Time for the opposition opinion from our last two home matches

On Saturday we overcame Canvey Island. Here is the report from their website:

Canvey Island suffered an unfortunate 1-0 defeat against Dulwich Hamlet at Champion Hill.

In front of a 500 plus crowd, Gulls dominated much of the game but an inspired performance by Hamlet keeper Phil Wilson kept them at bay.

The first half was a rather dull affair with most of the play in the midfield. Dulwich played some good possession football but Canvey closed them down well and stopped them from creating anything of note. Hamlet looked dangerous down the wings but any crosses were cleared comfortably by Rob Bartley and Mike Jones.

Simon Thomas had the first moment of danger with a low curling shot that bent just wide of the far post on 8 minutes.

He then nearly got on the end of Ellis Sands’ superb right wing cross but was inches away from connecting with the ball at the far post on 28 minutes.

Freddie Warren making his first appearance for the Gulls after signing on loan from Barnet for a month tried his luck from 25 yards on 39 minutes but the ball sailed over the crossbar.

After the half time interval, Dulwich made a brisk start to the half and immediately pushed Canvey back.

A good move involving Kevin James and Erhun Oztumer ended with Peter Adeniyi firing in a shot that brought a marvellous save from Josh Vickers after a minute of the second half.

Moments later Hamlet were ahead. A right wing cross was flicked on by Marc-Anthony Okoye into the path of James who slammed home a shot at the far post.

Dulwich were on top now and Adeniyi forced another good save from Vickers after a jinking run towards goal.

Gulls sent on Harrison Chatting for Louis Baucutt and this move gave them more width with Sheldon Sellears starting to get some joy down the right with a number of positive runs.

On 69 minutes a low curling free kick from the edge of the penalty area from Sellears brought a sprawling save from Wilson. Thomas was quick to the rebound but Wilson saved well at his near post.

The last twenty minutes was dominated by Canvey but they couldn’t force the ball past Wilson despite numerous attempts.

A volley from the edge of the penalty area by Chatting was helped over by Wilson and then on 76 minutes some tenacious play by Warren saw him escape the defender down by the byline and cross from the right to Chatting who hooked his volley wide at the far post.

Wilson saved his best for the 78th minute. Thomas did well to set up Sellears after good play down the right and his first shot was beaten out by Wilson at his near post The keeper then showed sharp reactions to block the rebound from the former Aveley winger and then save the ball at the third time of asking.

Spencer Bellotti replaced Sands as Canvey piled on the pressure.

James could have made the game safe but miskicked a right wing cross in front of goal.

This miss could have proved costly as deep into injury time, Canvey won a free kick around 25 yards from goal. Sellears’ effort was on target but again Wilson got a strong hand to the ball to help it over the crossbar.

Canvey probably deserved at least a draw but came away with nothing despite creating a host of chances and dominating the game against a Dulwich side who played some attractive football.

Here is the take on the match last night from the perspective of our visitors Margate:

DULWICH HAMLET 2 (James, Daly) MARGATE FC 0

Margate FC disappointingly lost their second away game in quick succession as Dulwich win 2-0 at the Champion Hill Stadium in the Ryman Premier League tonight.

Joint manager Craig Holloway, sporting his facial injuries from Saturday, was replaced at number one by former Histon, Stevenage and Bromley keeper Joe Welch, Paul Vines returned along with the 4-3-3 formation to partner Walsh and Ademeno in attack , and Jack Sammoutis fitted into midfield, Craddock and Azeez starting on the bench.

