Chelmsford City 2-2 Dulwich Hamlet

A battling display and a well earned point against one of the league favourites.

Dulwich made a number of changes following the loss to Concord Rangers, with Gavin Tomlin, Nathan Ferguson and Walter Figueira on the bench, with Ashley Carew, Nyren Clunis and Jay May starting.

Michael Chambers, Nathan Green and Tanasheh Abrahams were still not available due to injury.

It wasn't long before The Hamlet were pressing and home keeper Worner almost presented them with a chance when he slipped taking a back pass, but Omozuzi got back to clear. However, Dulwich went in front in only the 4th minute. Jay May played the ball to Nyren Clunis and stepped inside his marker and beat a partially unsighted Worner low to his right.

It was fifteen minutes before the home side threatened but Murphy fired wide after he had set up a good shooting position, but it was The Hamlet that came close to doubling their lead in the 18th minute. Cook seized on an error by Barnum-Bobb and, when Worner parried his shot the ball just escaped the onrushingClunis.

As the game swung from end to end, Spillane had an effort eflected over and Murphy put an effort into the side netting. However, a minute later he struck the equaliser. Fenwick was given space and his low cross was converted from six yards.

The home side were now in the ascendancy and Preston Edwards did well to tip over a looping header from Church b efore The Hamlet had the better of the closing exchanges of the half. Jay May struck an effort wide, Ibrahim Kargbo saw an effort deflected just over as he met Ashley Carew's corner and Nyren Clunis almost beat Worner at his near post after he was sent away on the right.

With the match enetring stoppage time, Dulwich were awarded a penalty as Clunis was brought down from behind as he tried to turn. Haviing had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, the referee spotted the Assistant's flag apparently giving an offside decision. He went across to discuss and to the dismay of the home side stuck to his original decision.

After some two minutes of protest by various home players, , Ashley Carew stepped up and beat Worner to his right, despite the keeper getting both hands to it. At this point the half time whistle was blown.

Half Time 1-2

The second half opened with no chances to either side before the referee awarded Chelmsford a penalty for holding at a corner. Fenwick beat Preston Edwards downb the middle as the keeper went to his right.

Dulwich were not downheartened and Akinyemi raced away down the left, forcing Spillane to head his cross behind for a corner., whilst at the other end MUrphy set up Wraight but he could only shoot over.

Back to the other end and two crosses flahed across the home side's goal with neither Clunis or Akinyemi able to get on the end of them, and a minute later Anderson just got in frront of Clunis to hook a cross away as the Dulwich winger looked certain to score.

As the game went through another period of end to end action, Fenwick struck his effort into the side netting and saw another effort saved by Preston Edwards, with Church firing the rebound over the bar.

With 14 minutes rem aining, Byron Lawrence forced a fine save from Worner, before two minutes later Preston Edwards made an incredible save from Church as he got on the end of a Murphy cross. The ball seemed to be past the Dulwich keeper before he somehow fetched it back from behind him.

Both sides continued to commit to finding a winner and Byron Lawrence shot just too high in the third minute of five added on.

However, neither side to find a winner and both had to settle for a point.

Full Time 2-2

Team: Edwards, Taylor' Ming, Kargbo, Okuonghae, Pappoe, Clunis, Carew (Ferguson), May (Akinyemi), Vose, Cook (Lawrence). Subs not used Tomlin, Figueira