IBRA SEKAJJA scored in the fourth minute of added-time as Dulwich Hamlet ended their three-game losing run with a 1-1 draw against Slough Town at Champion Hill last weekend.
Boss Gavin Rose made five changes to the side that started in the 2-0 defeat against table-toppers Maidstone United the previous Tuesday. Jack Holland and Andre Blackman came into the back four and Quade Taylor started as a defensive midfielder with Sekajja and Darren McQueen up front.
Taofiq Olomowewe, Tyrone Sterling, Danny Mills and Jordan Green dropped to the bench and Luca Levee wasn’t in the squad.
Slough played with a strong wind behind them in the first half and just a minute in Dulwich goalkeeper Charlie Grainger had to scramble to prevent a cross from Josh Jackman finding the top corner.
Edon Pruti headed wide from Kurtis Cumberbatch’s free-kick before Dulwich had a chance as Rebels stopper Jonathan North kept out McQueen’s stinging effort.
Gio McGregor shot just wide from the edge of the box and then Aaron Kuhl tried to use the wind as he attempted a lob from halfway, but Grainger had the goal covered and the attempt was off-target.
Reise Allassani had the last opportunity of the first half when he shot wide after a good run down the left.
North denied Blackman early in the second half before McGregor found Sekajja who was flagged just offside when he would have been through on the visiting goalkeeper.
The hosts went even closer to taking the lead an hour in only for Allassani’s shot to hit the far post after he had cut in from the left. From the corner after that attack, Jordan Higgs forced North to stretch to tip a dipping effort over the crossbar.
Slough went ahead against the run of play in the 69th minute after they had defended a number of corners before launching a counter-attack. George Hunt found half-time substitute Ben Harris who fired the cross past Grainger at the far post.
Holland tried to bring his side level with a shot that deflected away for a corner with three minutes left.
In injury-time, Green was fouled on the right and when Higgs’ delivery was cleared to Green, he fired in a shot that just missed the top corner.
Dulwich kept coming and got a deserved reward in the 94th minute when Grainger sent a long free-kick forward, substitute Mills’ header found Allassani who slipped the ball through for Sekajja who got their just before North to finish to the delight of the majority of the 2,705 crowd.
There was still one more moment of drama. Dulwich’s Ronnie Vint caught the ball as he thought he would be awarded a free-kick for a shove. Instead, he was booked for his reaction at not getting the decision as he threw the ball away. And in reacting to that yellow with dissent, another followed and the home side were reduced to ten men. The defender will serve a one-game ban.
Dulwich are back in the last play-off spot in seventh, seven points behind Eastbourne Borough and ahead of St Albans City on goal difference.
Rose’s side travel to Concord Rangers this Saturday for a 3pm kick-off.
Hamlet: 4-3-3: Grainger; Ming, Vint, Holland©, Blackman (Sterling, 72); Higgs, Taylor, McGregor (Mills, 81); McQueen (Green, 72), Sekajja, Allassani.
Unused substitutes: Dayton, Olomowewe.
Attendance: 2,705.
Image: @robavis