Pitiful Hamlet Slip Closer To The Drop

Another four goals conceded before half time, the third time this season, meant Dulwich didn't give themselves a chance of any points.

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For those of us who have had the pleasure to see Dulwich play all their away games this season, this was a fairly typical display. If you take Eastbourne Borough in the FA Cup, mix in Truro away and then add in Torquay, you get this performance.

This was a thoroughly depressing 90 minutes, with the game over long before the end of the first half. The performance, like many this season, lacked heart, desire and ability, with the team seeming to be devoid of leaders on the pitch.

Yet the afternoon started positively with Dipo Akinyemi showing skill and persistence to create the chance to shoot from 25 yards, but his fourth minute effort flashed just wide of KIng's post.

A blatant shirt pull on Michael Chambers should have resulted in a penalty but somehow the referee failed to notice his shirt being removed from his back.

However, the more accurate representation of things to come came two minutes later, with the ball being given away in midfield and Preston Edwards having to push an effort wide. The resulting corner saw Thomas-Asante place his free header wide.

The Dulwich defence was opened up again in the 10th minute but Edwards did well to plunge to his left and hold Thomas-Asante's low effort and straight from this The Hamlet should have gone in front.

Dipo Akinyemi battled to win the ball and played it through to Nyren Clunis in behind the defence, but he shot across the goal and wide of the far post when he should have worked the goalkeeper.

Within two minutes, the home side showed them how it should be done. An almost identical move to the Clunis miss saw the ball played to Thomas-Asante. He took a touch before comfortable beating Preston Edwards.

Dulwich briefly rallied and Nyren Clunis saw another effort go inches wide before they fell two goals behind in the 21st minute. This time Tshimanga found Wiltshire in space to the left of goal and he finished across Edwards dive.

It took only another seven minutes for Dulwich to concede a third. Overrun in midfield, Self was brought down by Tajbakhsh and Tshimanga rolled home the penalty.

It could have got worse but Edwards made a good save from Wiltshire, although Nyren Clunis should have pulled a goal back when Jamie Mascoll's cross found him in space at the far post.

However, five minutes before half time Oxford City were gifted a fourth goal from another penalty. A cross was blasted at Jamie Mascoll who did not lift his arms or play at the ball, but the Assistant somehow thought it deliberate and Tshimanga blasted his effort past Edwards.

That penalty award was the fourth conceded by The Hamlet in the last three games, and the total given away this season is well into double figures.

Half Time 4-0

The second half was a non-event, with Dulwich far too poor to mount a fightback and Oxford content to hold what they had. Preston Edwards made a couple of comfortable saves, as did King for the home side. However, in the first minute of time added on, Dipo Akinyemi pulled back a goal with a delightful lofted finish from the edge of the box.

Final Score 4-1