Dulwich Hamlet’s topsy-turvy season took another twist last weekend as they went in front at Hampton & Richmond Borough but came away with nothing.
Jordan Green put Gavin Rose’s side ahead from the penalty spot but Quade Taylor was sent off for handball leading to the hosts’ winner.
Rose made one change from the side that defeated Braintree the previous weekend with Luca Levee returning in place of James Dayton.
The Hamlet went 1-0 up from their first attack of the game. Chike Kandi crossed and Green controlled before he was fouled by Imran Uche. Green beat goalkeeper Alan Julian from twelve yards with just three minutes gone.
Charlie Grainger denied Lucas Ness and then Ruaridh Donaldson shot over as the hosts pressed for an equaliser.
But Dulwich seemed more likely to add to their lead as the half went on. Julian denied Gio McGregor from Jordan Higgs’ cross, Tyrone Sterling fired just wide from 30 yards and then McGregor’s drive from outside the box hit the top of the crossbar.
Darren McQueen was next to have a go at increasing the visitors’ advantage only for his chipped attempt from the left to drift wide of the far post.
But then the home side struck back against the run of play and chances. Ten minutes before half-time, Tyrell Miller-Rodney’s shot was blocked and the ball fell to Zach Robinson who rifled past Grainger.
Veteran stopper Julian prevented Kandi from making it 2-1 before Grainger saved Robinson’s 25-yard effort.
Ten minutes into the second half, former Hamlet winger Iffy Allen hammered a shot past Grainger that came back off the underside of the crossbar. Grainger saved Allen’s follow-up but from the hosts’ third attempt of a frantic scramble Taylor blocked the ball with his arm on the line and was red-carded. James Roberts converted the spot-kick.
Roberts went close to adding his second after taking advantage of poor control from Levee. Roberts had just Grainger to beat but the visiting goalkeeper got a touch to the attempt to divert it out for a corner.
Ten-man Hamlet struggled to create chances against a side that were happy to sit on their lead in front of their highest attendance at home this season.
In the 80th minute, Sterling found Ronnie Vint with a diagonal pass but his shot from 30 yards went wide.
Sterling fired over from inside the penalty area before Roberts missed another opportunity as he shot wide.
Hamlet substitute Ibra Sekajja had one more chance to level when he tried a shot from distance that almost deceived Julian, but he found his bearings to save for a corner.
Dulwich couldn’t make anything of that set-piece as they left empty-handed but avoided dropping a place as they stayed in sixth in the National League South table, level on points with St Albans City who are in the last play-off spot and a point ahead of Eastbourne Borough.
Dulwich host Havant & Waterlooville this Saturday. Kick-off at Champion Hill is at 3pm.
Hamlet: 4-2-3-1: Grainger; Taylor, Vint, Holland©, Sterling; Higgs, Levee (Allassani, 90+1); Green, McGregor, McQueen (Mills, 90+1); Kandi (Sekajja, 66).
Substitutes not used: Olomowewe, Dayton.
Attendance: 943
Image: @Lockie_Photo_