In front of a decent mid-week crowd of 466 the home side started well, showing a lot of early energy they fizzed the ball around neatly albeit without any clear cut opportunities falling there way. In actual fact the first real chance fell to the gate, Ademeno's cross was met by the head of Vines and it seemed to cause Phil Wilson more trouble than was expected resulting in a corner kick, Scott Kinch heading Matt Bodkin's corner wide of the right upright. The longer the half went on the more Margate seemed to take the sting out of the Dulwich attacks reducing them to distance shooting, Erhon Oztomer twice failing to find his range from outside the box. On 24 minutes Ryan Dolby, having beaten the full back, clipped his cross into Vines who held off three defenders before shooting on the turn only to find Wilson alert as he palmed the ball to safely. From the resulting Bodkin set piece Phil Walsh found himself in space but couldn't direct his header goalwards. At this point it was all Margate, Ademeno was looking back to his best and was unlucky not to have been awarded a penalty, Boyer's late challenge being adjudged by the referee to be right on the edge of the area, Bodkin's kick claimed by the unchallenged Wilson. Bodkin was in the thick of the action and with five minutes of the half remaining it was his enginuity that set up the chance for Ryan Dolby, but the young left back hit his shot high and wide. Two minutes later the visitors were handed their best chance of the game, Dolby's long arrowed ball looked to be falling the way of Hamlet defender Gonslaves, but his misjudgement saw the ball drop into the path of Vines with a clear path on goal in his sights, but Wilson was alert to the danger saving his former team mates shot with his legs.

But it was with the last kick of the half that the scoreline was to change. Richard Avery may have thought himself lucky not to be seeing red when he bundled Oztomer over when arguably the last man, referee Jason Richardson opting for a yellow. It mattered not as from the resulting free kick Kevin James fired his side ahead, the ball flying through the debutant Welch's hands into the net.

It was a killer blow and at the time very much against the run of play but Osborn and Holloway's men came out for the second period fighting, and three minutes in Walsh was unlucky to see his header fly straight into the advancing Wilson's hands. Warren Whitely replaced Kinch and started brightly enough and on two occassion's got behind the full back but his crosses were dealt with comfortably by the Hamlet back four. On the hour another chance came and went, Vines turned his man and darted into the box but seemed to hit his shot a touch early and it was deflected over for yet another corner ball, still leaving the striker without a goal to his name for the club. Moments later he turned provider exchanging passes with Sammoutis but the young midfielder's shot lacked conviction and rose high over Wilson's bar.

Bodkin fired wide from distance and as time started to tick away the more Margate pressed forward, and it was on the break with just 7 minutes remaining that Dulwich doubled their lead, Oztomer's cross being clinically turned past Welch by Ian Daly from close range leaving the keeper with little chance. Walsh did have a half chance seconds before the whistle was blown but his header missed the target giving the team who took their chances on the night all three points.

Also at the match last were night were the independent Kent-centric, but fair generally not too biased Kentish Football website. Here is what they saw:

We had to work really hard to get the points, says Gavin Rose

DULWICH HAMLET manager Gavin Rose claims their 2-0 win over Margate will have no bearing on Saturday’s trip to the Kent coast in The FA Cup.

The Hamlet leapfrogged over Lewes in to fifth-place in the Ryman Premier League table after converting both of their shots on target against a Margate side that deserved more than their third defeat in eleven league games, which sees them drop down a place to ninth.

Margate drafted in goalkeeper Joe Welch on a dual-registration from Conference South side Bromley and the 25-year-old had nothing to do all night other than pick the ball out of his net, as Kevin James and Ian Daly were clinical in front of goal.

“We’ve had to work really hard,” admitted Rose after his side’s seventh league win of the season puts his club only two points behind leaders Kingstonian, after winning the Ryman League Division One South title last season.

Rose continued: “Margate are a hardworking team, always have been in the past and we had to work really hard to get the points today.

“I’m really happy for the boys. We weren’t fluid today but again we wasn’t fluid on Saturday (1-0 home win over Canvey Island), but we worked really hard and we got a hard fought three points.

“We weren’t able to play our style of football. People aren’t going to come down and roll over and die but at the same time we’ve had two games and scored three goals and not conceded a goal so I’ll take that all day of the week and I’m pretty side the boys will as well.”

Margate joint-manager, Simon Osborn, admitted his side lost because they didn’t take their chances.

