Dulwich Hamlet closed the gap on Kent’s top two in the Ryman Premier and in winning 2-1 at Hartsdown Park left Gate boss Terry Brown bewildered.
“That’s three times I’ve played them since I’ve been at the club and three been beaten. They were the better side today and I’m disappointed that we took so long to get going in the first half.”
“Earlier in the season we had Ryan Moss scoring goals, with Lewis Taylor and Charlie Allen coming in with goals from midfield and everything was OK.”]
“But now Ryan’s the only one scoring (this was his 17th of the season today) but we really didn’t get going and I was very disappointed with the way that we played today.”
The Gate boss was understandably upset, but you have to give credit to a Dulwich side that was brilliantly marshalled from the back by Terrell Forbes and led going forward by the tricky Nyren Clunes who surely seems destined to play at a higher level.
Yet having said all of that for all of Dulwich’s early possession Nikki Bull in the home goal wasn’t really troubled. Until that is the 19th minute, when Ashley Carew accelerated away from the home defense down the right and his driven cross was met by Nunes at the front post who flicked the ball home. Nunes then turned creator for Xavier Vidal only for Vidal rasping drive to produce a wonder save from Bull going full length away to his left just getting enough on the shot to deflect it over the bar.
With all the pressure it was difficult to see a way for Margate to get back into the game – yet they did with their first attack. A great cross from Freddie Ladapo was brilliantly headed home by Moss who gave the Dulwich keeper Phil Wilson no chance. Incredibly the balance of play swung completely the home teams way and but for an amazing double save from Wilson, the home side would have been in front at the break. Luke Moore played a great through ball for Taylor who was denied by a great block from the keeper who made an even better block denying Allen’s follow up!
What proved to be the winning goal arrived just 11 minutes after half time. Carew launched a long free kick into the Margate box and it was Ethan Pinnock who rose highest to guide the ball past Bull and into the net much to the delight of the very respectable away following behind the Margate goal.
Margate then proceeded to probe and test the Dulwich back line but with Forbes excelling at the heart of the defense along with Pinnock, there just wasn’t a way through for the home side. Indeed the closest the Gate came was in stoppage time when, on as a substitute for his debut, Ben Gerring just couldn’t keep a late header down and the ball flew inches over the cross bar.
With Maidstone winning, manager Brown knows that Dulwich have closed the gap on second placed Margate as the race towards the end of the season certainly begins to gather pace.
MARGATE – Nikki Bull, Tamberson Eyong, Sam Rents, Charlie Allen, Brett Johnson (Ben Gerring 79), Charlie Wassmer, Lewis Taylor, Kane Wills (Jamie Taylor 84), Ryan Moss, Freddie Ladapo, Luke Moore (Zac Attwood 66)
Sub not used – Jack Bennett and Anthony Riviere
DULWICH HAMLET – Phil Wilson, Michael Abnett, Fraser Shaw, Jack Dixon, Terrell Forbes, Ethan Pinnock, Nyren Clunis, Ashley Carew, Harry Ottaway (Kevin James 71), Xavier Vidal (Kershaney Samuels 90), Luke Wanadio (Albert Jarrett 84)
Referee – Mr Elliot Kaye
Assistants – Mr Ricky Adams & Mr Scott Rudd