Dulwich Hamlet are through to the third round of the Buildbase FA Trophy after their 2-1 win at Brentwood Town last weekend.
The Hamlet took the lead in the thirteenth minute in front of Brentwood’s biggest home attendance of the season.
Tyrone Sterling took the ball into the Brentwood half before hitting a high diagonal ball into the box that goalkeeper Ollie Bowles allowing Danny Mills to head into an empty net from twelve yards.
The Isthmian League North side threatened an equaliser before half-time as right-back Right back James Love’s cross just missed Charlie Grainger’s top corner and then George Craddock’s free-kick wasn’t cleared properly before the follow-up effort went wide.
Gavin Rose’s side started the second half brightly. Andre Blackman’s cross deflected just wide before from Gio McGregor’s resultant corner Chike Kandi headed back across goal for Mills, whose close-range header was saved by Bowes.
However, Brentwood equalised five minutes later with the windy conditions playing a part as a high cross had Grainger stretching before Rob Harvey headed home.
AJ Harris-Sealy then set up Blackman who just missed the target with his effort.
The wind was still causing havoc as Grainger dropped a cross but after a goalmouth scramble the Hamlet escaped.
With his side under pressure Rose made decisive changes, sending on the pacey Jordan Green and Darren McQueen for Mills and Harris-Sealy to play either side of Kandi who moved to the lone centre-forward spot.
It almost paid off immediately when McQueen got outside the home defence to send a low cross into the six-yard box, but Green stood on the ball with the goal gaping before he found Jordan Higgs whose shot was saved by Bowles.
McQueen and Green combined again shortly afterwards but the former shot wide.
Dulwich finally made the breakthrough with six minutes left. McGregor’s in-swinging corner got a touch and fell to Sterling who added to his assist by firing past Bowles.
The Hamlet will play Plymouth Parkway of the Southern League Division One South – two tiers below Dulwich – in the third round.
The game will be on the weekend of December 18/19 at Bolitho Park.
Meanwhile, Dulwich drew 2-2 in their National League South game at Havant & Waterlooville on Wednesday night.
Mills opened the scoring for the visitors when he finished a cross from Andre Blackman to the net on twelve minutes.
The hosts levelled twelve minutes later as Abdulai Bell-Baggie headed past goalkeeper Charlie Grainger.
Green put Rose’s side back in front just before half-time when he scored from the penalty spot after Joe Newton had fouled Jack Holland.
There was still time for another goal before the half-time whistle and it was Bell-Baggie again beating Grainger from Billy Clifford’s cross.
Rose introduced Kandi in the 75th minute but he was sent off eight minutes later for retaliation against Clifford.
Grainger saved late from Tommy Wright to preserve a deserved point.
Both sides could have gone third with a win. Dulwich are up to fourth in the table while the Hawks went sixth.
Dulwich host third-place Ebbsfleet United this Saturday. Kick-off at Champion Hill is at 3pm.