey in the opening period and the first chance did not arrive until the 14th minute when a cross from the Staines left was headed over the top by Bettamer. It was the home side who did all the attacking as the makeshift Dulwich forward line were unable to hold the ball up when it was played forward.

The only effort of note from The Hamlet came in the 7th minute when Nyren Clunis was brought down some 22 yards out but Ashley Carew's free kick was just wide.

Marc Weatherstone survived an appeal for handball in the opening minutes, whilst Quade Taylor timed his tackle on Max Worsfold to perfection when it looked like he was in on goal in the 6th minute. Mohamed Bettamer headed over the top in the 14th minute when he was left unmarked and Preston Edwards had to be alert to intercept a through ball after a mistake by Sanchez Ming. There was also a 38th minute effort from Staines that was deflected just wide with Preston Edwards well beaten.

However, the last five minutes saw Dulwich finally come into the game as an attacking force and every chance fell to Nyren Clunis. First he cut in from the left but saw his low effort saved , he then placed his shot wide after cutting in again when he really should have hit the target and finally he saw an effort pushed out by Driscoll in the home goal.

Half Time 0-0

The first chance of the second half also fell to Clunis in the 47th minute and this time he made no mistake. Receiving a quickly taken free kick, he again cut in but this time curled his effort out of Driscoll's reach and inside the far post.

It was now Dulwich who were creating all the chances. A long ball forward saw Nana Boakye-Yiadom outpace the home defence but his effort was blocked by Driscoll and, when the ball was fed wide, Kenny Beaney placed his effort wide.

Michael Chambers embarked on a run forward from the back but he wasted the final pass as Dulwich pushed for a second and Staines were now struggling to create any real attacking threat. However, they equalised in the 62nd minute after seizing on a mistake. The usually impeccable Kenny Beaney let a simple pass rill under his foot and this was seized upon by the home side. The ball was played forward but even then would not have proved dangerous if Ashley Carew's attempted interception had not further diverted the ball. This deflection took it straight into the path of Bettamer who beat the onrushing Preston Edwards.

Dulwich looked to strike back immediately and within a minute Nyren Clunis had seen his effort deflected just wide, whilst the same fate also met an effort from Reise Allassani after he seized on a weak pass. Allassani also forced a save from Driscoll. Nyren Clunis produced a weak effort when through on goal with only two minutes remaining when he when he may have been better served ton try to roll the ball into the path of the onrushing Allassani.

With the game deep in stoppage time, The Hamlet switched off defensively and were relieved when another Worsfold cross just evaded the head of an attacker at the far post.

Final Score 1-1

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