What the papers have been saying

Not as much news as usual, with the Christmas & New Year holiday period in full swing

But here is what the non-league & local press were reporting in the run-up to Christmas Day:

Last Sunday the report in the ‘Non League Paper’ wasn’t the most impartial, or accurate to say the least, as supplied by the Grays Athletic Football Club correspondent, after our win there the day before:

Ten-man Dulwich’s dramatic last-minute winner at Grays Athletic returned them to the league top spot, which they looked likely to lose for much of the second half.
Nyren Clunis got the goal, after they had Danny Waldren sent off with 22 minutes remaining for conceding the penalty which drew Grays level after Dean McDonald had given Hamlet the lead.
And Grays started impressively. Joao Carlos’ jinking run past two defenders, was only brought to an end by Matt Drage’s fine defensive block.
They then had a golden chance to open the scoring from the spot. But Harry Agombar’s kick was tipped aside by Hamlet keeper Phil Wilson.
Both sides had chances to open the scoring before McDonald broke the deadlock on 55 minutes.
The lead only lasted 12 minutes. Grays were awarded a second penalty, in an incident which saw Waldren sent off. Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson did what Agombar couldn’t and scored.
Clunis scored in the final moments to condemn the hosts to defeat and take Dulwich top on goal difference.
Star man: Dean McDonald (Dulwich Hamlet)
Entertainment: *** (out of five stars)

The midweek Tuesday edition of the ‘South London Press’ ran with the headline of spot kicks, whilst getting our scorers & red card correct, unlike the above:

Penalties galore as South London sides are put on the spot
Damian Scannell struck a last-minute free-kick to earn Dulwich Hamlet three precious points with a 2-1 win against Grays Athletic on Saturday to keep them top of the table.
Phil Wilson came to his side’s rescue in a goalless first half when he saved Harry Agombar’s penalty.
Dean McDonald hit the post after the break, but went one better a few minutes later when he pounced on a defensive mistake and slipped the ball past Lamar Jospeh-Johnson.
Grays made it second time lucky from the spot when Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson equalised on 66 minutes, although the visiting defence felt Jordan Brown’s challenge on Alex Addae was well timed.
Tempers boiled over in the aftermath of the decision, with Ashley Carew shown two yellow cards and Dulwich assistant Junior Kadi sent from the dugout. Boss Gavin Rose was to follow him soon after when winger Nyren Clunis was pulled to the ground.
Dulwich kept pressing and were rewarded when a flurry of players attacking Scannell’s free-kick prevented Joseph-Johnson from getting to it and the ball went straight in. Rose’s side visit Corinthian-Casuals in the London County Cup tonight.

[Note: The headline also referred to lower division Ryman outfit Tooting & Mitcham United, who were well beaten at Guernsey; with one of their consolation goals in a heavy 6-2 loss, being a penalty, as well as conceding two themselves. And, right down in the feeder leagues, our tenants Fisher managed to squeeze past rock bottom Holmesdale, the only goal of the game from the spot, played at Champion Hill in front of spectators]

On Christmas Eve the weekly ‘Southwark News’ also concentrated on the match last weekend in Essex:

Hamlet avoid Gray day
Scannell nets a dramatic winner for Hamlet against Grays

Hamlet midfielder Damian Scannell scored a last minute winner against Grays last Saturday that helped Dulwich secure three points in an incident packed encounter.
The 2-1 win was secured thanks to goals from Dean McDonald and Scannell but the Pink and Blues were foreced to play the final twenty minutes of the game with ten men after Ashley Carew got his marching orders.
Carew was dismissed for dissent following the controversial award of a penalty that saw Bradley Fortnum-Tomlinson equalise for Grays.
The penalty award was an astonishing decision and it should have left Hamlet on the back foot, but instead the ten men took the game by the scruff of the neck.
That initiative was rewarded when a Scannell free-kick evaded all and sundry in the penalty area and bounced into the net as the clock ticked into time added on.
Hamlet should have been behind at half time but had keep Phil Wilson to thank for saving a spot kick that was conceded when Ryan Moss was found to be over exuberant in his own area.
On Tuesday night Billericay Town missed a chance to take top spot in the Ryman Premier League when their game against Grays was postponed. Hamlet will therefore sit top of the table at Christmas.
Dulwich played Corinthian Casuals in the London Cup on the same evening winning the second round contest 4-1. Ryan Moss bagged a hat-trick and Albert Jarrett also netted.
Dulwich are next in action on Boxing Day, 3pm kick off, when Kingstonian visit Champion Hill for a Ryman Premier league encounter.
They return again on Saturday January 2 when they travel to Tonbridge Angels in another league encounter that starts at 3pm.