Witham Town 0-0 Dulwich Hamlet

The Hamlet let another 2 points slip as they maintained their play off place but saw the pack behind close in further.

Dulwich battled hard for their point on a very poor pitch at Witham.

The game saw clear cut chances at a premium although Dulwich defended well with recent signing Matt Drage having a very solid game and finding time to deliver some dangerous balls forward.

It was Witham who threatened early with Ethan Pinnock having to get a good block to prevent any chance of a goal after a good ball inside Kershaney Samuels, playing at left back.

The game quickly developed into a stalemate with new either side able to create anything meaningful in the way of chances until a 27th minute far post header from the home side that was just over.

A minute later, a long ball forward from Matt Drage seemed to have released Harry Ottaway in on goal but he was thwarted by a defender getting across to intercept.

Witham will wonder how they failed to take the lead in the 30th minute. Phil Wilson did brilliantly to keep out a piledriver from Conor Mead and thento save the follow up, somehow pushing the effort from point blank range over the bar.

Another ball over the top in the 38th minute looked to release Kevin James but the ball bounced away from him as it pitched on the surface.

The game came to live in the time added on at the end of the half. Ashley Carew was close to getting on the end of a free kick and a minute later Dulwich almost went in front.

Ashley Carew found Xavier Vidal, whose cross to the far post was headed down by Harry Ottaway to Kevin James whose effort was blocked by the alert Martyn Guest in the home goal.Ethan Pinnock couldn't keep his fllow up effort down.

Xavier Vidal had a shot just wide and Kershaney Samuels had an effort chalked off for offside whilst Phil Wilson saved well from Tom Wraight.

Half Time 0-0

Phil Wilson had to be out quickly to the edge of the box in the first minute of the second half to collect a through ball that looked to have released a forward in behind the Dulwich defence.

Witham went close again in the 49th minute as a low cross from right back Mead was blazed over the top by Kurt Smith from no more than 10 yards out.

Dulwich were next to threaten just past the hour. A fine ball from Xavier Vidal set Luke Wanadio through unopposed on the Dulwich right but he shot tamely wide with only the keeper to beat.

Within a minute it was Witham who somehow failed to score as Phil Wilson kept out a shot at point blank range and a combination of Wilson & Jack Dixon prevented the follow up entering the goal.

Ashley Carew the combined with Luke Wanadio but his low cross was overrun by all the Dulwich players attacking the penalty area. Ethan Pinnock headed an 80th minute Ashley Carew free kick just wide and Jack Dixon was denied in stoppage time as both sides failed to break the deadlock.

Full Time 0-0

Dulwich Team

Wilson, Abnett (Wanadio), Pinnock, Hibbert, Forbes (Dixon) Drage, Carew, Vidal (McDonald), Ottaway, James, Samuels

Subs Not Used Shaw, Benjamin

Attendance 198