Two struggling sides can't be separated

This poor game is what you get when you put two struggling sides on a bumpy pitch and reduce them both to 10 men.

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The match was just into the third minute when Rickie Hayles launched into a challenge on Anthony Cook and, after a lecture from the referee, a red card was produced to reduce the home side to ten men.

However, without a physical presence at teh front and with passes regularly misplaced, Dulwich failed to take advantage of their numerical superiority.

Michael Onovwigun put an effort from 25 yards just too high, Nathan Ferguson shot wide and Decarrey Sheriff failed to turn in a cross from Nyren Clunis as Dulwich failed to trouble Giddens in the home goal.

The numerical superiority then disappeared in the 27th minute as Jay-Rich Baghuelou was deemed to have blocked Ashford out on the right touchline using his elbow and was dismissed.

With both sides down to ten the pattern of the game didn't change and both goalkeepers were mere spectators for the rest of an error riddled half.

Half Time 0-0

An early corner for Dulwich gave hope of better things to come in the second half, but it was not to be.

Although Michael Onovwigun found space to shoot just wide in the 52nd minute and Nyren Clunis forced the first save from epithet goalkeeper in the 62nd minute, it was all very unconvincing.

The Hamlet wasted a free kick after a surging run from Anthony Cook and Onovwigun produced a weak header after another good run from Cook before Dulwich wasted a good chance. Anthony Cook played Decarrey Sheriff through on goal, but his poor touch allowed Giddens to grab the ball before he could get an effort in on goal.

As East Thurrock brought some of their more familiar names on to the pitch from their starting places on the bench, Preston Edwards was forced to save a couple of weak efforts, whilst a Nathan Ferguson effort also forced Giddens into a save.

The home side saw their chance to win the match in the last ten minutes but they, like The Hamlet, were wasteful and failed to hit the target.

However, deep into stoppage time they could have taken all the points as a cross to the far post saw a header that had Preston Edwards scrambling but Okuonghae was on hand to belt the ball off the line.

Full Time 0-0
Attendance 301