“I think first half with the timings of it, it knocked a bit of stuffing out of us for a little bit because we had a couple of chances,” said the former Crystal Palace midfielder.

“We had a very good chance just before that. I think that’s the difference – goals win games.

“We didn’t take our chances and our final decision and our final ball was not quite good enough today, which is a little bit disappointing because I thought we played quite well in parts of it but again it’s a 2-0 defeat and the goals, they had two shots and that’s it!”

Margate drafted in Welch after player joint manager Craig Holloway suffered a horrific injury to his left eye during Saturday’s 3-0 defeat away to Grays Athletic.

Holloway is expected to be fit enough to play Saturday’s Second Qualifying Round tie between the two clubs at Hartsdown Park as Bromley will recall Welch into their squad for their FA Cup tie against Burgess Hill Town at Hayes Lane.

Margate secretary Ken Tomlinson revealed he narrowly beat the deadline and registered the goalkeeper at 15:40 this afternoon so he could play at Champion Hill tonight.

Osborn said: “Craig’s got a cut on his eye and it’s still a bit swollen and sore so Joe fortunately is a non-contracted player at Bromley. We know he’s quality and he’s done us a favour, coming in and playing in goal for us today. Touch wood Craig will be fit for Saturday.

“I talked to Joe and said to him ‘did you actually make a save? And he didn’t. He never made a save in the whole game. The goal in the first half was the free-kick and the second one was really only their meaningful shots on target!”

Dulwich Hamlet produced a sweeping move where midfielder Xavier Vidal swept the ball out wide to winger Ellis Green, who whipped in a cross with his left-foot towards the far post and Erhun Oztumer nodded wide from four-yards out with only 21 seconds on the clock.

But Dulwich Hamlet were off-colour and didn’t play their threatening trademark football tonight, which concerned their manager.

He said: “It’s not like us, we normally have ten chances and score one so the roles reversed. The first five or six games we were dominating a lot of possession and creating a lot of chances and we wasn’t converting as much as we should have.”

Margate striker Paul Vines could have scored a first half hat-trick against one of his former clubs.

Matt Bodkin shrugged off the attentions of Abdul Mansaray – who was withdrawn at the break with a dead leg – to sweep the ball out wide to Phil Walsh, who whipped in a cross into the six-yard box.

Vines’ header was clawed away by goalkeeper Phil Wilson, high above his head to his left.

Dulwich Hamlet were awarded a free-kick some 25-yards from goal and Oztumer was off-range with his left-footed effort, which sailed harmlessly over the bar and into the vocal home support.

Margate, who won the corner count eight to three, went close by this method in the fourteenth minute when former Tooting & Mitcham United (and Tonbridge Angels, Cray Wanderers and Welling United) midfielder Scott Kinch powered his header over the near post from inside the six-yard box after Bodkin swung in a corner from the left.

Margate threatened again when midfielder Jack Sammoutis released right-back Elliot Cox on the overlap to whip in a cross and Charles Ademeno couldn’t apply the finish and Wilson collected the ball.

Dulwich Hamlet burst up the other end and within 21 seconds Oztumer flashed a right-footed drive narrowly past the foot of the near post from eighteen-yards.

The home side hit Margate on the counter-attack and lone striker Daly flicked pass found Oztumer inside before the Turkish midfield magician cracked a speculative left-footed drive, which dipped over the crossbar from 35-yards.

Margate were denied a deserved lead thanks to a smart diving save from Wilson in the 24th minute.

Margate left-back Ryan Dolby played a low centre into the penalty area and Vines did well to turn his marker before stroking a low left-footed shot towards the bottom far corner, but Wilson got his large frame down swiftly to his left to tip the ball around the post with his outstretched left hand.

Rose was surprised that Vines didn’t score against his former club.

He said: “He may have thought about it too much playing against us as well. I would have put my hat on him scoring at least one of them. Good thing for him is that he’s getting in those positions to score goals. When he gets in those positions he will score goals.”

