Within the Hamlet hoards making their way in droves to Needham Market’s Bloomfields ground, there was high expectation that Dulwich would secure themselves a playoff place against a team still unsure of their place at the Ryman League top table next season. A point was Dulwich’s quest, a point that would secure that playoff spot. Three was the Marketmen’s quarry with weather eyes on results for Burgess Hill Town and Farnborough. Come close of play that playoff place had been cemented but not quiet in the manner hoped as the Marketmen completed a deserved double whilst Dulwich had to be grateful to Hampton & Richmond for keeping a rampant Enfield at bay down at the Beveree.

A blustery Bloomfields greeted the teams on St George’s Day, that wind in the Hamlet’s favour throughout the first 45 minutes but in a stuttering display, they too often found themselves unable to make use of the conditions. Early on Mitchell Nelson, in something of a scoring vein at the time, nodded over an Ashley Carew corner but it was Needham who had more fluency and cohesion in their attacking paly. They exploited their flank play with the experienced Michael Brothers first to test Preston Edwards in the Hamlet goal only to shoot straight at the Dulwich custodian. It took fully 15 minutes for Dulwich to test Danny Gay in the Marketmen’s goal, Dipo Akinyemi forcing him to dive to his left to push his effort just out of the reach of the onrushing Nyren Clunis.

Kevin James just failed to get on the end of a long ball from Ashley Carew before Brothers fired just too high for Needham Market and Preston Edwards had to tip over a header from Olly Mann. Along ball into the host’s final third was flicked on by Dipo Akinyemi finding Kevin James but a scuffed shot meant Gay was able make a comfortable save.

On 36 minutes it was Needham Market who drew first blood. Neat link up play from left back Darryl Coakley forced a corner off Jordan Brown with the defence only able to clear the resulting delivery to the edge of the penalty area. The half clearance fell at the feet of midfielder Luke Ingram whose rasping shot ballooned the roof of the net to give Needham a deserved lead. Instilled with hope Needham pushed for a second and from a 43rd minute corner, the ball had to be scrambled off the Dulwich goal line.

The halftime team talk seemed to do the business as Dulwich Hamlet began the second half in more fluid fashion. Roman Michael-Percil had a decent saved whilst a penalty shout went unheeded as Kevin James seemed to be impeded as he attempted to get on the end of a cross. Dipo Akinyemi also ballooned one over the bar when a clear opportunity arose soon after.

Ingram sounded the alarm bells once more as sprinted away from a leaden footed defence only for his low strike to be easily gathered by Preston Edwards. The Hamlet came close to a leveller just before the hour mark as an Ashley Carew cross found Kevin James at the back stick. His strike flew across the face of goal met by Nyren Clunis only for the wingman to fire wide. Yet those unheeded alarm bells now rang out like chimes of doom. Gay’s monstrous goal kick flicked on to Ingram, fastest and first as he raced on to the ball clean through on goal. Nearly the ball was clipped over the advancing Preston Edwards and Dulwich were now chasing a two goal, casting anxious eyes on score lines elsewhere.

The candle of hope was rekindled within minutes, a spark of individualism from Dipo Akinyemi on 63 minutes. The Needham Market defence was caught cold, Dipo Akinyemi mugging his opponent for the ball 25 yards out. Calm as an assassin the striker turned inside and rifled a low effort past the despairing dive of Gay.

With Hamlet in the ascendancy now, the chances started to come in droves. Dipo Akinyemi was unable to turn home a Nyren Clunis whilst Roman Michael-Percil had an effort blocked and Mitchell Nelson popped a header over the crossbar. Needham Market regrouped and solidified in defence, conscious that scores elsewhere still left the bottom four places in the balance. They certainly rode their luck when Matt Drage delivered a cross into the box that home centre half Ian Miller headed against his own crossbar. Crucially, or perhaps cruelly, the ball to drop in the six-yard box with bodies of even hue to finish the job but the ball was blocked on the line and the Marketmen survived to clear the danger.

A desperate goal line scramble in the dying throes of the contest was Hamlet’s last chance but neither Ryan Moss nor Damian Scannell could turn the ball in. But by then news had filtered through from the depths of Middlesex that Enfield Town had been held to a scoreless draw at Hampton & Richmond Borough, the Towners apparently denied at the death by a goal line clearance, giving the Beavers the title and ensuring Pink and Blue progress into the playoffs.

Teams:
Needham Market
Daniel Gay; Jake Dye; Darryl Coakley; Sam Nunn; Ian Miller; Joe Whight; Keiran Morphew (Jordan Patrick 83); Billy Holland; Michael Brothers; (James Akintunde 90+4); Oliver Mann (Kemal Izzet 73); Luke Ingram
Substitutes not used: Oliver Brown; Nathan Munson

Dulwich Hamlet
Preston Edwards; Mitchell Nelson; Jordan Brown; Kevin James (Damian Scannell 60); Matt Drage; Ethan Pinnock; Nyren Clunis; Ashley Carew; Dipo Akinyemi; Roman Michael-Percil (Ryan Moss 84); Jack Dixon (Kenny Beaney 63)
Substitutes not used: Reece Hackett-Fairchild; Jordan Hibbert

Goals:
Needham Market: Luke Ingram (36, 60)
Dulwich Hamlet: Dipo Akinyemi (62)

Attendance: 502