FA Women’s National League One (South-East)
Team: Clarke, Searle, Brooks, Wellesley-Davies, Lewin, Hill, Dzyadyk, Mehmet, Stanley, Leach, Makowska
Subs: Gotch, Blodgett, Owen, Sampson, Adebowale-Arimoro, Orchard
The team sheet revealed two former R’s players. Starting at No.7 for the visitors was Kendra Brown, on loan from Tottenham, and on the bench was Jessica Francis-Weir.
Five minutes in, and Melis Mehmet headed wide from a corner.
Whilst at the other end three minutes later, Neve Mayes headed a cross from the right just wide.
After 11 minutes, Kenny Clarke made a very good save from the Dulwich captain, Asia Harbour Brown.
Then, Billie Brooks poked the ball just wide of the goal following a corner.
Kendra Brown’s free kick into the box from a wide-left position was kept out by some solid defending around the six-yard box.
On 27 minutes, with a player down, both sides took a drinks break.
A strong challenge left Jess Leach grounded for some time. The R’s No.12 then limped off but she was able to return after running it off.
The visitors got their noses in front close to the interval, when Rhea Gall drove a loose ball home from just outside the six-yard box.
The first-half ended after five added minutes with Dulwich one-up.
Danny Harrigan made three changes for the start of the second- half, which saw the introduction of Izzy Owen, Juliet Adebowale-Arimoro and Fern Orchard, at the expense of Jess Leach, Annie Dzyadyk and Natalia Makowska respectively.
Rangers had the ball in the net, but a hand-ball/offside decision against Emily Hill ruled it out.
This was a good period for the home side as they strived for an equaliser.
It came around the hour-mark following Juliet Adebowale-Arimoro’s initial strike at goal. Although Saskia Priestley managed to get a hand to the ball, she couldn’t keep out Grace Stanley’s follow-up shot.
Emily Hill’s 25-yard strike dipped as it just cleared the crossbar.
The Hamlet’s winner came from the penalty spot in the 82nd minute. Neve Mayes stepped up and buried the ball into the roof of the net.
Chloe Sampson replaced Georgie Lewin in the closing stages.
Really pleased to see Mark Jamieson and his family who were over from Sweden.
Steve Russell