Dulwich Hamlet 1 Blues 1

Leiston came into this game low on confidence after another laboured performance last Saturday against Lewes but produced a solid and resolute display at a damp Champion Hill writes Craig Cooper. The visitors looked strong throughout as two sides looking for promotion fought out a keenly contested fixture at the top of the Ryman Premier Division. Blues boss Richard Wilkins had Kelsey Trotter unavailable with Joe Francis relegated to the bench which meant Blake Saker and Danny Cunningham came back into the starting XI. The visitors pre-match preparations were disrupted as they arrived late in South London due to heavy traffic, arriving just over 30 minutes before kick off, but this did not deter the Blues start to the game. Leiston's last two visits to Champion Hill both resulted in wins and no doubt the home faithful feared the worse when the Suffolk side struck first on nine minutes. Leiston working the ball between Christy Finch and Patrick Brothers down the left and fashioning an opportunity for Gareth Heath who accepted the opportunity to rifle an effort high into the net for his ninth goal of the season. It was a sweet strike and the perfect start but as in previous games, Leiston couldn't build on this and at times struggled to cope with the tempo of Dulwich Hamlet. The hosts missed a great chance to draw level on the quarter of an hour mark with what looked like a simple header at the far post, but the effort sailed wide. Another brace of headers failed to trouble Ashlee Jones although the Blues defence was now at full stretch, Joe Jefford and Blake Saker with timely blocks as the Hamlet pressure increased. With Leiston forced deeper into their own half the impetus was now with Hamlet and a fine save from Ashlee Jones denied Jordan Brown after he weaved a mazy run through the heart of the Blues defence. With the visitors keeping the hosts at arms length a swift move saw Christy Finch faced with just Phil Wilson to beat inside the box but the Dulwich stopper did well to smother his effort. Just as the new Ryman League electronic subs' board was being hoisted Dulwich drew level and it was that man Nyren Clunis, forever on the scoresheet against the Blues, this his fourth goal in five games against Leiston albeit slightly fortuitous. His drive deflecting off the outstretched boot of Joe Jefford and beyond the reach of Ashlee Jones. There was still time for Joe Jefford to make a timely interception and Ashlee Jones to make a smart stop as an entertaining half ended all square.

HT - Dulwich Hamlet 1 Blues 1

Neither side changed their personnel at the interval and Dulwich resumed on the offensive with only some brave blocks thwarting the lively Dulwich front men. What Leiston didn't need to do was concede needless free kicks but at the start of the second half they were guilty of this although Blues Ashlee Jones was in commanding form in the Leiston goal. Leiston were happy to counter and could have regained the lead just after the hour but the hard working Christy Finch's lob didn't have enough elevation and Phil Wilson gratefully collected. Ashlee Jones was now starting to run away with the Man of the Match award, producing yet another smart save this time to deny Ashley Carew but the save of the night was reserved from the resulting corner, a flying save to keep out a thumping header from inside the six yard box. Knowing a draw or win would lift them back to the summit of the Ryman Premier Division table Dulwich were passing the ball around sweetly, dictating play. But for some wastefulness inside the Blues box they would have surely ended the match with a three point haul but they were almost punished late in the game as Christy Finch and then Patrick Brothers both had efforts ending agonisingly wide of the home goal. Still Dulwich poured forward searching for that elusive winner but the Blues refused to be breached and after Seb Dunbar repelled yet another home attack, Dulwich gained the necessary point to return back of the table while the Blues returned to Suffolk with a very important point as they moved up one place to seventh.

FT - Dulwich Hamlet 1 Blues 1

Dulwich Hamlet - Wilson, Nelson (Dixon 90 mins), Brown, Waldren, Drage, Pinnock, Clunis, Carew, Moss, Scannell, Murrell-Williamson (McDonald 70 mins). Subs not used - James, Hibbert and Jaiyesimi.

Blues - Jones, Saker, Dunbar, Cunningham (Winter 75 mins), Jefford, Bullard, Clark (Francis 82 mins), Heath, Ottley-Gooch, Finch, Brothers. Subs not used - Clarke and Rossis.

Man of the Match - Ashlee Jones

Attendance - 617