Bath City 3-2 Dulwich Hamlet

For the Dulwich line-up and match information visit here.

The Hamlet sit just two points outside the relegation zone after a narrow defeat at promotion chasing Bath City, but they would have left with at least a point but for some profligate finishing.

Playing with the wind in their favour and down the slope in the first half, Dulwich opened with attacking intent and it took a good save from home keeper Clarke in the 5th minute to keep out a 20 yard effort from Dominic Vose. A minute later, Shamir Mullings scuffed an effort wide when well placed and Danny Mills headed too high following a Jack Connors throw in just two minutes further in.

However, it was Bath who took the lead with their first meaningful attack in the 14th minute. The right side of Dulwich's defence looked vulnerable and so it proved. A ball in from the Dulwich right saw Debrah and Pearson challenge for the ball and when it fell to Smith he swept it past Grainger.

Dulwich were not deterred by falling behind and it took a good tackle to thwart Mullings as he latched on to a long ball from McCoy, whilst at the other end Raynes shot tamely at Grainger after a good run. Dulwich then had a chance to level in the 25th minute from a McCoy long throw. Clarke failed to gather in the home goal as he came under pressure from Mullings and Mills saw his effort hacked off the line.

Dominic Vose was next to test Clarke but the keeper plunged low to his right to push out his long range effort before Dulwich were level in the 39th minute. Jeffrey MOnakana delivered a cross from the right and when it fell to Shamir Mullings he composed himself before shooting high to Clarke's left with the aid of a deflection.

However, parity was to last little more than a minute and again the home side were given too much space on the Dulwich right and Smith again made them pay. Martin delivered the ball across the six yard box and Smith arrived to fire home at the far post.

Half Time 2-1

The second half saw the first chance fall to Dulwich in the 50th minute as Mills tried to force the ball past Clarke at the far post but it was eventually hacked clear. For the home side, Raynes shot wide, Smith was closed down when well placed and Raynes saw his effort easily saved by Grainger. Smith then saw an effort deflected just wide on the hour and Grainger again saved from Raynes.

Dulwich then missed a gilt edged chance to level in the 68th minute. Connors long thrown saw Clarke lose the ball under pressure from Mills and, with the goal gaping, Monakana lifted his effort over the top from six yards out.

Both sides continued to go toe to toe and Bowry shot straight at Grainger from 35 yards in teh 78th minute, before Dulwich drew level for the second time just a minute later. Monakana delivered a corner and Mills rose to loop a header over Clarke and into the corner of the net.

Once again, The Hamlet were only level for a few minutes. This time the ball was lost and some passive defending allowed the ball to be played inside to Smith. He advanced unchallenged and struck a spectacular effort from 30 yards that arrowed past Grainger into his right hand top corner.; a spectacular way to complete a hat trick.

However, Dulwich should still have leveled in the first minute of stoppage time, with the slickest move of the match. Kearney turned in the centre circle and swept the ball to the right into the path of Ainsworth. His first time cross found Mills at the far post, but he scuffed his effort at Clarke when he really should have scored. There was still time for further pressure on the home goal, but Mills headed wide at the far post.

Despite playing their part in an entertaining match, Dulwich left with nothing to show for it and now sit just two points above the drop zone, with a vital fixture next week at home to fellow relegation threatened Tonbridge Angels.