Bodkin swung in the resulting corner and Walsh powered his header across goal and past the far post.

“That’s the difference,” said Osborn. “We did create better chances in the first half. I don’t think we created many clear cut chances in the second half, but certainly in the first half with Paul the keeper made a good save down low to his left.”

Something wasn’t quite clicking for Dulwich Hamlet and Oztumer’s corner from the right was headed away and Vidal took a touch before drilling a speculative right-footed drive from 35-yards over the bar and over the fence.

But Margate continued to be profligate in front of goal.

Sammoutis won the ball before bursting down the right and gloating a cross towards the far post. Bodkin sped past his man before cutting the ball back for Dolby to blast his left-footed shot over the bar from ten-yards.

Bodkin then swung in a right-footed free-kick just inches from the penalty area, which was gobbled up by Wilson underneath his crossbar, after the referee deemed Mathieu Boyer’s challenge on Ademeno was outside the penalty area.

But the turning point arrived in the 43rd minute when Wilson rushed off his line to thwart Vines with a brave block after the striker was put in through on goal following a long ball over the top of Dulwich Hamlet central defender Lewis Gonsalves by Dolby.

Osborn said: “He had a real chance clean through which normally you expect Vinsey to take. They’re the kind of chances he’s lived off throughout his career at this level and he didn’t take it!”

Rose was full of praise for his big goalkeeper.

He said: “Phil has been getting better and better with one-v-one situations.

“Watching Vinsey go through on goal you do think the worse but with Phil in goal you do think he will have a chance. I’m a little bit confident that he could still pull off a save and he did so well done for him for doing that. He kept us in the game and we capitalised on that, maybe a minute or two later.”

That miss proved costly for Margate because Dulwich Hamlet grabbed the lead, totally against the run of play, with 45:56 on the clock.

The hard-working Daly released Oztumer, who was brought down by defender Richard Avery, inches from the penalty area, just left of the D.

The home fans demanded a red-card but referee Jason Richardson opted to brandish a yellow card and awarded Dulwich Hamlet a free-kick.

James stepped up and stroked the resulting free-kick around the wall with his right-foot and the ball caressed into the far corner of the net.

“Kevin’s done that many a time since he’s been with us over the years,” said Rose.

“You know you’ve got a chance with the boys’ we’ve got around the box with free-kicks and he’s done well today to go in the far corner.”

Osborn said: “It was our mistake, again, in the middle of the park. We’ve cleared the ball, the ball ricochet off our bloke and he’s gone through. I know Kevin’s got quality. I knew Kevin at Gillingham and we’re 1-0 down just going into half-time, which was a big blow for the lads.”

Both managers were asked whether Avery should have been sent-off.

Rose said: “As a manager, you don’t really want people sent off to be honest. It’s hard to explain, him being the last man and it was a scoring opportunity. The boy’s about to bring it down and shoot on goal and no-one was able to effect that other than Avery behind him so you would’ve said yes really it’s the last man. I would’ve thought he would’ve been sent-off.”

Osborn added: “I think the ball’s going away from the goal. It would’ve have been harsh to send him off. It was a bit of a tangle, yes he did get in front of him. The ball wasn’t going straight through, the ball was probably favoured to go to our goalkeeper and going away from goal a little bit. Our luck this season I’m sure he would’ve sent him off normally!”

Despite the goal, Rose wasn’t happy with his side’s performance.

“We weren’t great and we said to the boys they were getting on top of us because we weren’t working hard as they should’ve to stop the ball coming forward.

“We felt that we didn’t pass the ball as well so we wasn’t really happy at half-time. We weren’t happy with the boys’ performance.

“We have to give respect to Margate as well, they’re a good team.”

Osborn admitted James’ second goal of the season knocked the stuffing out of his side because they should have been 3-0 up at the time had they taken their chances.

He said: “I thought they started the game well. I thought first ten to fifteen minutes we struggled to get to grips with them but the middle part of the first half we were certainly the dominant side.

