Hamlet give title-chasing Dover a scare

Relieved Dover Athletic left Champion Hill with the much-needed point that enabled them to fend of the challenge of Tooting at the top for another week but disappointed Dulwich will once more look to a late, late goal that snatched away the chance of claiming all three points almost at the death.

Though Dover held the upper hand for much of the early exchanges they failed to batter down the band of brothers in Dulwich's defence, one for all and all for one, as the Red tide swept down upon them.

Even when those hardy defences were breached poor finishing served to frustrate the men of Kent.

Backed by their legion of travellers the visitors posted intent with an incisive attack within the opening two minutes, the wily Frannie Collin sent scurrying away in the left pocket, hotfooting it past Ricky Dobson to cut a gash across the face of the Hamlet goal with a low drive, one that should have been better crowned than with Craig Cloke's off-key larrup into the side netting at the back of the six yard box.

A long, drifting free-kick headed into the arms of Ceesay, a scuffed shot off target when well-placed by the troublesome Cloke.

Jon Wallis failing to punish a Hamlet foul as his attempt to bypass the wall with a whorled effort came to naught as the ball flicked off the Pink and Blue wall.

Collin again at the gallop, allowed the freedom of the wing, beat Dobson along the back line, a low cross deflected into the path of an half-aware Wallis but stumbling he lifted his strike into the azure sky.

The siege seemed finally lifted as Dulwich created their first attacks of notes as the half approached its midpoint.

Chasing a long ball, Meshach Nugent seemed to be hauled back as he bustled his way past Wallis but the referee's eyes were elsewhere and no punishment was meted out.

A quick free-kick saw the ball reach Nugent 25 yards from goal, a strike unleashed one that defender Matt Bourne seemed to snuff out with his hands, though not in the mind of the referee.

Fortunately, Stanley Muguo choose not to wait for a whistle shrugging aside Bourne's desperate attempt to haul him back but stabbing the ball wide of the post as John Whitehouse spread himself in vain.

Despite this rally, such was the dominance of the Dovorians that it came as a shock to the travelling multitude when Dulwich went ahead in the 37th minute, though warning had been served 10 minutes earlier, when Stanley drilled a close range shot under the body of Dover custodian John Whitehouse only to see the ball crash into the side netting.

Hamlet's goal came courtesy of a kick from the penalty mark.

Yes, that's correct - after 3,569 minutes of competitive football, Dulwich had been awarded a penalty as Benson Paka was unceremoniously hauled back by James Rogers as he stretched out a leg to Bill Chattaway's looped in cross.

Initially, there was no reaction from the man in black, Mr Robinson of Bognor Regis, but his assistant with a clear view from behind was in no doubt as with the thrust of an executioner he drawn his flag across his chest.

Long discussion twixt assistant and referee, a card but not of red hue for the recalcitrant Rogers, though the mercy of the man in black was lost on him.

Perhaps anxious glances among the Hamlet ranks for none had taken a spot kick in match play whilst donning the Pink and Blue motley.

Responsibility fell upon the captain, Shawn Beveney returning from his Caribbean sojourn, and though Whitehouse guessed right, Beveney's kick was neatly rolled beyond the keeper's reach into the bottom corner of the net.

Wallis might have levelled matters soon after but blasted a strike into the midriff of Sheikh Ceesay after Collin had continued his probing at the Hamlet left flank.

Built on their resilient defence, Dulwich came out snapping at their guests from the off.

Nugent dragged a low drive wide after Beveney had nodded a long ball into his path before bringing the best out of Whitehouse, a sizzling shot on the run as Matt Bourne trailed in his wake but pawed away at his near post by an airborne number one.

Barely four minutes later and Dulwich had the ball in the back of the net for a second time courtesy of Beveney but Dewayne Clarke had left his pass a fraction late, slipping the ball pass the onrushing Whitehouse for his skipper to slip into the now unguarded net but from an offside position.

A huge let for the Hamlet as a free-kick, twice headed on by Kentish heads in the penalty area, dropped to the unmarked Collin skulking at the far corner of the six yard box.

Crisply flicking the ball past a diving Ceesay, it seemed to the already celebrating travellers that the equaliser had come but a friendly spirit was watching over Hamlet's goal as the ball cannoned off the far stick, trundled along the length of the goal line before rebounding back out off the other upright.

Collin tried once more but this time with a flick of infinite deftness from an angle surely too acute could only lift the ball on to the roof of the net.

Dover kept hunting for parity. A corner met with power and precision by a rising Shaun Welford was battered over the bar by the outstretched finger of Ceesay.

Soon after a lashed drive on the volley whizzed wide of the far upright of the Hamlet goal.

As time drifted by, too languidly for the nervous Dulwich faithful, a chance came for the match winner.

Substitute Sebastian Schoburgh slipped a perfect pass into the path of his captain, Beveney latching on the pass as he tore down the left wing.

The goal beckoned as first one defender then a second were beaten.

Whitehouse committed himself, lost in No Man's Land, but Beveney dallied too long, a red swarm upon him, the shot blocked and the danger smothered.

All too painfully that lost opportunity would lead in turn to a Dover equaliser, deserved perhaps but rough justice for the resilient Hamlet.

A deep, deep free-kick out of the Dover half was flicked on as the visitors won the aerial dogfights, substitute Byron Walker setting up his fellow replacement Welford who delivered an equaliser with a steaming drive on the left peg, inexorably heading for the top corner of the net despite all the efforts of the heroic Ceesay to reach it.

Little time remained but a Dover side, sensing Tooting's hot breath on the back their necks at the summit of the Division, refused to accept that a point would be all their reward.

Next attack brought a corner, one Dulwich struggled to clear and when the ball was redelivered it took a save of pure instinct from, Ceesay to push out a diving header from James Dryden on the fringes of the six yard box.

Interminable injury time brought little respite for the Hamlet, a rare slip from Ceesay as he allowed a Wallis free kick to squirm through his hands went punished by the lurking Dryden, the unfortunate Dryden once more denied the hero-worship of lilywhite supplicants as he nodded over a close range header with just nanoseconds remaining.

TeamsDHFC: Sheikh Ceesay; Steve May; Ricky Dobson; Benson Paka; Shayne Mangodza; Marc Cumberbatch; Shawn Beveney (Henry Darko 90+1); Dewayne Clarke (Sebastian Schoburgh 74); Meshach Nugent; Stanley Muguo; Billy Chattaway.Substitutes not used: Junior Baker, Darryl Plummer, Tim Roberts (GK)DAFC: John Whitehouse; Matt Fish; James Rogers (Byron Walker 77); Matt Bourne (Shaun Welford 57); Craig Cloke; Graeme Andrews; Jon Wallis (Capt.); Alan Pouton; Lee Browning (James Dryden 57); Frannie Collin; Laurence Ball. Substitutes not used: Andy Hessenthaler, Dean Ruddy.Attendance: 484OfficialsReferee: Tim Robinson (Bognor Regis)Assistant Referees: James Garratt (Blackheath) & Jeff Lengthorn (New Eltham)Goalscoring1-0 DHFC Shawn Beveney (Pen) 37th minute1-1 DAFC Shaun Welford 88th minute