Dulwich grind it out at Grays for three vital points

By Paula Griffin

Though victory was deserved, Dulwich had to wait until stoppage time before Nyren Clunis' goal confirmed a 2-0 win

Grays Athletic 0 Dulwich Hamlet 2
Ryman League Premier Division
Tuesday 27th December 2016

On the Tuesday Boxing Day Bank Holiday, Dulwich Hamlet recorded another away win at bottom of the table Grays Athletic. It was a fully deserved three points, but much improved Grays, who recently notched three league victories in a row, made it difficult for Gavin Rose’s men. The Hamlet’s second goal only came deep into stoppage time.

It was not easy playing the Dulwich Hamlet brand of football on a well-used and bumpy surface, but the lads did their best and certainly had the better of the first half. Dumebi Dumaka made a welcome return from injury ad proved a handful for the home side’s defence. Indeed, it was ‘DD’ who had the game’s first real chance, in the 15th minute, when he was put through on the inside left but his shot was too close to the Grays ‘keeper. Danny Car then fired over the bar with a first time shot from Nyren Clunis’ layback before Dumebi Dumaka turned in a cross from Ibra Sekajja at the near post, only to be flagged for offside. Grays had a rare sniff of a chance just before the half-hour mark, but Preston Edwards made a comfortable save from Kieran Bishop’s header. Dulwich Hamlet were soon back on the attack and only a fine save by home ‘keeper Amadou Tangara prevented Danny Carr from giving his side the lead. Later, Dumebi Dumaka hot a shot from 20 yards which only missed the top corner by a matter of inches. A mistake by Michael Chambers then let in Grays winger Harry Watkins, but he wasted the chance, shooting well wide. The first half closed with Dulwich Hamlet pressing once again and Dumebi Dumaka twice went close, forcing a fine near post save from Tangara before seeing another shot deflected wide.

Grays Athletic 0-2 Dulwich Hamlet, Ryman League Premier Division, 27/12/16 | Match Highlights 19:44

Dulwich Hamlet broke the deadlock six minutes into the second half. Dumebi Dumaka gained possession about ten yards from goal, turned sharply on to his left foot and hammered a fierce sot into the roof of the net. Dulwich later had chances to increase their lead, but Tangara denied Danny Carr with another timely intervention after a neat through ball from Ibrahim Kargbo and when the ‘keeper made a rare mistake, dropping a corner from Ashley Carew, Mark Weatherstone failed to keep his shot down. The nearest Grays came to an equaliser was in the 83rd minute when Kenny Beaney hooked a header from Lheureux Menga off the goal line. Back at the other end, Nathan Green glanced a header wide from a Kenny Beaney free kick. With the referee looking at his watch, Grays gained a corner which even ‘keeper Tangara went up for. But the Hamlet defence quickly cleared the danger ad Nyren Clunis ran through unchallenged from the halfway line and into the box before rolling the ball into the unguarded net to make it 2-0.

Grays Athletic: Amadou Tangara; Ryan Mahal; Jamie Mascoll; Nathan Campbell; Terrell Forbes; Luke Wilson; Harry Watkins (Luke Hornsley 57); Kwabena Osei (Lartey Sarpong 72); Lheureux Menga; Kieran Bishop (Arron Wickham 76); Joao Carlos
Subs not used: Jamie Stuart; Jordan Aghatise

Dulwich Hamlet: Preston Edwards; Marc Weatherstone; Nathan Green; Ibrahim Kargbo; Matt Drage; Michael Chambers; Nyren Clunis; Kenny Beaney; Dumebi Dumaka (Chris Millar 88); Ashley Carew (Ibra Sekajja 68); Daniel Carr (Rhys Murrell-Williamson 68)
Subs not used: Quade Taylor; Kevin James;

Goalscorers:
Dulwich Hamlet: Dumebi Dumaka (51); Nyren Clunis (90+6)

Attendance: 317