“The goal was just against the run of play. I think it knocked the stuffing out of us a little bit but I thought we got back into it second half without really testing the goalkeeper enough.”

When asked what was said in the Margate dressing room during the interval, Osborn added: “I just said keep doing the things that got us success in the first half and keep getting good balls into Charles. We just lacked a little bit of creativity at some point. I was disappointed with our shot count in the second half.”

The referee decided to change into a silver top for the second half and Margate created the first chance through Ademeno, who scuffed a right-footed shot towards goal from 22-yards, which Wilson comfortably gathered.

Another chance went begging for Margate when Walsh headed a hanging ball across the face of goal, which was clawed away by Wilson high above his head after head tennis inside the Dulwich Hamlet box following Bodkin’s corner from the right.

Margate introduced winger Warren Whiteley to introduce some pace down the right flank.

And on the hour-mark Bodkin whipped in his sixth-corner of the game, which was headed away and Avery hooked a left-footed volley looping straight into Wilson’s gloves from 25-yards.

Osborn rued his side’s best chance in the second half with twenty minutes remaining.

Sammoutis played the ball into Vines’ feet, who showed strength before dinking the ball into the box to put Sammoutis through on goal, but the midfielder lost composure and clipped his right-footed shot over the bar from sixteen-yards.

“That’s the difference between winning games and coming off losing 2-0,” added Osborn.

“At that point 1-0, get it back to one-all. You never know what might happen there. That little bit of quality there that we needed to finish to get back into the game. If he had done that it could have been different.”

Dulwich Hamlet punished Margate for a second time with four minutes remaining when the ball was played out to Oztumer inside the penalty area on the left and the Turkish wizard clipped the ball into the middle and Daly hooked a shot on the turn which looped over Welch into the roof of the net.

Rose was delighted that Daly waited for his moment.

He said: “Very patient. It’s a role he’s adapted to, he’s getting used to this role up front. We knew he’s got quality and he can score goals and it’s just getting his mentality and understanding that as well. He’s team ethic and he’s team play and he’s work-rate – when he was picking up a lot of scraps today – was excellent and he got his just deserts with his one chance.”

Osborn added: “Again, we gave the ball away cheaply and they broke on us. It’s a decent ball back by the young lad and he’s hooked it in. There’s not a lot we could have done about that really. We were chasing the game a little bit but I was a bit disappointed that we hadn’t got back into it before then.”

Margate forced one last chance when Cox floated a cross towards the far post where defender John Beales headed the ball across goal but all Walsh could do was head the ball wide.

It’s good to see Dulwich Hamlet fans enjoying their football and Rose paid tribute to the home faithful for their passionate support from the terraces throughout the game.

“Our support has grown over the last few years since I’ve been here,” said Rose.

“I’ve got to say it’s brilliant support. It’s just unrivalled by a lot of clubs at this sort of level. It’s excellent support and you’ve got to take your hat off to it. It creates a good atmosphere for the players and it drives them on, even when things ain’t going as well. It gives them a bit of a confidence boost to them as well to hear the supporters’ singing and cheering them on etc. It’s excellent.”

Both managers said that they are looking forward to Saturday’s FA Cup Second Qualifying Round tie at Hartsdown Park.

Rose said: “It’s a one-off game. The mentality of the Margate dressing room, you expect them to work hard and make it difficult for us. I expect the same from us as well.

“We can play better and they arguably can say they can play better as well so the two teams know each other a little bit more now so there’s not so much to learn about each other.

“With a few days’ rest, I imagine it will be a tough game. It’s an FA Cup game.”

Osborn added: “Joe Welch is not able to play. I think he’ll go back and sit on the bench for Bromley.

“It’s just a one-off game. It will be a completely different game. We’re the home team now. We’ve just got to go there and try and play to a similar standard and try and improve on one or two things and if we can do that, it will be another good game down at our place.”