Here is a report, by Folkestone Invicta fan Richard Murrill, from their blogsite www.invictastats.com

Dulwich Hamlet displayed their championship credentials with a 2-0 win away to Folkestone Invicta on a heavy pitch at a cold and wet Cheriton Road on Saturday afternoon.

Dulwich have lost the Ryman League Division One South play-off final for the past two seasons – beating Invicta in last season’s semi final – and will be now hoping to go on and win promotion either as champions or via the play offs.

The south London club has now beaten Invicta in their past five meetings, having not previously beaten the Folkestone club.

Both goals on Saturday came during the second half as Invicta captain Liam Friend put the ball into his own net in the 59th minute and Erhun Otzumer made it 2-0 in the 71st minute.

Up until then Invicta had held out as the first half had proved to be frustrating for the league leaders as they hit the post twice and the crossbar.

It had been a similar scenario at Dulwich back in October when Invicta had lost their unbeaten league record for the season as Turkish playmaker Otzumer hit two second half goals and put on a virtuoso individual performance.

Invicta had gone into the game with Luke Webb coming into the starting eleven for the injured Roland Edge, with Phil Stevenson continuing at right back, Josh Vincent in the centre of midfield and Josh Burchell partnering Richard Atkins in attack.

The home side made a positive start as a first minute Darren Smith free kick flew just in front of Burchell and new player-coach Smith tested visiting goalkeeper Phil Wilson with a shot from distance on the wet surface a minute later.

At the other end, Kevin James put Otzumer through in the tenth minute but he mis-cued and shot high and wide.

James himself then hit a low shot at Invicta goalkeeper Jack Delo three minutes later after receiving the ball from Kershaney Samuels.

A 17th minute Daniel Carr shot then went out for a throw in after a move involving Otzumer and Nyren Clunis as Dulwich’s intricate play was let down by their finishing.

Big striker Carr was involved again as he shot against the inside of the post from the left hand side of the penalty area after Calaum Martin had run at the home defence.

Carr put a good chance wide on the half hour mark when Samuels played the ball down the right hand side to Martin.

Martin himself shot against the post from the right hand side in the 33rd minute after Samuels had played the ball up to Otzumer.

Delo then touched a Carr shot onto the crossbar when the striker got clear down the right hand side three minutes later and was picked out by Ahmed Deen.

Phil Stevenson blocked a Ryan James shot from the left hand side of the penalty area at the start of the second half as Dulwich went forward again.

But Invicta rallied as Dane Luchford hit a low 53rd minute shot at Wilson from the edge of the penalty area as the Dulwich defence found itself stretched.

Vincent then hit a well-struck shot at Wilson a minute later.

But it was Dulwich who eventually broke the deadlock when Otzumer found Kevin James on the left and his ball across went in via FRIEND. The ball went through a hole at the back of the net to give the initial impression that Invicta had survived again.

Delo came out to save after an hour when Dulwich were given on-side and Clunis broke clear down the right hand side.

An Otzumer shot on the turn the flashed wide of the post as Dulwich threatened again in the 63rd minute.

But OTZUMER was to hit the target to make it 2-0 when Martin threaded the ball through and the ball went in despite Delo’s efforts to save.

Invicta substitute Johan Ter Horst headed wide in the 82nd minute when central defender Frankie Chappell found Stevenson on the right.

The Folkestone side had played with typical spirit but Dulwich ultimately had too much for them.

New signing Shane Hamshare was an unused substitute for Invicta in a game that was put into doubt by the rain in the couple of hours before kick off.

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Delo, Vincent, Stevenson, Friend, Chappell, Webb, Smith, Blanks, Atkins, Luchford (Ter Horst 73 mins), Burchell (Philpott 87 mins). Unused subs: Hamshare, Dickson, Hayward.

DULWICH HAMLET: Wilson, Samuels, R James, Deen (Kadi 58 mins), Adeniyi (Turner 73 mins), Gonsalves, Clunis, K James, Carr (J James 87 mins), Otzumer, Martin. Unused subs: Mansaray, Vidal.

Attendance: 176.