Hamlet Slip To Defeat Again

A crucial game slipped away from Dulwich in a disastrous first 15 minutes

This was another disappointing defeat that was so predictable in its outcome. As with most games recently Dulwich gave away two goals with poor defending and then missed numerous chances to get back into the match.

This was aa meeting of two desperately out of form sides but the home side were able to lead within 6 minutes when a ball wide to the left was allowed to bounce and sat up for an unchallenged Matty Wichelow to thump the ball high past Preston Edwards.

If that seemed bad, it was to get worse and so was the defending. Kyei received the ball wide on the Hampton left and was allowed to run unopposed into the penalty area where his near post cross was turned home by Chris Dickson.

That meant that with only 12 minutes played a Dulwich side that has almost forgotten how to score already needed two goals just to get a point. The fact that they would not be able to do it was entirely due to more poor finishing.

However, it took an alert save from Preston Edwards just to prevent a third goal in 15 minutes when he had to be alert to tip over an effort from the halfway line.

It took 26 minutes for Dulwich to trouble the Hanpton defence but they should have pulled a goal back when they did. Decarrey Sheriff accelerated around the left side of the home defence and Jacob Erskine should have been able to just turn the ball in at the near post, but instead his weak effort was cleared off the line and Ashley Carew's follow up blocked for a corner.

The next chance came in the 34th minute as Sheriff again had too much pace for the home defence but this time he was the one who produced a weak finish when clear on goal and Lovelock saved easily.

Hampton were content to sit on their lead but Wichelow was allowed to wander unchallenged into the penalty area but his effort was blocked.

With the half almost up Dulwich did what only they seem able to do; miss the unmissable chance.

Preston Edwards fielded the ball and spotted a great run from Nyren Clunis. The keeper's clearance was straight into his path and the ball forward had tempted Lovelock to the edge of his area. Clunis could have just run the ball around the keeper but he produced a half hearted and completely mishit lob that drifted comfortably wide of the target. A terrible miss.

Half Time 2-0

The home side started the second half brightly and Preston Edwards had to fly to his left to keep out a Dickson effort after he had been allowed to wander across the Dulwich defence unchallenged.

Whilst Dulwich quickly got on top in the half they failed to create a chance until the 56th minute when Clunis picked out Erskine but Lovelock stood big and kept out his first time effort. A short corner in the 62nd minute saw the ball arrive at Dominic Vose on the edge of the box. His effort beat Lovelock but flashed inches wide of the post.

Whilst Dulwich had the majority of possession, as usual there was little cutting edge and chances were rare. Jacob Erskine saw another effort scrambled away and, with seven minutes remaining, another Erskine effort was scrambled off the line as Hamlet players stood around all waiting for somebody else to thump the loose ball over the line.

The match was summed up in the last minute by a flowing move that saw the ball laid into Dipo Akinyemi's path but the Dulwich striker completely missed his kick.

That makes it 8 defeats in 11 games and five points from 33 with the team failing to score in six of those games. The form will need to turn around fast if The Hamlet are to spend more than one season in National League South.